Thursday, November 29, 2012

Bite Beauty Bite Size Lipstick Set- Holiday 2012




When I was in Sephora last week I spied this new holiday set from Bite .  It's so nicely packaged and that got my attention immediately.


First off is the festive box.  That holds the  tin that holds the lipsticks, with a mirror inside,  then there is a paper overwrap  and then the  5 mini Bite lipsticks.


The tin is easy enough to carry in a bag  and you can always keep one or two of the lipsticks in it  and add in some other musts like band aids and  lip balms. It'll fit.

These are mini sized and  cute with each one being .052 ounces and just under 2 inches.

Bite Lipsticks if you haven't tried them are antioxidant rich with resveratrol in each one as well Vitamins E & C and all ingredients are food grade .  They are highly pigmented and lightly moisturising with  shea butter and argan oil. Not balm level but not a dry formula either.


 The gift set comes with 5 shades- Retsina, Musk, Shiraz, Fig and Pomegranate, which is the order in the image.

This is pretty much one of those stick a bow on it and gift, gifts.

The Bite Size Luminous Creme Lipstick Set is $ 25 at   Sephora   
 

mark. Metal Works Liquid Eyeliner

Nightrider, Dragonfly,Aura ,Venus

Back when mark. holiday launched I got so into the cute accessories that I didn't get one of my favorite makeup picks from them posted , the Metal Works Liquid Eyeliner.

 You know me, I love a good sparkly eye. These glitter eyeliners will amp up your holiday look with a little colorful sparkle. They add just enough glitz to your eyeline and with both deep and light shades you can decide how dramatic you want to be. I particularly love the deep green and the light bronze.

These are liquid and apply easy.  They just glide right on and are pigmented but  not super deep pigment, especially on the lighter shades. The brush is very small for a good tiny or tight line.


The four shades  are available for $ 6 each  at www.meetmark.com

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

L'Occitane Hugs & Kisses Gift Set




A gift giving truism- it's hard to go wrong with  L'Occitane. 

They have gift sets at many price points and this  Hugs Kisses Duo combines their legendary hand cream and a lip balm in a choice of scents , boxed up for $19. 

L'Occitane Hand Cream is loaded with shea butter  and is truly  one of the best out there. The lip balm also has shea butter .


There are four scents available - Shea Butter, Date Bouquet , Mango Flower and Rose Petals (shown).

The Rose Petals is a soft, pretty scent that has a rosy smell but not a strong one.  It's very light and a little fruity as well as floral.

Check them out at http://usa.loccitane.com

You can also find a nice L'Occitane assortment at  Sephora   but not this LE set.
 

Caswell- Massey Pure Frost Soap



Caswell- Massey,  maker of wonderful soaps, has a  new LE holiday/winter fragrance called Pure Frost.


Pure Frost comes in a winter inspired box with frosty flowers on a silver background and smells of light white florals , green notes like bergamot and a hint of vanilla and spice.  The main florals listed are Indian Jasmine and  Casablanca Lily. It's pretty with a crispness to it  and not simply all floral.
 
One thing to know about Caswell -Massey soaps is that they are highly scented. As in you can leave  them out as a room scent.  These are the soaps that hold their scents , which isn't as common as it should be.


They are triple milled and  highly moisturizing, which is just what we need in the cooler temps.

Pure Frost comes in a single gift boxed bar for $ 10 or a box of three ( hostess gift apropo) for $ 28.  EDT , Hand and Body Lotion also available.

You can see all their made in USA  scents at www.caswellmassey.com  
 where you call also see Gianna Rose Atelier soaps.  Also at specialty shops nationwide.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Softsoap Holiday Edition Hand Soaps


I'm one of those people who likes to have a festive look in as much of the house as possible, even the bathroom and kitchen. And I love nice hand soaps. So put the two together and you have a winning idea.

These LE holiday soaps from Softsoap Scentsations  add a little  holiday cheer to bathrooms and kitchens. They look not just Christmas-y but wintry, so can be used well into winter. And they smell pretty good too. Much like their matching shower gels in the  Wintermint Wonderland and  Enchanting Sugar Plum fragrances. There is a 3rd scent in the soap , an equally nice Spiced Berry Bliss  is a  mix  of  cinnamon with a little winter berry.

These three  bottle designs are exclusive to Wal Mart  and sell for $ 2.29.


 I have also seen other Softsoap holiday soaps  albeit with different labels and scents  at Target for $ 2.99


The Body Shop Cyber Monday Deal



You know I love The Body Shop , most especially at the holidays. This year's line is as lovely as always  and I featured some of the new Gingerbread Sparkle   here and what's new in Cranberry Joy here

They have a great Cyber Monday deal with  50% OFF Sitewide + Free Shipping with $30 purchase on Cyber Monday at www.thebodyshop-usa.com

 There will also be a Mistletote offered on Cyber Monday for $30 with any $30 purchase ($100 value). 
  

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Grandoe Smart Dogs Posy Winter Slippers


These cute  and warm slippers are called Posy for their little flower adornment.  New from Smart Dogs , what makes these special is what they call Comfort IQ , a temperature regulating technology that stores body heat and releases it when you need it. Sounds crazy but I will say when I wear these my feet don't get as hot and clammy as with many other slippers I have. So maybe there is something to it.


These have a hard bottom for outdoor wear and are very comfy.  They come in 3 colors , 5 sizes and  are $55 wherever Grandoe slippers are sold. Check www.grandoe.com for more info.

Friday, November 23, 2012

FRAAS Knit Ruffled Tech Gloves




Tech gloves are pretty much a must these days aren't they? Certainly  they make a nice gift  and even if the giftee has a  pair, you can always use more.


These new touch screen compatible gloves from FRAAS have a ruffle at the wrist , comes in 8 colors and is made of acrylic,poly,  and cotton. The touch screen pads are barely visible on these, a nice touch since some have big pads on the fingertips.
They're pretty , comfy and work well.

Find them at fraas.com , amazon.com and usually Boscov's stores as well as other select stores.  Retail is approx. $ 30 depending on retailer.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

MAC Blue Gaze Nail Polish- Taste Temptation



Blue Gaze is one of the two nail lacquers  of Taste Temptation from MAC. The other, For Fun, is I believe a re-promote from a few years back.


Blue Gaze is a medium rich blue that MAC calls deep periwinkle.

Taste Temptations  is available exclusively at MAC Macy's counters first as a Black Friday preview.  From 12 midnight to 4am only . It will then be available on www.maccosmetics.com Dec. 6th  (US only) and in stores Dec. 13 -Jan. 17th.


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

MAC Grey Friday Nail Polish

This year even MAC has jumped into the Black Friday fray but they're calling it grey.

 On Friday Nov. 23rd ONLY you can buy Grey Friday Lipstick an Nail Polish at the MAC Times Square Store and online US only  at www.maccosmetics.com



I am not showing the lipstick because I think the nail polish is the top product here. Grey Black lipstick is just too hard to wear . Grey Black nail polish on the other hand is very nice , if not super unique.  It will be unique in that it's a one off.


The color is a high frost deep gunmetal that's a nice winter shade especially against wine colored lips.

So, will you be indulging in Grey Friday ?


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Jane Cosmetics- It's Back



Do you remember Jane Cosmetics? If  you were a makeup wearer in the late 90s you most likely do, if not, well here's an introduction.

Jane was a fun, very well priced brand found at mass market a few years, umm, decade or more back.  Was it really that long ago? Apparently so. Ye Gods. I well remember  browsing and buying Jane at Wal Mart ( it was the only local store that had it) back  then.

Well Jane is back. With a nicely edited line of makeup , still very well priced, that is currently online only but due to hit Ulta in March.


Tinted Moisturizer ( 9.99)- This is a pretty typical TM. It's not heavy , a little on the thinner side but not too thin.  It has nice coverage , more than you might expect , sheer but there, and  moisturizes well  . I do wish it had SPF but other than that I like it . Shade is Light which works well on my fairly pale skin and is lighter than it shows. There are  4 shades.

Pink Lip Collection (9.99)-  These surprised me with the depth of their pigment. No barely there glosses here . Each of 3 is a slightly different formula. A Sheer gloss, A Shimmer gloss , and a Color Gloss  with a vanilla scent. These are showing up a bit red  than they are actually are. They are truly pink. There is also a Red and Berry Collection.


Brilliant Cheek Collection ( 9.99)- This set has one cream blush, one bronzer and one highlighter. All have good pigment . The blush and highlighter blend easily, the bronzer less so.  The bronzer also is a bit too brown for most I think, but otherwise these are  nice and an easy option to carry in your purse for touch ups.


Makeup Palette ( 9.99)- An all in one with 3 shadows and a blush. All colors go on pretty much exactly as they show in the pan, blend well, are soft shimmer and have good pigment. The blush is semi- sheer  without shimmer. This color is Natural Palette. There 10 in all.  For 9.99,  a good deal.

 There are other items as well  and you can see them all at www.JaneCosmetics.com



Frederic Malle Coffret Collections

We'll file this one under "things I wouldn't mind under my tree this year " .  These coffrets hold full collection of Frederic Malle's amazing  fragrances. Mr. Malle thoughtfully wanted to be able to offer  "the entire store".

The Women's Collection is $ 285and holds:

  Musc Ravageur, Une Fleur de Cassie, Le Parfum de Thérèse, Noir Epices, En Passant, Lipstick Rose, Lys Méditerranée, Iris Poudre, Angéliques sous la Pluie, Cologne Bigarade, Une Rose, L’Eau d’Hiver, Carnal Flower, Dans tes Bras, Portrait of a Lady.

The Complete Collection is $ 320 and holds : 

 Musc Ravageur, Une Fleur de Cassie, Le Parfum de Thérèse, Noir Epices, En Passant, Lipstick Rose, Lys Méditerranée, Iris Poudre, Angéliques sous la Pluie, Bigarade Concentrée, Vétiver Extraordinaire, Une Rose, L’Eau d’Hiver, Carnal Flower, French Lover, Dans tes Bras, Géranium pour Monsieur, Portrait of a Lady.

There is also a Men's set. 

You can find these beauties at   shop.fredericmalle.com 

Monday, November 19, 2012

P&G Beauty Gift Sets- Secret, Olay, Satin Care & More




Last year was the first time I noticed the gift sets from P&G brands like Secret, Venus and Olay. I thought then, and still do, that they were such a great value at $10 and  would make great gifts, especially for those on tight budgets, which  covers many shoppers these days.


Yes, they are basic in a way, but they are products everyone uses/can use and done up in a gift set.   My favorite  is Scent-Sational. You get a Secret Summer Berry  Deodorant ,  Satin Care Shave Gel  in the pretty scent Passionista Fruit and a Venus Embrace  razor . Buy these items individually and you'd pay more. The Razor alone is usually more than $10.

Another nice set is Shower Sensations with full size Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, a Venus Embrace and a Satin Care Dry Skin gel.



These can be gifted to so many people.  Nieces, babysitter, co-worker who you just want to get something small for ,or maybe your office Secret Santa has a low $ amount. Caregiver, hairdresser,  college students, overseas military.   You get the idea.

You can find quite a few varieties of these including a couple for men and all are $10. Plus most have bonuses included like a free magazine subscription or coupons. Check each box.

Also  if you spend $50 or more on P&G  products ( not just sets) there is a $ 15 rebate coupon  here

Find them at all mass market merchants.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense- Swatched



After posting a sneak of the new Clinique Chubby Stick Intense last week, I  now have swatches .

I was so excited to test these and they do not disappoint. I am a huge fan of the original Chubby Sticks, as pretty much everyone  is . So what's the difference  between them ?



Intense is deeply pigmented , very much like a lipstick. The colors are all  rich. These have full coverage  and while the original has a bit of a sheen , Intense has none.  No shine or shimmer. They are a satin finish. 


The moisturizing properties are still there , Intense melds lipstick with moisture which is a welcome marriage. Both Chubby Stick formulas have jojoba oil, shea and mango butter for  lip comfort and hydration.

 I think many of us try to figure out how to wear full  lipstick but still keeps lip soft in the winter. These are an answer to that. You get both and there have been very few lip products that do that.



The wear time here is good, longer than a regular tinted balm due to the higher pigments but not as long as a  traditional lipstick.  Note that these leave a stain behind when they do wear off . So some color remains and is easily topped off with another coat or a gloss or  sheer balm to re -charge it.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm will be available in 8 new shades  for $ 16. The are supposed to be out in December, but I just saw them for sale online at Nordstrom, so check retailers.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her Holiday Gift Set


Narciso Rodriguez  For Her has a lovely gift set ready to give to  fans of this easy to wear and popular scent.


Gift sets like this make great gifts as they are usually a great value, giving you multiple items for what you might pay for a single bottle.  And that's the case here  as the  3.3 oz bottle is the same price  on it's own.

This one has a 3.3oz EDT with a 2.5 oz body lotion and a 10 ml purse spray for on the go .

Retail is $ 102.00 at department stores where Narciso For Her is sold.

Friday, November 16, 2012

butter LONDON & goop New Nail Lacquer Trio


 butter LONDON has  collaborated with lifestyle website goop, to bring you an exclusive butter LONDON 3-free nail lacquer set.

The limited edition  set introduces  new shades in Hampstead Heath, Bread & Butter Pudding and Abso-bloody-lutely.

The set gives you a nice selection - a fun  and pretty green, an on trend black red and a pale ivory that is always in style and will be the trend for Spring.


The set is for sale exclusively at goop.com  for $ 36 and is US only.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Stila Seeing Stars Smudge Stick Set & 25% Discount Code


  Stila holiday has some great holiday gift  sets  and  my two favorites are the  Seeing Stars Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner  Set  and the Luxe Eyeshadow Palette. And if you're ready to buy, I've got a reader exclusive 25% discount code just for you. Read on for all the info.


The  Seeing Stars Smudgestick Set contains full sizes of  five of Stila's signature eyeliners including one , Angelfish,  that is exclusive to this set.  They are richly pigmented and since they blend so easily  and are smudge-able as the name says, they can also be used all over the eye. Stila's PRO makeup artist and all around nice person Sarah Lucero counts this set as one of  favorite holiday items and  her tip is to use the black one first and then add your color on top of that. 


The set contains Stargazer, Angelfish,Tetra, Moray, and  Oscar Fish and is $ 32.

If you head over to www.stilacosmetics.com  you can use my exclusive for readers 25% off discount code StilaBA.  The code is good for purchases now  through Dec.15th .


The Luxe Eyeshadow Palette is also a beauty and only available at Stila online.  The shadows are  cream to powder  and matte ones , different formulas than the regular ones. $45.

Happy Shopping and if you do buy anything, stop back and share.  

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Chanel- Le Volume De Chanel Mascara


 Remember when Chanel Imitable mascara came out ? It was a huge release in the world of mascara. Since then  mascara has exploded to be a  huge beauty item  on it's own with so many new releases.

Chanel now has a new one also,  Le Volume  , a great addition to their line.


As you would expect Le Volume is all about  volume but it  does add some length  too. One coat  gives you great coverage with full volume but it is buildable for even more oomph. It  gives a little curl and has deep pigment for instant dark lashes. I also had no smudging and long wear, very good  for a non waterproof mascara on me.


There is a new style brush here,  thicker like many of the newer ones  are , what Chanel calls a Snowflake brush, with both long and short bristles  to get as many lashes as possible. This gives you good definition along with that volume. The formula is wet, but not goopy. As if Chanel would ever be goopy.


And can we talk about how chic the tube is ?  It's also got some weight to it . Sleek, black and very Chanel.



Chanel Le Volume Mascara is $ 30 and debuting on Nov. 23. Available for pre - order now at www.chanel.com