Tuesday, December 31, 2019

L'Occitane Honey Harvest Shea Ultra Soft Cream




Winter time is time to stock up on the heavy duty body moisturizers and they don't get much better than the shea butter packed ones from L'Occitane.

New this year is Honey Harvest and it's become a favorite here. As the name says this one is so soft and easily absorbed so no heavy feel or greasy residue. But it also works to get skin feeling soft and moisturized .


The texture is whipped and mousse like with 10% shea butter and a light honeyed fragrance. It's just there and as honey as a scent isn't always to my taste or nose, this one is just right. Comforting and cozy but nothing you'll notice unless you're up close.


They still also have their original Ultra Rich  cream with 25 % shea butter and the new Festive Garden Ultra Light version with a floral scent and 5 % shea butter.


All three come in a tin ( shown) and a larger tub. Sales are online now too for various products and sets.

At L'Occitane.com




Monday, December 30, 2019

Beautystat Universal C Skin Refining Cream


 
Brighten up with the new Universal C Skin Refining Cream from Beautystat. 


 I'm always on the lookout for a good brightener and this patented formula is powered up with stable 20% L - Ascorbic Acid and ECGC green tea extract. It's lightly moisturizing( squalene) and after about 2 weeks of use my skin did have more clarity, spots were lightened with overall smoothing. While strong I don't have any issues with C products so there was no irritation for me. It's a gentle preparation and also doesn't have that stinky odor many strong C creams or serums have and doesn't oxidize and turn brown like many others. 



Ron Robinson, the man behind Beautystat skincare and it's predecessor website is a cosmetic chemist with past experience at Avon , Clinique and is also an Allure beauty expert. I wrote for Beautystat about fragrance when it was a reporting/reviewing website and can tell you Ron knows his stuff. This has a small ingredient list and I like that . Easy to see what's in there and  what's not. Also this will soon be featured on QVC , and that's huge . Products go through a rigorous process to get featured on there so you know it's worth checking out. 


Beautystat Universal C Skin Refining Cream is $ 79.99 at beautystat.com  .

Use code GMA for $ 25 off






Monday, December 23, 2019

Old Navy Dog & Cat Print Flannel Pajamas




Last minute gifting alert - Check out these cute pjs from Old Navy.  Made from a light but not thin and so soft flannel with dogs , cats and lizards, yes lizards get in there too all with festive sweaters and antlers.


They are generously sized and the waist has a ribbon tie. It doesn't more cozy and you can add the thick fuzzy slipper socks with gripper bottom and you're giftee is set .

Merry Christmas







Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Tiffany & Love For Her Perfume



Tiffany's new perfume is  Love for Her. I'll admit I  wasn't a big fan of their earlier Tiffany fragrance. It was just ok to my nose.  This new one on the other hand, I love. 

& Love is a sparkling citrus woods scent that reminds me a little of traditional colognes. Dry citrus of grapefruit and lemon kick things off with basil, vetiver , cedarwood and a new note used for this line - blue sequoia. There is some floral in a dewy neroli note and that balances the woods nicely.




 It wears lightly and close to skin. I don't get great longevity but on The Mom it lasted several hours.  This , to me, is more a warm weather frag, it will feel cool and refreshing , but I have been wearing it a lot now . It's easy to wear and bracing  in the cold temps.

The bottle here is a good one. Minimal but casually elegant and a nice detail in that the top silver rim has the notes engraved. There is also a men's version (although the women's is very unisex) for his and hers if you're so inclined. 
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Tiffany & Love For Her is $ 100 for 3 oz EDP and $ 105 for 1.6 oz at Macys , Bloomingdales and Tiffany stores and online 







Sunday, December 1, 2019

L'Occitane Holiday Gift Sets 2019




L'Occitane is at the top of my gift giving suggestion list every year. Want the easiest but sure to be loved gift ? Grab them one of their gift sets. Festively packaged there's something for everyone. And there isn't anyone I can think of who wouldn't/ doesn't love their hand creams . Plus it's something they'll definitely use.


There are loads of sets available but I've got four to highlight today.

Hugs & Kisses Duo -  you can get this duo in several scents , this one has a hand cream ( 1oz) and lip balm in the ultra moisturizing shea version. $ 20

Sweet Cherry Blossom Ornament-  My favorite as it's just so cute. A tin ornament holds three Cherry Blossom minis inside . A hang tab attached so it can be hung by the chimney with care. There are also more scent options available. $ 14


Lavender Travel Set - This cute box holds 4 lavender scented products in smaller travel sizes. Only one is mini, the hand cream . The soap, shower gel and foaming bath are good sized  of 2-3.5 ounces.  $ 29


Winter Rescue Kit - The set contains a new launch Petit Remede , an all over balm in a tin meant for nose, hands, cuticles, lips etc. Ingredients include shea butter, sweet almond and sunflower oils , arnica, calendula and lavender. A 1 oz hand cream in shea completes the set. $ 20 .


As if the prices weren't already good, for Cyber Monday at L'Occitane online you can an additonal 20% off  .



Sunday, November 24, 2019

Chanel Le Lift La Creme Main Hand Cream



Love those uber chic Chanel Hand Cream "eggs" ?  Did you know there was now one in glossy black ?  Look no further for one of the chicest sticking stuffers you'll find this year. 

Le Lift La Creme Main is the newest version  and this little bauble offers smoothing,  skintone evening and replenishing for both hands and nails. 

The scent here is slightly different scent than the others. It's less floral , and a little musky. It seems about as creamy as the Riche version and has organically grown alfalfa concentrate ,  said to be similar to retinol in effectiveness for refining texture and firming,  licorice root for brightening along with shea butter. Winter hand care just got far more chic. 


Which is your favorite black or white or both ? 

Chanel  Le Lift La Creme Main Hand Cream is $ 65 at Chanel 






Sunday, November 17, 2019

Goutal Paris Eau D'Hadrien Alcohol Free Water


Recently I had the chance to try the alcohol free version of Goutal's Eau  D'Hadrien.  The fragrance is a longtime favorite of mine , I have both the EDP and EDT in smaller bottles. 

My bottles are close to 10 years old so comparison may not be equal as I honestly don't know if there has been any formula tweaking plus mine, while they smell pretty good, may have degraded some.   

This version comes in a hefty opaque bottle and feels more clean and softer than the EDP. It's also a bit more floral and while still citrus heavy not as zesty and full on citrus . To me it works almost as a body spray and the "water" in the name makes it seem that's where this was meant to head.  The website says it can be used for body, hair and clothing.  

A Eau de Hadrien scented body spray is fine by me. I like that  I can use it with abandon. It wears close to the skin and doesn't have tons of staying power so I just spritz more .  

 Goutal Paris Eau D' Hadrien  Alcohol Free Water is $ 100 for 3.4 oz at Goutal and wherever the brand is sold. 





Sunday, November 10, 2019

NARS Audacious Fragrance


Audacious is the first fragrance from NARS. The inspiration behind it is Francois Nar's stunningly beautiful Polynesian island Motu Tane. I read that the island is for sale. You know how people win triple digit millions in the lottery and then say they really don't know what they'll do with it? Maybe a new car ? Me, I'll have Mr. Nars on speed dial .


But what about the fragrance? The nose is Olivia Giacobetti which is a win right there. She's the perfumer behind Malle's En Passant and Diptyque's  
Philosykos among others. 

Audacious opens with sweet smoke, then it's green ,then frangipani and tiare come in.  You can actually smell the transition from one note to the next in that early stage and that's neat and unusual.  As it dries down , cedar and a lot of white musk are there.

This is a very soft fragrance. Quietly sexy. As someone who isn't a big incense/oud fan it's just right to my nose but if you like your smoke bold this isn't that . It is , however , beautiful and well crafted. 



$ 180 for 1.7 oz at NARS Cosmetics






Sunday, November 3, 2019

Lime Crime Venus XS Holly Daze Palette & Sugar Daze Lip Set


I've taken a shine to Lime Crime lately. I loved the Summer Sunkissed face palette and nude liquid lipcolors. Now they've released their holiday sets and there's plenty to choose from.

First up is the Venus XS eye palette in Holly Daze.  You get 4 pretty shades, 3 are super sparkly with visible shimmer particles and one , the peach shade is a satin. ( There are 2 other palettes in different colorways )

The 2 green shades are fab along with the very everyday wearable peach. The lightest pearl highlighter shade flashes iridescent green.



Also new is the Sugar Daze set that comes in a cute, cute ready to hang ornament gift box . There are three mini Velvetine lipcolors in Dolly, Sasha and Marshmallow. ( There are 5 other sets also in different finishes and colors)


Lime Crime Venus XS Holly Daze Palette is $ 20
Lime Crime Sugar Daze Lip Set is $21

Both are available now at Lime Crime , Sephora and Ulta and Nordstrom.




Sunday, October 20, 2019

It Cosmetics Love Is The Foundation Brush


It Cosmetic's  Love Beauty Fully / Love Is The Foundation brush is back. 

This time the brush handle is metallic pink and has see thru heart accents. It's really pretty. The brush head is still heart shaped and soft. 

Each year the company releases this special edition with one brush given to Look Good Feel Better  for each one purchased. If you're left wondering where your money goes when you donate $$ to a charity this way gives a beautiful brush that might just make someone who really needs it, smile.




It Cosmetic's  Love Beauty Fully / Love Is The Foundation brush is $ 30 at Ulta 






Sunday, October 13, 2019

Milk Makeup MVP Gift Set


Holiday gift sets are coming fast.  New from Milk Makeup is the MVPs Set. 

In the set, housed in a clear zip top bag, you get 7 minis of their top products.
-Kush Mascara
-Hydro Grip Primer
-Cooling Water
-Watermelon Brightening Serum
-Glow Oil Lip & Cheek in Glimmer 

-Highligher in Blitzed 
- Bronzer in Baked

 These are nicely sized, great for travel or purse stashing as well as trying them if they're new to you.  For me, this is the first time I'd tried many of these products and I'm really loving several of them. The Cooling Water Stick under my eyes ( feels lovely)  and the Glow Oil as a lip balm/stain especially. This set definitely seems like one where everything in it should be something your giftee or you will use.




Milk Makeup MVP Set is $ 45 wherever the brand is sold incl. MilkMakeup.com





Monday, September 30, 2019

Higher Education Spring Break SPF 30




While Summer may be officially over, it's still hot out there.  And the sun is still shining so we need to keep that SPF on every day.

 I've had this newish one from a new to me brand called Higher Education Skincare in my stash for some time  and have used it over the last couple months under makeup . Sometimes over a separate moisturizer ,sometimes not. It's a nice pick for combo/oilier skins as it's a lightweight, sheer, almost matte finish that adds light moisture (aloe vera, glycerin, squalene, vitamin e ) . So it acts as a little bit of skincare too. Green tea and grapeseed extracts turn up at the end of the ingredient list for a small antioxidant boost. 

Also even there's 4.00% zinc oxide , there's no white cast. The broad spectrum SPF 30 is rounded out with Octinoxate 6.90 % and Octisalate 3.00% . 

Higher Education , if you're not familiar is a newer brand that has a dermatologist on board in  Dr. Susan Cox of California to vet formulas . They also donate 3% of  net profits to WE School , division of WEcharity.org .

The fragrance is minimal , a little bit of a cocoa butter scent and the brand is cruelty free.

Higher Education Spring Break SPF 30 is $ 25 for a 2.5 oz tube




Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick



I do love a stick foundation and am glad more brands are coming out with them. New is Milk Makeup's  Flex Foundation Stick. 

The Flex Stick has medium , buildable semi- matte coverage.  It's not heavy or cakey but with a more natural finish once it sets and warms up. It covers nicely and blends out well but definitely benefits from prepping skin as I did find it a bit dry and matte on application ( I have combo skin ,oily  T Zone for reference). 
Once on, as skin warmed up the finish became more natural . 



I had light oil breakthrough on the nose within a couple hours and needed a powder touch up in about 6 hours and there was some wear off in the oily areas.  It is a very comfy, light feeling formula that works really well as a portable touch up stick. With its smooth creamy formula it goes over the day's makeup easily. 

For combo skin like  mine and normal it's a nice segue into fall weather makeup. If you're drier you'll need good moisture underneath first but that's most likely what you're doing anyway.


Ingredients include marshmallow root powder to help with comfort on face and keep makeup from caking or creasing, chamomile for soothing and redness reducing.  And it is not oil free having sunflower seed and lavender oils but it's very non greasy. 

There are 36 shades . I have two at the lighter end of the colors and the palest is very light.

Milk Flex Foundation Stick is $ 36 at Sephora.






Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Gucci Memoire D' Une Odeur


Gucci has gone in a very different direction with their new Memoire D' Une Odeur . I'm not sure what I think of it.

I am not crazy about the name , but I do love the bottle.
The fragrance opens sharp with bitter almond note and then a soft jasmine. The jasmine is not warm or lush, more airy.  Chamomile features prominently as does musk and there is also a mineral feel to the scent.  By the drydown cedarwood comes in with the mineral and herbs lingering . 

 I'm not a fan of chamomile or too much musk  so that colors my impression. To me it's very old fashioned or maybe just old smelling with a camphor and astringent tone.  It wears very soft and light, almost a skinscent and changes a lot from the opening to drydown and that's a good thing. 

I have to give it to them for creating a scent that doesn't smell like everything or anything else out there. I think us mega perfume fans often lament lack of originality , and this is different.   They were willing to do different. It's gotten people talking from what I've read and that's a good thing.   I like that people are conversing about perfumes.  And I've heard over on Insta from fans who like and ones who do not.  Where do you fall ? 

Gucci Memoire D' Une Odeur is $ 95 at Sephora for 2 oz EDP or $ 34 for .25 rollerball.