Sunday, October 30, 2016

The Body Shop Holiday-Frosted Berries & Spiced Apple


The Body Shop's Cranberry oriented holiday scents have long been one of my favorites going back many years.  Once we hit this time of year I start to look look to see what will be available.

This year's fragrances are  Frosted Berries along with Spiced Apple and Vanilla Chai.


Frosted Berries is cranberry along with blackberry and raspberry for a   juicy/fruity scent that's not just berry but also has hints of vanilla and light florals. It comes in a wide range of products including shower gel , body butter and hand cream.

Spiced Apple is truly apple scented. With spices like cinnamon  barely there this is like wearing an apple on your sleeve. If you're looking for something that's true to it's fragrance and not mixed with a lot of other notes, this one is it.


All three holiday scents also come in a strongly scented candle, ready for gifting@ The Body Shop 


The Body Shop Frosted Berries Shower Gel is $10 and Hand Cream is $8
The Body Shop Spiced Apple Candle is $ 19 and Body Gel Lotion is $13








Thursday, October 27, 2016

NARS Velvet Lip Glide



With NARS new Velvet Lip Glide liquid lipstick I may have finally found the matte for me. Matte formulas and I have an uneasy relationship.  I like a little more of a satin finish, I like a little slip. I feel they can  try settle in your lines so I usually wear them with a balm or gloss on top .


NARS Velvet Lip Glide on the other hand feels soft and creamy on lips ( the formula includes oils) and once dry it has an almost matte finish that doesn't feel dry on lips . It retains some of that moisture and stays a little creamy at least for the first hour or so then settles into a more matte finish but still never tight or dry. I don't feel the need for any balm over this.

The wear time is very long. The other day after I applied it at noon after lunch when I came home in the evening there were still traces of it left. Usually for  the remainder of the afternoon I will reapply color but this stayed put every time I checked.


The pigment as with all things NARS  is extremely rich .  There are several  nude Shades and the shade that I have here , Bound,  is a little nude and a little more pink and perfect for Fall. If you want bold there are plenty of reds and the bold burgundy,  Toy shown above.

NARS Velvet Lip Glide  is $ 26




Wednesday, October 26, 2016

MAC Quik Trik Sticks



 It's double the color and fun with MAC's new QuikTrik Sticks. These multi use dual sided sticks debuted backstage at last Winters' Fall 2016 fashion shows and  come in coordinating shades for color, contour and highlight.

I have three of the duos here . Two are bronzes and golds while the other has pink and peach.

These glide easily onto skin  and blend well. They have a very emollient feel yet the ingredients list no oils or heavy hydrators.  The non shimmer side of each duo has good medium-full pigment while the pearlescent highlight side is more sheer and yes, shimmery but not a glitter overload. If used with a light hand it's fairly subtle. 


I am liking all the color combos I have and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. I love stick products like this and having two in one is even better. Great for touch ups  , I've been using mine to add a touch of brightening (aka help) midday. 


Shown are A Latte Sheen/Semi Sweet, Bare End/Earthnut and Ginger Spiked /Counterpoint 


  • Softly Does It / Tight and Tawny Very light pink shimmer / Light taupe
  • Bare End / Earthnut Light golden champagne shimmer / Muted medium beige
  • A Latte Sheen / Semi-Sweet Light copper with gold and silver shimmer / Muted golden bronze
  • Ginger Spiked / Counterpoint Soft pink with fine-spun gold shimmer / Mid-tone bluish pink
  • Miss Cupcake / Tomato Soft pinky peach with fine-spun golden shimmer / Vivid bright coral
  • All Aflush / Here You Go Rose with copper sparkle / Deep reddish burgundy

MAC Quik Trik Sticks are $ 32 and LE through Dec. 15




Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue Foundation



Le Teint Ultra Tenue is Chanel's newest foundation and perfect for oilier skins.

Le Teint Ultra Tenue has a matte finish with medium coverage. It's a drier formula so definitely more for oily skins but it doesn't feel dry/ tight or look cakey.


The drier formula does mean you have to work with this quickly. It will set fast but it is blendable and buildable. You will need a well prepped face even if you are somewhat oily. Use with a light moisturizer and /or primer for the best finish.  Once this is on and set it looks really good, wears long and leaves a perfected soft focus look that isn't heavy, leaning more "your skin but better" .


There is also a powder compact version which again is for those who are oily with  medium  matte coverage  . 


Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue  Liquid Foundation is $ 60





Monday, October 24, 2016

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pink Mineralize Bag



Another gift set from MAC Holiday Nutcracker Sweet is up today.

The Pink Mineralize Bag contains three products , two full size for lips and one mini for face. Mineralize Lipglass in Eloquently Elegant,  Mineralize Lipstick in Be Fabulous and Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade make up the set and come housed in a large decorated makeup bag.


The bag is pink and burgundy with stars and gold embroidery and made of a PVC type material. I admit  I don't love the look of  all the designs/bags with this collection ,  but I go for the products mostly anyway and I love this little trio. The colors are all easily wearable and pretty.  The bag is a nice size at  8" long x 4" wide and will hold a lot with a deep open compartment.



MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pink Mineralize Bag is $ 49.50 and available at MAC stores and online only.




Thursday, October 20, 2016

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pink Patentpolish Kit


 MAC Holiday- Nutcracker Sweet- is here and there's a lot to check out. There's a large selection of new gift sets so let's take a look at one, the Pink PatentPolish Kit.



This kit comes stocked with four PatentPolish minis in a decorated box with a  pull out tray.  A fabric gold knot serves as the drawer pull. It can be gifted as is without even wrapping.


 The four shades included are: Patent Pink, Fearless, Hopelessly Devoted and Ruby.  

Each crayon measures almost 3 1/2 inches long and is .04 oz .


MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pink Patentpolish Kit is $ 35 and online now, in stores Oct. 26th





Alterna Luxe Shape Creme Gel


Alterna does it again with new Luxe Shape styler.

Luxe Shape is a creme gel formula that is fairly thick. You work into wet or damp hair and then blow dry. ( It can be used on dry hair too but I haven't tried that).  What it does it add shape to hair and help lock your styling in.  I use a lrage round brush while I dry and after hair is dry and settled , I have some wave and curl where I used the brush. My hair holds some of the form the brush gave it.  It even looks better after a few hours,  like  hair is reshaping itself almost, if that makes sense.

The hold is medium and this doesn't weigh hair down or leave any kind of residue.   Hair feels fuller if anything and shinier. I use quite a bit and  never feel like my hair has is overdone with product.

Also nice,while not a leave in ( try their amazing  Caviar CC Cream for that) it's not dry or drying even adding a tiny bit of moisture .


Alterna Luxe Shape is $ 28 at Ulta  and AlternaHaircare.com




Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Clinique Tiny Temptations Chubby Stick Set

Do  you love Clinique Chubby Sticks? Who doesn't? I have so many of these and will happily add more.  For holiday gifting ( and who's kidding- getting) Clinique has made them better by going small with a new set of mini Chubby Sticks. 
Tiny Temptations Gift Set includes:
Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm
  • Richer Raisin
  • Fuller Fig
  • Whole Lotta Honey
  • Graped Up
  • Mega Melon
  • Chunky Cherry
  • Mighty Mimosa
  • Woppin’ Watermelon
  • Pudgy Peony
  • Super Strawberry
  • Voluptuous Violet
  • Plumped Up Pink
Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm
  • Curviest Caramel
  • Broadest Berry
  • Roomiest Rose
  • Mightiest Maraschino
  • Plushest Punch
  • Grandest Grape
  • Roundest Raspberry
  • Plumped Up Poppy

Clinique Tiny Temptations  Set is $ 49.50 at Ulta 


Tuesday, October 18, 2016

IT Cosmetics All That Glitters Brush Set


Holiday has landed for IT Cosmetics including this Heavenly Luxe Brush Set.

With All That Glitters you get a sparking silver brush roll /clutch that holds five of their fab brushes:

  • Brilliant Powder Brush
  • Radiant Foundation Brush
  • Stunning Eyeshadow Brush
  • Luminous Concealer Brush
  • Dazzling Liner/Brow Brush


Brush sets make great gifts since you don't need to know their favorite colors and any makeup maven always needs ( wants) more good brushes. If the giftee doesn't have a lot of brushes , she'll be on her way with these.  


This set is exclusive to Ulta for $ 58







Sunday, October 16, 2016

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink




Chanel makes great lipsticks , this we know, and new ones definitely grab my interest.  Rouge Allure Ink is the newest, a liquid matte lipcolor. 

Rouge Allure Ink has full, deep pigment.  I love a richly colored lipstick and this delivers.  It goes on liquid, like a bold gloss almost. One pass on the lips gives you coverage with a finish that dries down to matte. It doesn't feel/ look tight or dry on lips and can easily be blended  as it doesn't set too fast. You get the creamy feel for a good fifteen minutes before it begins to set and even after it still feels soft and even slightly creamy on lips while also not seeping into lip cracks or lines.  This is one of the best feeling mattes I've tried ,  it doesn't feel matte and  almost falls into semi matte category.

Seduisant, Liberte, Amoureux , Experimente

Ingredients include jojoba and sweet almond oils giving the formula light moisture. Once it does set it lasts pretty well, about 3-4 hours for me with just light fade.  My wear time is never great with lippies so you may see longer wear. 


The case is translucent glass with a flexible doe foot that picks up the right amount of product . 

 I have four shades here- Seduisant, Libere, Amoreux, and Experimente. There are eight shades in all. 


Chanel Rouge Allure Ink is $ 37






Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Soft Cream


Caudalie makes a few of my favorite skincare items. Their C15 SPF 15 Anti- Wrinkle Protection Fluid is a staple of mine especially in Summer, and this year Vinosource Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid was added to the warm weather line up. 

Now with colder temps on the way or if you already have dry skin , there's new Resveratrol Lift Soft Cream.


While described as lightweight this is a moisturizing powerhouse. It goes on with a fairly light feeling but it really hydrates and has Caudalie's trademarked combination of Stabilized Vine Resveratrol and Micro-Hyaluronic Acid. 

Caudalie says it has both mattifying powders, and soft focus pigments. While it does  have a soft feel/look on your face but I find it far too moisturizing to have much of a matte finish.  Maybe semi matte, but barely. This is best for those with drier skins who will love the drink of moisture it gives skin without being heavy.
Ingredients include glycerin , shea butter, grape and sunflower seed oils. 

 Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Soft Cream is $76 (1.7 oz) at Sephora/Sephora.com, US.Caudalie.com and Caudalie boutiques



Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Petco Halloween Dog Toys



We're going a bit off topic today, but there's nothing I love more than dogs and it's too much fun to talk about all the great goodies for our pups .

I think most of us love to include our pets in almost everything and Halloween is no exception. Petco says 59% of us will include our pets in the holiday and their Bootique is all treats with some cuties to keep them playing happily all season including one that you'll get some fun out of as well.


The lighted LED Glow in the Dark Skeleton Ball is  a blast. Give it a good tap and it flashes multi colors . This may be more fun for us than the dogs . Give it a try with the lights turned down. The ball in the middle is sturdy while the sides are soft.


The Plush Pumpkin has a squeaker and a rope for chewing and tugging while Frankie Plush Toy has crunchy crinkly stuff in the middle and a squeaker head. It's all the fun noises they love.


All these toys are 6 inch and range from  $4.99- 6.99 and can be found at Petco.


So will you be stuffing a goody bag for your best pal this Halloween? 



Sunday, October 9, 2016

Clinique Superbalanced Silk Foundation



Clinique  adds to their Superbalanced Foundation line with new Superbalanced Silk Foundation , a nice addition to an already solid foundation selection.

Superbalanced Silk differs from the original in that it has SPF( 15) and is for dry combination to oily , where the other wasn't recommended for oily skins and is semi matte .


The coverage here is  medium-full and slightly buildable. It feels good on skin, lightweight, soft and looks good on, covering light spots and perfecting. This is supposed to be long wear and it lives up to that.  I got all day wear into the evening aside from T Zone oil. It looked  quite good at 6PM after an 8AM application.

It is semi- matte, but less matte than I expected and does allow oil breakthrough in the T Zone a bit quicker than I like and overall a slightly dewy finish. I feel like this isn't a good pick for those who are truly oily but combo and slightly dry should do great with it. Come Winter when my oil slows up a bit this will go into the foundation rotation  and I think it will work well. Right now my skin is in oil overdrive.


The SPF 15 is both chemical and physical and it has very little fragrance.  Shade shown is 02 Silk Shell which is pretty light ( the 2nd lightest color) , a bit more so than it's reading in my images.

Clinique Superbalanced Silk Foundation  is $ 25 and comes in 20 shades.