{Review} Nars Laguna Body Illuminator

A few weeks ago when I hauled a few things from Sephora I made a point to get a sample of the new Nars Illuminator in Laguna. What it is is a buildable bronzing gel that Now, they make two formulas of this, one for the face that is a sheer an another for the body that is larger and is more pigmented. I swatched both at the store and found that the face version was a bit too sheer, even for my very very pale skin. The body one comes in a massive squeeze tube and for your money is the better value (price per oz wise), so I figured I'd try the body one.

Swatches:

(Top to Bottom) Shear Blended Application, Heavy Application

How. Stunning. Is. That!? ^ The color is just a very warm slightly shimmery bronze. Honestly, it doesn't look as shimmery as it does in the tube. Yes, the golden shimmer is noticeable, but not as noticeable as the shimmer in several bronzing powders that I've tried. And after a few hours of wear the shimmer tends to tone down, leaving behind the bronze. When I wear this it gives my skin this really pretty sheen that I absolutely love. In addition, what I love is that you can build this. When I use this on my face, I apply a very sheer layer where I would normally apply my bronzer and then layer a little more on the apples and hollows of my cheeks as well as my temples. Even with the shimmer it looks a lot more natural than a powder bronzer, which I love!

That being said, there are a few things you need to consider before purchasing this product. One, you need a lot of product to cover your body if you want to use this on your arms and legs. A lot. As massive as the squeeze tube is, with weekly use all over the body it will be gone fairly quickly. I only had a sample so I couldn't see exactly how much I would need for my entire body, but I needed about a third of the sample jar to do one arm. One thing you could probably do is mix it with your body lotion to make it last longer, but then it will go on shearer.

In addition, application is tricky. You have to work very very fast because once it sets it sets. If you want to apply multiple layers you need to make sure you use broad sweeping strokes because otherwise it will look patchy. I would recommend exfoliating and moisturizing very well before applying this because it looks a lot more even on smooth skin. And if you have acne on your face be careful because like any bronzer it does tend to stick to problem areas.

Finally, this stuff isn't waterproof. Nars says that it is "transfer proof," but that isn't exactly the same as waterproof, is it? It doesn't really rub off on clothing, but I wouldn't wear white with it just in case. And if you get really sweaty or wet it will start to come off faster.

Like with any fake glow, there are drawbacks. If you have tanned skin to begin with this will probably work better for you to just emphasize your tan and give you a glow. I wouldn't count on this as a full body tanner, though. On the face however, it looks stunning! And the scent, a cross between something coconutty, Brazilian and Hawaiian, is oddly pleasing to me as well, given that I'm not a big fan of coconut.

Info:

Price: $45 (for 5.5 oz)

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Ppg-17/Ipdi/Dmpa Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Stearate, Cocos Nucifera [Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil], Steareth-8, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Parfum (Fragrance), Euterpe Oleracea (Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil), Calophyllum Inophyllum (Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil), Ribes Nigrum [Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil], Rubus Idaeus [Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil], Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisodium Edta, Rubus Chamaemorus (Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil), Bisabolol, Boswellia Serrata (Boswellia Serrata Gum), Panthenol, Gardenia Tahitensis (Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract), Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool [+/- (May Contain): Mica, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride)].

{Review} Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush (Love!!!)

I'm really really excited to bring you this review. It is on the Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer brush that came in last week!!! I've been on the hunt for a nice kabuki brush for a while but I've always hated how short the handles are on them. I much prefer a brush that has a longer handle. And not only is this a great brush but it's also Earth friendly!!!

The brush is MASSIVE!!! Jus the handle is more than an inch wide. It is round, and super full. The synthetic bristles are very soft and dense.

This is definitely the densest brush that I own. If you've ever felt any of The Body Shop brushes the feel of this one is similar. This brush is perfect for applying any powder to a large area. I've been using it for my bronzer and it diffuses the color perfectly, giving me a bit of all over color. It makes blending down the neck and chest really easy, much easier than it would be with a smaller brush. You don't have to use it for only bronzer. It works great as a powder brush as well! It blends the powder very well, giving a soft focus appearance.

L to R: Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush, Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush, Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush.

In terms of size, here is a comparison to my Sonia Kashuk brushes. You can see how much larger it is. The Sonia Kashuk brush looks like it's larger, but in terms of circumference and density, the Ecotools brush definitely wins out. The handle is also also a great deal thicker than a normal brush, but I actually like that. It takes some getting used to, but I like how hefty it feels.

The brush comes packaged in a plastic pouch, which I actually don't like. The bristles on the brush were a little flattened because of the way they were packaged and the plastic makes the brush smell a bit gross. I had to wash it a few times to really get the smell out.

I do like how Ecotools brushes are very Earth friendly. They are made from recycled and sustainable materials. Also, all of the hair is cruelty free!

The pouch also gives some application tips as well as a green lifestyle tip, which I think is neat!

For the price, this brush is very, very good! It feels like I paid a lot of money for it. The quality of this brush is unbeatable. Sephora brand has a brush almost identical to this one that costs a lot more at $35! Grab this one for a much cheaper alternative! Ecotools also donates 1% of profits, which makes this an all around great purchase!

Pros:

-Earth friendly.

-Very soft bristles.

-Very densely packed bristles.

-Doesn't shed.

-Feels expensive, luxurious.

-Blends very well!

-Inexpensive.

Cons:

-Large handle takes some getting used to.

-Initially smells very plasticy.

-My be a bit too big for people who prefer smaller more precise brushes.

Info:

Price: $9.99 (I got on sale for $7.99 when drugstore.com was having a sale!)

Disclosure: the product featured in this post was purchased by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any more questions about disclosure don't hesitate to ask in comments.

{Favorites} January 2011 (VERY Pic Heavy)

So I've decided to post my monthly favorites. I know that some bloggers have been doing this for years, but I just haven't had the time till now. Be prepared, though, this is a very long post. I've got my favorite makeup, skin/hair stuff, and this month I do have a few perfumes I've been wearing obsessively! Enjoy!

1. Makeup:

Kinda clockwise from the shadow: Jemma Kidd Eyeshadow in Vintage, Lancome Artliner in Plum, Sephora Tricks of the Trade Eye Primer, NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder in Translucent, Benefit Cream Eyeshadow in Birthday Suit, Prescriptives Camoulflage Concealer in Light B/R, Sally Hansen Carmindy Sheerest Cream Bronzer in Rio Glow.

Kinda clockwise from the shadow: Jemma Kidd Eyeshadow in Vintage, Lancome Artliner in Plum, Sephora Tricks of the Trade Eye Primer, NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder in Translucent, Benefit Cream Eyeshadow in Birthday Suit, Prescriptives Camoulflage Concealer in Light B/R, Sally Hansen Carmindy Sheerest Cream Bronzer in Rio Glow.

Jemma Kidd Eyeshadow in Vintage ($16)

Tis is a great color for when I don't feel like wearing a lot of eyeshadow. I'e just been putting this all over my lid, slightly above the crease, and then using my Lancome Artliner in Plum. It's such a pretty combo!

Benefit Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit ($19)

I looked at my Benefit cream shadows just lately for the first time in months and noticed that Birthday Suit was starting to crease, so I figured that I'd really start using it so that it doesn't got to waste. I love the color! I'ver really been into metallics lately and this color is the perfect in between for people who like silver and gold.

Lancome Artliner in Plum ($29)

If you've been reading my blog you know how much I love my Lancome Artliners! They're the perfect liquid liners. The tip is just different from most other liquid liners and makes it really easy to line. It isn't normally as wet as it looks above. I accidentally left it upside down overnight :( When I finish this one, I want to try the L'Oreal version of it.

NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder in Translucent ($3)

This is just a great no frills cheap powder. It doesn't add anything in terms of coverage, but just sets my makeup and makes my face matte. It's a really great value. The sifter is a bit large, but I just dump some out into the cap, swirly, and apply, just like a mineral foundation. It's definitely not a travel item, though.

Sephora Tricks of the Trade Eye Primer ($8)

This stuff isn't as good as UDPP because it does crease by the end of the day. Not as much as if I didn't wear a primer, but I never have any creasing with UDPP at the end of the day. If you are looking for a decent cheaper alternative, this is currently on sale at Sephora for $8.

Prescriptives Camolflage Concealer in Light B/R ($20)

I've been breaking out a bit lately so I've been using this concealer. I'm almost done with it. I lost my Smashbox HD Concealer, which is my fave, so I've been using this. It covers really well and stays put all day. I like the dispenser a bit better than the one for Smashbox concealer (which is like a squeeze tube lip gloss) because I waste less with this fine tip.

Some swatches:

Swathces top to bottom: Sally Hansen Carmindy Bronzer, Benefit Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit, Jemma Kidd Eyeshadow in Vintage, Lancome Artliner in Plum, Sephora Tricks of the Trade Eye Primer, and Prescriptives Camoulflage Concealer in Light B/R.

2. Skin/Hair:

L to R: Pssssst Dry Shampoo, DDF Aloe Toning Complex, Philosophy Hope in a Jar, and Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect Eye Cream.

Pssssst Instant Dry Shampoo ($6.99)

When I got my hair cut, I had some bangs cut in and since I've got oily skin they tend to get oily faster because the lay against my forehead all day. I just use this to refresh my bangs. Since I don't use this all over my head, I don't really deal with the gray cast people sometimes complain about. I've heard that Suave is coming out with a really great dry shampoo for $2, so I am really interested in trying it out after I finish this one.

DDF Aloe Toning Complex ($32 for 8oz)

I bought this on sale at TJ Maxx for $3. you can't get the 4.5 oz size anymore, but you can get the 8 oz size at Sephora. I like this for spraying on my face when I feel like my makeup looks heavy. It just makes everything sink into my skin really nice and it gives a bit of hydration also. I feel like it calms my skin so I also use it on my face before applying my makeup. I keep it in my bag (that's why it looks so beat up, lol!) to spray throughout the day.

Philosophy Hope in a Jar ($38 for 2oz)

You can't buy this in the 1 oz jar anymore, but I'm kinda glad I bought the smaller jar because a little of this goes a long long way. I've been using this on small dry patches all over. I have oily skin so I don't use this all over my face, but it's great for around my chin and the tip of my nose where I get rally dry and rough in the winter. I also use it on super dry patches on my neck, hands, elbows, and feet. You need the tiniest amount and it works miracles!

I've had it for almost a hear and I'm not even half way through yet.

Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect Eye Cream ($19.99)

Ever since I've started to wear my contacts on a daily basis my eyes have been pretty sore. I guess my eyes just don't like contacts. Or the other way around, lol! My eyes have been getting sore and puffy and this is great for getting rid of the puff in the morn before I apply my makeup. I don't really need anything anti-wirnk, so I can't speak for it's effectiveness in that area, but from the reviews I've read online I've heard great things. And $20 for an eye cream really isn't that much, even for 1/2 an oz.

The fine tip makes it super easy to get the smallest amount out so that I minimize waste. I really dislike eye creams that come in little pots.

Some swatches:

Top: Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect Eye Cream. Bottom: Philosophy Hope in a Jar.

Top: Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect Eye Cream. Bottom: Philosophy Hope in a Jar.

Protect and Perfect is a thin eye cream. I don't like the super thick ones because I feel like they're too rich and seep down my face and make my cheeks and nose oily. Hope in a Jar is a thicker balm like cream. It really is great anywhere where you need some deep moisture quick!

I'm almost done with it!!!

3. Perfumes:

L to R: Calvin Klein Eternity, Bodycology Pick Me, Calvin Klein Eternity Moment.

I've really been into the more floral perfumes lately, maybe cause I'm pining for spring, haha! I've been using one of these three daily for the past month. Sometimes I mix them. They smell soooo delicious!!!

L to R: Calvin Klein Eternity, Bodycology Pick Me, Calvin Klein Eternity Moment.

Some pretty pictures:

I've got Eternity in a purse size from Marshalls for $10. Such a bargain!

I love the simple, yet sophisticated and elegant packaging of Eternity Moment! Soooo pretty!

Bodycology's Pick Me is $10 retail, but I found it at Kmart for $2! It smells really fruity, but also fresh, not sickly sweet like candy. My only complaint about it is that the packaging is a bit flimsy. The little plastic cap came off and the tip tends to leak a little bit w/out it, so I never cary it in my purse anymore.

I've been using them so much that I'm almost done with all 3!!! I always get compliments when I mix and match them, too! Something you might want to try at home with your perfumes.

That's it for now! I really look forward to doing more monthly favorites in the future!

My Current Face Products!

This is just a quick post on the products I've been using the past couple of weeks on my face. I forgot one product, and that's my NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder in Translucent, which I use to set my makeup. Other than that, this has been it for the past few weeks!


Clockwise: Carmindy for Sally Hansen Cream Bronzer in Rio Glow, Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse in 150 Classic Ivory, and Jemma Kidd Stain, Flush, Blush Concentrate in Flirt.

1. Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation

I bought this a few weeks ago and I really like the convenience of this product. I like cream foundations because they just go on so easily. I use the sponge it came with to apply. It's medium coverage, but definitely buildable. I use a thin layer to cove up redness, and then build it up anywhere I need some extra coverage, like dark circles (which I barely have) or a pimple. I will be posting a full review of this later this week!

2. Carmindy for Sally Hansen Cream Bronzer in Rio Glow

I use this mostly to contour my face, adding a bit of color in the process. It looks intimidatingly dark in the pan, but it goes on very sheer and smooth. A problem I've had with bronzer in the past is that it looks very obvious that I have something on. This looks very natural in terms of finish. You can barely tell I've got something on. I use a regular blush brush to stipple it on and a little goes a really long way!

3. Jemma Kidd Stain, Flush, Blush Concentrate in Flirt

This cream blush gives me just the right hint of color. I usually stay away from blushes because I spend so much time covering up the redness on my face that I hesitate to put any back on. I use this high up on the cheek bones to give a more contoured effect and I really like how natural the color looks!

4. NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder in Translucent (Not Pictured)
With so many cream products, it is imperative to set them and I use a bit of this powder. It's a great no-frills product. It does what it says it will do, which is set the makeup. It doesn't do much else, but then again I don't need it to. It gives me a very smooth finish, which I really love. It doesn't really look like I'm wearing much powder at all!

Swatches:

Top to bottom: Jemma Kidd Stain Flush Blush in Flirt, Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse in Classic Ivory, and Carmindy for Sally Hansen Cream Bronzer in Rio Glow heavy swatch and then blended.

Thanks for reading! I'll be posting reviews on the bronzer and foundation shortly!

Early Christmas Gift!!!

So the other day a friend of mine gave me my Christmas gift early cause she's leaving on vaca for the next month to Italy (so jealous!). I know, not really a haul, but I thought I'd share anyway!

Here's what she got me:

Urban Decay Glitter Eyeliner in Groupie
Sephora Brand Cream Liner in Made in Manhattan
Sephora Brand Bronzer in Bahamas

I've kinda been wanting to try these, especially the two liners, so I was really happy. I'll be posting reviews soon! Especially on the liner!

Review: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Petticoat

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago at the MAC counter at Macy's and I've been wearing it just about every day since. It's such a gorgeous powder and using it everyday is easy as it's so multi-purpose. I use it as an eyeshadow, highlighter, bronzer, and blush, so the possibilities are endless. This is just a review, but I'll post a some looks when I get the chance.



A couple of swatches:



L to R: Lightest area, darkest veining, a mix of the two.

As you can see, it looks different depending on how to pick up the product and the lighting, which I think is great. It's a very versatile product. I have a bit of trouble finishing blushes, highlighters, and bronzers, so anything that I can see myself using till the end is good. A lot of the other MSF's don't have nearly as much color variation so they aren't as versatile. Of course, this does depend on your skin tone. I am very pale so all of these colors show up great on me. If you have more tanned skin then this may be more of a highlighter and blush for you and may not be dark enough to be a bronzer or even a blush if you have a very deep skin tone. I was pleasantly surprised by how warm this MSF is. The pink in it had me picturing it a lot cooler, but it is very warm and works well for summer.

As far as the actual powder is concerned, the texture varies. The lightest part is a very fine powder, but the darker veining, particularly the gold, can be a bit gritty. If you tap the brush before you apply however, you shouldn't have any problems with that grittyness translating onto your face when you apply it. And while it is a bit gritty, I wouldn't say that it is glittery. I didn't see any glitter particles, but rather a fine shimmer. I was also pleased with how well this lasted on my oily skin. Most highlighters or blushes/bronzers with shimmer tend to just make me look oily and then slide off. This lasted on my face and eye lids throughout the day.

I highly recommend this to anyone with very pale skin because not only is it gorgeous, but it also saves me a ton of time in the morning. All I need when I'm in a hurry is this MSF, tinted moisturizer, powder, mascara, and two brushes (eye and face). In under five mins I look gorgeous. And it looks like I've got something different on every part of my face as opposed to the same color everywhere, which I absolutely love! The only warning I give is that it is a very high shimmer, almost metallic finish, so if you dislike that, don't purchase it. When applying, use a light hand so that you don't look like a disco ball. While it is a bit pricey it is well worth the money, especially with how much product you get.

Info:

Price: $28 (for 10g/.35 oz)

Ingredients: Talc, nylon-12, dimethicone, polysorbate 20,m isopropyl palmitate, simmondsia, chinesis (jojoba) seed oil, yeast extract,tocopherol acetate,retinyl palmatate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate magnesium aluminum silicate, bht, dosium dehydroacetate, phenocyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and other ingredients vary per color.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

My Teenie Tiny MAC Haul!

I stopped by the MAC counter at Macy's a couple of weeks ago and picked up a couple of pretty items. Not much of a haul, I know, but if you've been reading my blog for a while now you know I usually purchase my cosmetics at Sephora or the Drugstore, so this is special.

I picked up two items:

L to R: Coral Crepe Paint Pot and Petticoat MSF

Some closeups:

Petticoat MSF


Coral Crepe Paint Pot. This baby is absolutely stunning. I don't have anything even remotely close to this color in my collection so I'm pretty excited, haha! If you haven't gotten it yet, run to the counter! Especially if you've got blue eyes!!!

That's it for now. Reviews are coming soon!!!