Showing posts with label Nars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nars. Show all posts

Friday, July 6, 2012

{Favorites} June 2012!

Hey there! It's time for June Favorites! I know, I know a few days late, but better late than never. This month has been a pretty fuss free month. I've been focusing a lot on skin care because I had a pretty big breakout in the beginning of June and kinda freaked out haha. I don't really have a big problem with acne, so a breakout that big caught me off guard, hence all the skin care stuff in this post. Let me know if you want reviews of anything shown!


Banana Boat Protective Tanning Oil SPF 15: Before you say it, yes I do know that tanning is bad for you. That being said, I just got really tired of using self tanners nearly every other day. I don't tan often, and until the past couple of years I've been obsessive with the sunscreeen, but on me a real tan just looks so much better so I decided to go for it this summer. This stuff is great. It comes in varying SPF levels (5, 8, 15 and 25 I believe). The highest my Target had was the SPF 15 one, so that's what I went with. I'm very fair and this stuff works to give me a nice golden tan without that irritated red look to begin with. For me, this tanning oil worked fairly gradually, but if you're darker you may want to go with one of the lower SPF's for a quicker tan. And this stuff smells really really good, like sweet bananas!


L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self Tanning Lotion in Medium Natural Tan: This is the self tanner I've been using for the past few months. It gives a pretty natural color. On me the tan is a little more yellow than a real tan, which looks more of a cool brown on me, but I don't really mind. It works quickly, doesn't smell too bad, and for the most part fades naturally. The only thing I don't like about this is that it has shimmer in it, so I don't use it daily. I like to use it during the day so that I don't mess up my sheets, which means if I'm going out I won't use it or I'll look like a disco ball. Like any other self tanner, you really have to be careful with application or you will get patchiness/streaking, but except for on my fingers I haven't had too much difficulty getting it to look even. Overall, it's a pretty good drugstore self tanner.


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunscreen in SPF 70: I use this stuff on my face, neck and decollete area daily. This is my second bottle of this stuff and I love it. It's a thin consistency that goes on very easy, blends out well and layers easily under makeup. It does smell like sunscreen, but I don't mind, as long as it keeps me from burning. I think when I run out of it next time I'll try the Pure & Free Liquid one from Neutrogena to see how it's different from the reqular Ultra Sheer Liquid. {Full Review Here!}


The Face Shop Oil Specialist Fresh Cleansing Oil with Cherry Blossom: I got this last summer when was on vaca in NYC. I bought a cleansing oil (I think it was either $12 or $15) and I kinda forgot about it while I focused on finishing other cleansers. I rediscovered it when I broke out and really needed to deep clean, and now I'm in love. I've been using it morning and night and my skin feels soooo good! It took me a little while to really get the method down, but now that I know how to use it properly I'm hooked.

Murad Clarifying Toner: This is another product I started using again when I broke out. It is a witch hazel toner meant to really clean pores and kill any germs on the skin. I like it because while it acts like an astringent, it doesn't burn my skin or dry it out too much. The only place I'm careful with this stuff is my chin because I tend to get dry patches there. Other than that it works well. As nice as it is, for $22 I think I can mix up some of my own witch hazel toner and save some money, so I don't think I'll be repurchasing it in the future. I think I'll get a big jug of pure witch hazel (it's super cheap) and see how that works for me. Just fyi for all you people with sensitive skin: although this stuff is alcohol free, witch hazel can burn just as much if you have super dry or sensitive skin. It doesn't really irritate me (except for the chin), but I wouldn't risk it if you have sensitive skin.

Proactive Repairing Treatment: I don't use Proactive, but a friend of mine does. She says that she can never get through a full bottle of the Repairing Treatment before she gets another shipment, so she gave me the new one that came in the mail while she was still not even half way through her current bottle. This stuff is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide acne treatment lotion. I use it as a spot treatment and I've had this stuff for months because you really just need the smallest amount. It works well. Is it worth what Proactive charges for it? Not really because it works about as well as any other acne treatment I've used. I can't really do a full review because it's meant to be used in combination with the rest of the Proactive line. I've been mainly using this on pimples and to clear up any stray pimples that pop up on my shoulders here and there from using self tanners and tanning oils. I heard that Walmart makes cheaper versions of this stuff that you can buy separately, so I may try that after I run out.


Biore Skin Brightening Night Serum: I love this stuff. It gives me the perfect amount of moisture in the mornings and really brightens up my skin. I did an indepth review not too long ago which I will link--feel free to check it out! {Full Review Here!}





















Nars Lip Gloss in Gina: Gina is on the left side of the gloss duo (the other side is Boogie Nights). It's a matte, sheer nude. I've been loving anything that is orangy/coral and this is a perfect shade for my skin tone. Not too orange, not to pink, not too opaque. It's super glossy and just gives my lips a really nice finished look. I've been pairing this a lot with like a smokey eye look lately and it's perfect, never too nude/concealer like.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Sunrise Nude: I don't think you can get this shade anymore, but I'm sure that Revlon has something similar in their current line. This one is a super pale, sheer peach with a lot of pretty silver shimmer. I love this gloss because although you can't really see the peachy color it does even out my lips a little.Of all my glosses, the Super Lustrous ones have the best drugstore formula I've come across. They are thick, but not sticky, last a very long time, and have a great color selection. They are also feel moisturizing on the lips, which I love. You can't go wrong with any shade in this range. {Full Review Here!}

Calvin Klein Delicious Light Glistening Lip Gloss in Radar: I don't know where you can get Calvin Klein makeup anymore--they brought it back to Sephora, then discontinued it again. I know that Marshall's and TJMaxx had sets of CK stuff last year, but I haven't seen any in a long time. If you can find these glosses definately get at least one to try because they are great. Very shiny, fragrance free, a little on the thicker side, but not too bad. This shade is so pretty and brings out my blue eyes. I've finished close to 1/2 of this color, which says a lot for me. {Full Review Here!}

Lip Fusion Micro Collagen Lip Plump in Fresh: This is my first Lip Fusion plumper, and I've been loving it. The shade is a sheer, slightly shimmery orange that looks great with a tan. The formula is thin, and it doesn't tingle as bad as some of the other plumpers I've tried. It makes my lips look really full and juicy, a look I've been loving lately. Overall, I'm looking forward to trying out more shades from this line!



















L-->R: Lip Fusion Fresh, CK Radar, Revlon Sunrise Nude, Nars Gina. 

Of these shades, I think Radar and Sunrise Nude have been worn most. I've really got a lot of these orangy lip colors and really am trying to not forget about them in my stash, which is so easy when you've got as many glosses like I do. 




















Top row: Stila Starlight, Cloud, Grace, and Lemon.
Bottom Row: MAC MSF in Petticoat (some chipped of and I pressed it), Stila Barefoot Contessa, Mystic, and Sajama.  

Stila Eyeshadows: When it comes to shadow, I've been keeping it pretty simple. I've rediscovered Mystic and Sajama in my collection and stuck them in the 8 pan palette to keep them close. I've been mainly using those two along with Starlight and Grace. Grace looks really nice layered over top Mystic. It's a strange combo, but it looks really pretty--not too blue but not exactly brown either. Almost like one of those duochrome shadows from MAC--it looks different depending on the lighting.




















L-->R: Stila Starlight, Grace, Mystic and Sajama. 

Of these shades, Sajama is a matte formula and Stila's matte shades can be difficult to work with. I really had to dig in the pan to get this swatch. I like to use it along my upper lash line, over a dark liner or by itself wet. It gives this hazy smokly lash look that's very easy to do.


 

















Funky Fingers Nail Polish in Kingston:This last item is one I've been obsessed with for the past six months or so. It's a nail polish from a relatively unknown brand called Funky Fingers, and the shade is Kingston. I found this gem for $2.50 at a Five Below store and have been wearing it pretty much non stop since. It's a pretty neon orange that looks amazing in the sunlight. It's so bright and fun that I always wear it poolside or to the beach. The formula isn't the best and it starts to chip after about three days of wear, but honestly, I couldn't care less because the color is absolutely stunning. Also on the plus side, it dries to a matte finish (I use a topcoat over) and matte shades tend to dry really quickly. I've been on the hunt for a back up of this color because I'm more than half way through with it, but I haven't been able to find anything yet :(

That's it for my June Favorites! Tried any of these products? Loved them? Hated them? Want a review of one of the products featured? Let me know in comments!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

{My Most Worn} Lip Glosses

Hey there everyone! I just thought I'd quickly share with you some of my most worn lip glosses. If these were eyeshadows you'd probably see pan on them right now. I don't wear gloss every day, so for me to use up so much of these glosses is pretty damn amazing in my opinion haha! They are all fairly wearable shades that I've been wearing a lot during the day or out at night. And I apologize for the quality of these pics. They were taken on my iPhone.



















L-->R: Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Kirk, Nars Lip Gloss in Chihuahua, Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished, Lancome Juicy Tube in Guava Enchantment, Sephora Nectar Shine Hydrating Care Lip Gloss SPF 8 in Mango Shine, and Estee Lauder Tender Lip Balm SPF 15 in Tender Peach.

If I've worn a gloss in the past 6 months, chances are it's one of these. Click on the links under each gloss to see what I've written about them in the past!

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Kirk: Smells amazing!!! Like brown sugar, creme brulee, vanilla, etc just soooo sweet and warm and good! I'm not crazy about the other shades in the range, but this one is very nude on my lips, evens out my color, and gives great shine. It has a brush applicator instead of a doe foot, so application can be sometimes messy as the brush tends to deposit a little too much product, but given how good it smells, I can forgive the brush haha. I highly recommend this gloss to anyone who loves a good smelling gloss. It's delicious!
          More here and here!

Nars Lip Gloss in Chihuahua: Doesn't smell that good lol, definitely nothing like the Pocket Rocket, but it's bearable. You probably can't tell from the picture, but I'm about half way done with this gloss. It's a very nice warm matte pink (swatches at the end of the post). It's one of those my lips but better glosses. It's very shiny too. Just an all around nice gloss for every day. 
          More here!

Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished: I've talked about this gloss sooooo much. I love it! It is just so pretty and purpley and shimmery haha! It also has a brush applicator, but this one, unlike the Pocket Rocket, gives just the right amount. I got this gloss for a buck at the Dollar Tree and wish I had a backup as they don't sell it there or anywhere else that I know of. 
          More here and here and here and here!


These next three glosses I've almost finished. 


L-->R: Lancome Juicy Tube in Guava Enchantment, Sephora Nectar Shine Hydrating Care Lip Gloss SPF 8 in Mango Shine, and Estee Lauder Tender Lip Balm SPF 15 in Tender Peach. 

When I say I've almost used them up I mean they are really nearly gone. Maybe a couple months of wear between the three, but I'm hoping to finish them before the end of summer. Keep a look out for them in my empties posts coming up :)

Lancome Juicy Tube in Guava Enchantment: I got this gloss at TJMaxx or Marshalls for around five dollars a few years ago and it's one of those glosses that gives a little color to my lips but nothing too much. With this on my lips look mostly clear, but brighter and fresher. It's super glossy and has a good lasting time. And it smells fruity! I'm not going to repurchase any more of the Juicy Tubes because I've been using them for so long that honestly from experience, I think some of the drugstore glosses are just as good.

Sephora Nectar Shine Hydrating Care Lip Gloss SPF 8 in Mango Shine: This is actually a fairly new gloss that I am shocked how much I've been using. I got it on clearance at Sephora for $5 and I love it! It smells a faintly fruity/citrus-y and is a sheer shimmery orange. This makes my eyes look so blue and just goes so well with my skin tone that no matter what eye makeup I'm wearing, this looks amazing on me. It's a thicker texture, almost like the Chanel Glossimers (gel/creme like) but is not sticky or tacky in any way. It never dries my lips out which is a plus!

Estee Lauder Tender Lip Balm SPF 15 in Tender Peach: I bought this gloss and a deeper/pinker shade called Tender Berry so long ago. It was one of the first items I bought at a store counter (as opposed to Sephora). I like it. It is very pigmented but can be sheered out, is moisturizing, and very glossy. It gives my lips a touch of color and makes them look very healthy. I think I would like these better if they didn't smell like SPF. It doesn't bother me too much, but combined with the not so nice taste, it can be a bit much if I've got a headache. Nevertheless, it's been one of my go to shades because I've been very determined to finish them haha
          More here and here!

And finally some swatches!


















L-->R: Nars Lipgloss in Chihuahua, Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Kirk, Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished.




















L-->R: Lancome Juicy Tube in Guava Enchantment, Sephora Nectar Shine Hydrating Care Lip Gloss SPF 8 in Mango Shine, and Estee Lauder Tender Lip Balm SPF 15 in Tender Peach.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

{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)].

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

{Haul} Sephora, Target, Xmas Tree Shop!

Top to bottom: Nars E/S in Mekong, Palladio Eye Ink in Navy, Benefit High Beam, and Lavera Trend Sensitive Lip Gloss in No.3 Berry.

Another haul! I stopped by the mall and just couldn't resist these four items which I've been eyeing for some time.

1. Sephora:
Nars Eyeshadow in Mekong and Benefit High Beam To-Go.

Nars Eyeshadow in Mekong.

I've been wanting this eyeshadow ever since they first released it. It's a blackened brown with golden shimmer in it, and it is absolutely stunning. It's very versatile because depending on how you apply it you can get completely different effects. As you can see, I couldn't resist trying it out a few times, haha!

I've been wanting Benefit's High Beam for a while now as well, but I just couldn't justify buying the full size because as someone with oily skin, the probability that I would go through even half of the bottle is very small. I was really happy when they came out with the to-go size!!! Only $10 too!

Swatches:
Nars Mekong and Benefit High Beam.

2. Target
Lavera Lip Gloss in No. 3, Berry.

I don't know if this brand is stocked in every target, but Lavera is a bit on the higher end and they offer natural and organic products. I'm very wary when I see a brand sold in, for all intents and purposes, a drugstore, claiming to be organic or natural, but I was sucked in with the gorgeous color!

Lavera Lip Gloss in No. 3 Berry.

A swatch:
It doesn't look like a berry color, but on the lips it just gives enough color to look full and sophisticated. I love how this color looks with just some navy liquid liner. Stunning!

3. Christmas Tree Shop
Palladio Eye Ink in Navy.

I don't know if you guys shop at Christmas Tree Shop, but the one at my mall has a full cosmetics section, just like the ones you see at the drugstore. They stock the bigger brands like L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Revlon, but also smaller brands like Prestige and Palladio. They also have brushes from Ecotools and a bunch of other brands I would only get at Sally Beauty Supply. What sucked me in is that the liners in the Palladio display had testers and I was pleasantly surprised by the small size of the Eye Ink liners felt tip applicator. I'll do a full review later but I definitely suggest you check these out!

A swatch:

Don't be mislead by the swatch. I didn't fully read the label so I hadn't shaken it before swatching. I'll do a full review with better swatches! I really like this liner and am definitely gonna go get more colors. There area a lot of shades!

Well, that's it for the haul! Nothing major, but I thought I'd share anyway!

{Favorites} February 2011

So here are February Favorites! I know, a little late but everything's been so hectic lately that this is the fastest I could get them out. Not as many as last month, but I've been using a lot of the same so I figured I'd skip the repeats.

1. Skincare
L to R: Nature's Gate C For Yourself Serum, Philosophy Grace Perfumed Body Lotion, The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue Lotion.

I've really been loving all three. I'm almost done with the Philosophy Grace lotion (you can't tell, but trust me on that) and I'm thinking about getting the full size. I put this on right after I get out of the shower, all over, and it makes me smell like I've spent the day at the beach! So pretty! I always get compliments when I wear this.

The C For Yourself serum is a bit heavier than I like a serum to be so I haven't been wearing it during the day but rather at night underneath my regular moisturizer. It's a re-texturizing serum and in the morning my skin feels really smooth like I've exfoliated.

The texture of The Body Shops Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue cream is unlike anything I've ever tried before. It's more solid than a regular lotion, but almost has the consistency of a balm, but softer. It smells amazing though and makes my feet feel so smooth and soft. I put this on before bed, a thick layer, and wear socks. I wake up in the morn with the most soft and supple feet.

L to R: Nature's Gate C For Yourself Serum, Philosophy Grace, and The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue.

2. Makeup
Clockwise: Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow in Earth Reflection, Nars Single Eyeshadow in Nepal, and L.A. Colors 12 Color E/S Palette in Traditional.

I've really been into neutrals this month. I never really go nuts with eyeshadow but I usually wear a mix of neutrals and a shade of purple or navy. This past month has really just ben neutrals. I've especially been loving pairing my Nars shadow in Nepal with any of the shades from the L.A. Colors 12 Color Palette in Traditional. If you remember, I got this palette for $1 (!!!), but it is really an awesome neutral palette. The Dior palette is great too, but it can bee a bit to shimmery for day so I've been using it at night with a liquid liner.

3. Hair Care:
Garnier Nutrient Spray and H2O Spa Hair Repair Seaweed Mask and Conditioner

I've been using the H2O Seaweed Mask and Conditioner as a hair conditioner. If I use it as a mask it is a bit too heavy for my thick hair. As you can see I'm almost done and I definitely will repurchase this one. It doesn't smell the best, kinda herbal-y, but my hair feels really healthy after I use it.

The Garnier Nutrient Spray is one of those products that has the dual layer (like Lancome's famous Bi-Facil makeup remover). You shake it up and then spray. I use this on damp towel dried hair before I blow dry. If I use it on dry hair I have to be careful not to spritz too much or my hair will be too oily. On dry hair one spray is enough to give me some shine. On damp hair I spray 3 times, rub it in, and then blow dry. My hair ends up looking very very healthy and shiny. You have to remember to shake it before using it otherwise the oil and water based ingredients won't work together.

4. Perfume
Marc Jacobs Splash in Gardenia

All this is is a body spray. It smells amazing. My favorite flower is the white gardenia. I love how they smell and look and everything lol! This spray is light and perfect for everyday use. I layer this over the Philosophy Grace lotion after I shower and then maybe another perfume like my Chance by Chanel. People always ask what I'm wearing when I wear this, especially when I layer it over Philosophy Grace. If you want an inexpensive dupe for this, Bodycology has a body spray in white gardenia. It's around $4 and it smells exactly the same only a little bit stronger. They actually have an entire line of lotions, sprays etc with the white gardenia scent. I've reviewed the lotion from the collection.




I've been using this for most of the month and I've barely made a dent in the MASSIVE bottle. You get an astounding 10 fl oz!!! I've only used a tiny bit over a cm, so this is going to last me forever.

That's it for February! I'll be posting a haul later today so stay tuned!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

{Swatches} 4 Random Glosses From My Collection

Top to bottom: Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Kirk, Nars Lip Gloss Duo in Giza (left) and Boogie Nights (right), Calvin Klein Gloss in Parfait, and Nars Gloss in Dolce Vita.

I feel like I've been doing a lot of skin care reviews lately, so I figured I do some random swatches for you guys! And believe it or not, but I got the Nars duo gloss at TJ Maxx for $3!!! And the Pocket Rocket in Kirk smells like brown sugar or creme brule. Mmmmmm!

L to R: Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Kirk, Nars Lip Gloss Duo in Giza (left) and Boogie Nights (right), Calvin Klein Gloss in Parfait, and Nars Gloss in Dolce Vita.


L to R: Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Kirk, Nars Lip Gloss Duo in Giza (left) and Boogie Nights (right), Calvin Klein Gloss in Parfait, and Nars Gloss in Dolce Vita.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Monday Makeup Motivation pt 2: Nars Holiday 2010


The eyeshadow used is their Okinawa LE trio. I've really been into blue eyeshadow lately, but I've mostly been wearing my Lancome shadow in The New Blue, a metallic blackened blue with either Lancome's Socialite (for a cooler look) or Mac's Style Snob (for a warmer look). I'll try to post a look later in the week!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Quick EOTD!


I know, it's been a while since I've been here. Just got the laptop back and will try to post as much as possible in between classes. Sorry for the funky lighting in the pic. Idk what happened, but all the other pcis were blurry so it was this or nothing :( Anyway, I used three shadows: Nars Nepal, Urban Decay YDK and Electric. An odd combo, brown/bronze and matte blue, but they look gorgeous together! Oh, and ignore the bit of mascara on the inside. I didn't notice until I'd already taken the pics.

Here are the shadows:

CW from top: UD YDK, Nars Nepal, UD Electric


CW from top: UD YDK, Nars Nepal, UD Electric

Swatches:

L to R: Nars Nepal, UD YDK, UD Electric.

I'm really loving Nepal specifically because it's very multipurpose. I use it as a shadow, a highlighter all over my face, or a bronzer even. It looks very natural because it's not a garish white like many of the lighter highlighters on the market. And if I use it in the inner corners I get this pretty sultry look. Electric I've been using when I'm in a hurry but want some color. I usually just line my upper lash line, but I wanted to try something different this time so I diffused it around.

More coming soon!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Review: NARS Lip Gloss in Dolce Vita


I was going through my MacBook Pro when I got it back from the Apple store a few days ago and I came across a large batch of pictures from when I first started my blogger. I mentioned Dolce Vita in my last post, the review on Revlon's Super Lustrous gloss in Cherries in the Glow so I thought I'd post it. I actually photographed them the same day more than a year ago, haha, and then totally forgot about them!


Dolce Vita is my favorite shade of all time. Of all the drugstore and high end mauvy shades that I've come across this one is the only one that has enough pink in it (as opposed to brown) that it doesn't age me if I wear it full on. While the formula isn't one of my favorite,s the shade is perfect for me. It makes my blue eyes look amazing!

The applicator:

If you've never tried any of the glosses from NARS let me tell you, they are very thick, and you really need the doe foot to apply it. This is one of my biggest complaints about most of the NARS glosses. They are very thick and difficult to spread across you bare lips. I usually wear gloss over a balm anyway, but I know that many prefer to apply straight to the lips which can be uncomfortable. I also find it odd how NARS isn't consistent with the formula of their glosses. Some, like Giza, are perfect. They apply very smoothly, while others, like Dolce Vita and Striptease, are thick and difficult to wear. At first I thought that it was perhaps the shimmery ones that apply more difficultly because I don't have any problems with Chihuahua either, but Dolce Vita is matte as well so I've got no idea why there is such a discrepancy in texture.

Anyway, here's a swatch:

As you can see, it is VERY VERY pigmented. Like, crazy pigmented. It's a gorgeous cool mauve shade, a bit more on the rosy side. Really pretty with blue eyes and beige eyeshadow or just black eye liner!

A lip swatch:

It makes my lips look very pretty! It looks great with black eyeliner and mascara. It gives my lips this almost smoky/sultry look without being too over the top. If you like nudes of mauves than this is the must have shade for you!

However, while the shade is gorgeous, there are many aspects of this gloss that I absolutely hate. First off, the texture. Very thick, difficult to spread. Second, it smells, just absolutely reeks. Kinda like plastic and rubber. Ugh. It's not noticeable after a few minutes, but still, gross. Third, the packaging. I loved it at first because it didn't show my finger prints, but after a while you notice how everything sticks to it. Every bit of oil from your fingers, the powder you applied, the bit of glitter from you eye makeup, the pencil/pen in you bag. Everything ends up on the case and I find myself wiping it every few applications.

Not everything is bad, though. One HUGE plus for this gloss is the pigmentation. I apply this one over a balm so it's a lot more spreadable so I don't have to use as much. In fact, a little goes a long way and it gives really good shine. Usually I find that NARS glosses don't apply that shiny, more toned down which is good for work, but I find that this one applies very shiny, almost with a lacquer finish. I would recommend this gloss to anyone who likes rosier mauve shades. Otherwise, you may be too annoyed with the texture and smell of this gloss to wear it. I've been thinking of getting the lipstick version, but I'm gonna try to finish this one first.

Info:

Price: $24

Ingredients: Lanolin Oil, Polyisobutene, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Myristyl Lactate, Ozokerite, Cera Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera Wax), Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil (Castor), May Contain: Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491, 77492, 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7 Lake), CI 45380 (Red 22 Lake), CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), CI 73360 (Red 30 Lake), CI 17200 (Red 33 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride), CI 75470 (Carmine)

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.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Sneakpeak: NARS Fall 2010 Collection!!! Gorgeous!


I saw these pictures and I almost swooned!!! Absolutely gorgeous!!! Then again, though, I do have a bit of a Nars shadow addiction.

Here's what I'm eyeing:








Stunning, aren't they!?