{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!

{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.

Look: Purple Passion

So I promised a purple look using the above palette, Lancome's Passion quad, and here it is!





I went for a cool-ish/smoky-ish purple look with heavier liner.

Products used:
UDPP
Lancome Eyeshadow Quad in 4 Passion
Sonia Kashuk Eye Maker in Black
Lancome Difinicils Mascara in Aubergine Royal

Review: Sonia Kashuk Eye Marker

Sorry for the blurry image! It kept rolling :(


Why is it that products made in other countries seem so much better?


The applicator, as you can see, is slightly different from the traditional liquid eyeliner brush or felt tip. It is a felt tip, but what makes it better is that the liquid goes through it, and doesn't goop, so you get less mistakes.


Here's a swatch:

As you can see, you can go really thick or much thinner. The liner itself isn't as opaque as others with a brush or felt tip, but that is only because the applicator is a bit harder.

Here it is on my eye (what the heck is up with those lashes!?):



As you can see from the photo's above, it applies very well. I think that it is easier to use than liners with brush applicators because you don't even have to drag it across the lid if you don't want to. You can actually just press the side of the applicator to the lid. Do this all across and you get a nice and even line as the applicator is very firm. It also wears very well. It did smudge slightly in the inner corner, but I've gotten that with just about every liner that I've tried, high and low end (just check out my review of Smashbox's Jet Set liner here). Overall, the formula did wear well.

This product isn't perfect, however. One gripe I have is with the packaging. The cap can be difficult to remove as it doesn't have any texture on the outside so it can be hard to grip. Sometimes I tug and I tug and all of a sudden it gives and I end up with liner on my hand. However, feel good knowing that there is no way that this baby is coming open in you bag :D Another thing that my bother some people is the finish. It dries slightly glossy, but not really enough to bother me. If you are a die hard matte person, this might irritate you. I think that for the price, however, this liner is a gem!

Info:

Price: $5.99 (exclusively at Target)

Ingredients: Not listed on the product and I could not find them online.

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.