{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} H20+ Body Oasis Intensive Hydrating Gel

If you've been reading my blog for a while now you know that I love finding interesting H20+ products at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Usually they are products that I absolutely love. While I've nearly finished this moisturizer and I like it, I can't say that I love it, and for a few reasons.


So what this is is a hydrating body gel. I love gel moisturizers. As someone with oily skin, I always look for light feeling hydrating gels, especially in the summer. And I love how the gel is blue. It really reminded me of a few Bliss products that I've tried in the past. I think that's what drew me to this gel.


The idea behind H20+ products is that they're supposedly filled with really really good things for skin. According to H20+ this gel contains mineralized sea water, unspecified marine extracts, vitamins A, C, E, Provitamin B, antioxidants, and amino acids. And it supposedly can also be used as a hydrating body mask. I remember reviewing Cliniques Moisture Surge gel (review here) and on that gl it also says that you can use it as amaks, but honestly I fail to see how that could possibly be better than just letting the gel be absorbed.


One place where this moisturizer fails is the dispenser. It would be a nice pump, but only with a facial product. It dispenses entirely too little product for body use and I constantly have to pump and pump and pump more out. I do like how I can twist and lock it though. It makes traveling with it a lot easier.


It looks very very blue when firs squeezed out, but worry not, it goes on clear. It looks like tooth paste lol!


My skin looks really nice after I've applied it right? Very smooth and hydrated. Or so you would think. Honestly, this gel is no where near as hydrating as the words "oasis" and "quenching" on the package lead me to believe. It is very very lightly moisturizing. Lighter I would even say than my Clinique Moisture Surge for face. I apply this and within hours my skin feels dry again. In addition, contrary to what the package says, it does leave a STICKY residue on my skin and hands after application. I've never had a gel do this. My skin felt sticky, like there was a film on it and I had to actually wash my hands after I applied it. It didn't feel like it had gotten absorbed, more like it dried. As much as I wanted to like this product, I just can't recommend it. For the retail price of $32 I was expecting a lot more. The only saving grace here is that I got it on clearance at TJMaxx for $3.

Info:

Price: $32 (retail)

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glycereth-7, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid, Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Fragrance (Parfum), Benzophenone-4, Linalool, Butylene Glycol, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Green 5 (CI 61570), Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Yellow 5 (CI 19140)

{Color Comparison} A Possible Dupe For MAC's Date Night Dazzleglass!?

So I bought MAC's Date Night Dazzleglass as a replacement for my Chanel Glossimer in Imaginaire a few weeks back and little did I know that I already had something that was very similar in my collection!

MAC's Date Night Dazzleglass in Date Night is a sheer plum with blue and golden glitter in it. It cost me $19.50 for 1.92 g of product.

The dupe that I found in my collection is a Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem gloss in the shade Embellished. I bought this at my local Dollar Tree for well, a dollar, and I got 3.1 g of product.

Although the shades are slightly different, the glitter is almost exactly the same and on the lips they look nearly identical.

Can you see how similar the glitter is? Date Night has more, but honestly, they are very very close.

They also have similar applicators. I'm not a big fan of lip glosses that come with brushes because they tend to apply too much gloss and leave me feeling goopy and sticky. Not the case with these two because the bristles are slightly shorter, so they don't dispense quite as much gloss.

And the swatches:

(L to R) MAC Dazzleglass in Date Night and Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished.

Date Night looks a swatches a bit darker than Embellished and definitely has more glitter. While they swatch differently on the hand, they look almost identical on the lips. The only difference on the lips is that the glitter in Embellished is a bit more wearable.


(L to R) MAC Dazzleglass in Date Night and Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished.


(L to R) MAC Dazzleglass in Date Night and Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished.

And lip swatches:

MAC Dazzleglass in Date Night

Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished

Can you see how similar they look on the lips? Nearly identical. And they both have about the same amount of shine. Sally Hansen's gloss is just a teeny bit less thick, but then again, MAC's not exactly known for non sticky gloss. And they last about the same amount of time as well ! Given that I found Embellished at the Dollar Tree for a buck, it is definitely the better value here! I highly recommend, if you like Date Night, that you check your local Dollar Tree to see if you can still get this one!

{Update} No Power For 4 Days = Pure HELL

So we've been getting a lot of storms on the east coast lately. A few weeks ago when that tornado hit Springfield, we had a power outage. I don't live in MA, but 30 mins away in CT, but we went 2 days with no power, no running water, etc. Just this past week, on Thursday we had another storm that left us without power for FOUR DAYS. Oh my God it was horrible. What makes it worse is that we have a well that supplies our water and the pump that pumps the water up and to the house needs electricity to work, so whenever we have no power we also have no water. It doesn't sound so bad until you realize that without water you can't flush a toilet. For four days whenever we wanted to flush the toilet we would need to refill the tank with two gallons of water. It sucked. But powers back so I'll be putting more posts up later today. It's been a crazy couple of weeks here and hopefully we've seen the worst of storms. Hopefully lol!

{Favorites} May 2011!

Hi everyone! Hope you are enjoying your Friday as much as I am enjoying mine! Here are my May favorites! This was definitely a cheek and lip month!

1. Skin Care

(L to R) Natures Gate C For Yourself Vitamin C Serum and The Body Shops Tea Tree Oil.

I've been using these two nonstop this month. The vitamin C serum, which smells a bit of oranges, is very light and absorbs very quickly. It is meant to retexture skin, but honestly I think it gives my skin the perfect amount of moisture during the day. It absorbs so quickly that it doesn't effect anything that I apply over top which I love. I do have a full review coming. TBS's Tea Tree Oil (15% tea tree oil) is great as a gentle acne treatment, for me at least. On my oily skin the treatment is a lot less harsh than salicylic acid or benzol peroxide treatments and although it isn't a miracle worker, it gets rid of acne overtime (as well as the scar) without irritating my skin too much.

2. Perfume

Calvin Klein Obsession Night

I've had this bottle forever, and oddly enough, although it is a more masculine, cologne, night perfume type of scent, I really love it for spring and summer. It's a bit sharper than other scents that I own so it smells very crisp, something I love on a humid day.

I'm almost done! And I just throw this one in my purse all the time which is why the bottle is so beat up and scratched up. I usually sprits it once in the morning and then again around four or 5 o'clock. The scent just lingers, which is nice. One sprits is not overwhelming at all.

3. Makeup

(Top to bottom) Calvin Klein Summer Affair Bronzer, MAC Petticoat MSF, Nars Deep Throat Blush, and Nars Laguna Body Illuminator.

SO I am very very pale and in the summer, because I don't like to tan, I definitely use bronzer and blush a bit more liberally. I've been loving the above four. I don't usually just wear them on their own but layer at least two of them for the nicest glow!

(L to R) Calvin Klein Summer Affair Bronzer and MAC Petticoat MSF

This has been my favorite combo for the past couple of months actually. I just apply the bronzer in the 3 E on my face and a little down my neck and then apply Petticoat lightly on the cheeks and temples. I find that sometimes bronzers can look a bit flat on my face, so layering Petticoat makes it look a bit more natural and believable. Also, I find that a lot of bronzers can look too orange, while a natural sun bronze would have a bit more red in it. Petticoat gives my skin a teeny bit of that red tone, so it looks a lot more believable.

Here's how it looks:

(Top to bottom) Layered, Petticoat, Summer Affair.

I know, not the best pic (I'll post a better one later) but I hope this gives you an idea of how I apply it. And I've been layering Petticoat over other blushes too. Some of then I haven't touched in months. I layer Petticoat over it and voila, a new finish/shade that I'm in love with again!

Nars Deep Throat Blush

I've never been a big fan of Nar's Orgasm simply because I don't really like blushes with gold shimmer in them, but Deep Throat, for some reason works for me. It looks very natural on me. When I blush naturally, this is the color my cheeks become. I've also been wearing this with my Calvin Klein bronzer a lot lately and it just looks very pretty.

Nars Deep Throat Blush

(L to R) Rimmel Lipstick in Undressed and NYC Lipstick in Caramel

This month I've really been liking bronzy or slightly peachy mostly nude lips. I've never been much of a lipstick lip gloss girl, but these two I've really really been wearing a lot. The Rimmel one is really old too, as you can tell by the packaging. I actually like this packaging better than the newer packaging which I find really bulky. The shade is one of the nicest neutrals I own because it's not too brown and has quite a coral undertone.

(L to R) Rimmel Lipstick in Undressed and NYC Lipstick in Caramel

Rimmel Lipstick in Undressed and NYC Lipstick in Caramel

I reviewed NYC's Caramel here if you're interested!

That's it for now! I hope all of you have an awesome weekend!

{Pan Porn} Woohoo!!!

Calvin Klein Summer Affair Bronzer

OMG!!! I hit pan in a BRONZER!!! I don't think this has ever happened before!!!

Isn't it pretty? I feel so triumphant lol! I'm pale but most bronzers look too orange on my skin so even when I find one I like I use it very very lightly.

Jemma Kidd Single Eyeshadow in Vintage

I really love this shade. It is probably the most shimmery and glittery eyeshadow I own and I love it for going out at night cause it just brings so much attention to the eyes. What I'm not loving about this shadow is how softly it is pressed. If you've ever used the Victorias Secret eyeshadows (the ones from the more expensive line in the square black packaging), the texture of these is about the same, so: very very soft. I've never dropped this shadow but it is chipped in three corners. I'm afraid that one of these days I will drop it and it will shatter everywhere. I love how it is a shimmery champagne but it has a bit of pink to it. I don't have anything remotely close to this shade in my collection.

Avon Eyeshadow Quad in Cocoa Glow

I've only been using the first and the third color consistently, but I really really love this quad. I don't think they even sell it anymore which makes me sad :( This palette has been my go too for many many mornings lol!

I don't know if you can tell, but the pans on the older Avon eyeshadows are deeper than those of regular eyeshadows. I didn't even realize how deep until I hip pan. They are about the size of CoverGirl eyeshadows quads, but deeper.

More to come soon!

{Haul} Collective: Target, MAC, Sephora, etc.

Hi! Another collective post, this time most of the things I bought during the month of May. And before I begin, I apologize for the poor quality of some of the pictures. I took these pics over the course of a month and sometimes I was in a big hurry:( I will be sure to post clearer pics of the products I review.

1.MAC

MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe and Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara

A couple of things caught my eye at MAC this past month. I've been eyeing Satin Taupe for a while now but never could justify buying it, especially as I've got about a million shades that are exactly like it, but I finally caved and bought it. And I was a bit intrigued by the two in one mascara. I know that Rimmel has one too, but I wanted to try the mac one and see how it compares. I'll be doing a full review soon!

2. Sephora

(L to R) Nars Laguna Body Illuminator (sample), Sephora Professional Mineral Makeup #45 Brush, Sephora by OPI nail polish in Traffic Stopper Copper.

So I finally caved and bought a couple of things I was eyeing at Sephora for a while now. A few months ago I got a large bamboo brush from Eco Tools, but it was a bit big for me and I finally found a smaller brush with the same type and density of bristles from Sephora. I've been loving it for buffing in foundation or cream bronzer. And the bronzer I got because I've been looking for something more natural looking than a powder bronzer. I got a sample of the body version to use on my face because I think the version made for face use is a little too sheer for my liking. I will have a full review soon!

3. The Body Shop

(L to R) TBS Cucumber Cleansing Milk and Cucumber Freshening Water.

The Body Shop had these on sale, two for $10 on all of the originals so I thought I'd try these. They both smell amazing, like the freshest cucumber smell I've ever smelled lol! I'll be doing a full review on these later on as well!

4. Target, Walgreens and the Dollar Tree

(L to R) ELF Complexion Perfection Powder, Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Orchid Frost, CoverGirl Nature Luxe Foundation in Flax, Revlon Nail Polish in Copper Penny, and Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Pink.

Of these I was most excited to try the ELF Powder. I actually wanted to try their HD powder because I've heard bloggers comparing it to MUFE's HD powder that costs $40, but I guess Target doesn't carry it. The Nature Luxe foundation from CoverGirl I'm kinda kicking myself about. It cost me $14. FOURTEEN DOLLARS!!! For a CoverGirl Product that is really expensive. When I saw that number ring up I was shocked. I was expecting somewhere in the range of $8-$10, but not $14. I was soooo temped to leave it you have no idea. Oh, and the thing I liked the most from this bunch was the Sinful Colors Polish. I've had it on my toes for the last week and every time I go out in the sun my feet look soooo nice!

(L to R) Almay Moisturzing Eye Makuep Remover, L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black and waterproof, CoverGirl Nature Luxe Foundation in Flax (don't know why I photographed it twice haha!).

If you read my last post you know I finished my Mary Kay Oil Free Eye Makup Remover, and I decided to go back to my trusty Almay remover. I like it. It does the job. It's cheap. Not much more I can say about it. Full review here! And I accidentally bought the waterproof version of Voluminous. I gave it to my mom and bought a regular one.

ELF Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets

A couple of months ago I finished my favorite blotting sheets from Boscia (lavender scented too!) and just never restocked. I saw these at target and decided to try them. I'll do a review, but for the most part they're kinda average. Not great but not the worst I've tried. They're kinda tiny though.

Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening System

I've heard a lot about this whitening system on YouTube from many other gurus and I decided to give it a try. It's only $10 though, so while I was happy it's cheap, I felt a bit hesitant using something so much cheaper than other whiteners that run about $40 and up. I'll do a full review in a bit, but for the most part I have to say I do like it!

(L to R) Cotton Rounds, Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, Elf Eye Primer, NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent.

I didn't finish my old Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, but I'm pretty sure my sister stole it when I was home for the weekend. And I ran out of my Sephora Professionals Eye Primer so I decided to try the Elf Primer before possibly buying UDPP again.

So that's it for now! More to come later!

{Empties} Collective!!!

1. NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder-I was very surprised how fast I went through this powder. I used it just about every morning for less than 6 months, but I've had loose powders last me for eons and eons because I didn't use them very often. I love this powder. It is a good cheap, no-frills, just-does-the-job powder.

2. Shiseido White Serum-This I actually got as a gift from a friend. I don't think I saw much lightening or evening, but it felt really moisturizing. I used it underneath my night moisturizer. I do have to say that at a pump a night I went through it in less than a month and a half. Given by how much this serum must have cost, that's a bit unacceptable to me.

3. Mary Kay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover-This makeup remover did the job. It removed the eye makeup, but honestly I can't say I will repurchase any time soon. Or ever. Because of the method of dispensing I wasted a lot of product. It lasted me less than two full months while the Almay one I usually use lasts me almost a full year and costs less than half. And I hated having to rub a lot when removing my eye makeup. If you are still interested click here for the full review!

4. Stila Pressed Powder-Although it is expensive, this is probably my favorite pressed powder ever. It is soooo soft and gives my skin a very air brushed look. I really like how you can just repurchase the pan of powder and not the full case. I probably will repurchase later, but only when I finish the powders I've got now.

5. Caswell-Massey Revitalizing Cool Cucumber Eye Pads-These I'm a bit mixed on. I liked putting them on my eye and relaxing at the end of a long day, but to be honest I didn't see any effect. They felt nice and moisturizing, but nothing that my regular eye cream wouldn't have done. For less than a dollar though, I'm ok with the disappointment.

6. Stella McCartney 5 benefits Moisturizing Cream (sample)-This was a sample I got at Marshall's for a couple of dollars in a set. I actually really liked it. It is a day cream (I think), but I used it at night because even in the winter it was a bit too rich for my very oily skin. It is wonderful on any dry patches though. My only complaint (well other than the price of the full size bottle) is the smell. I don't mind an herbal scent, but the smell of this stuff is overwhelming.

7. Boots No. 7 Radiant Glow Concealer-While this isn't an exact dupe of the YSL Touch Eclat, for $12.99 it is a very good illuminating concealer. It really isn't a high lighter like the YLS version, but more of a true concealer. My only complaint about this item is the lack of shades. It comes in two very similar very light shades. If you are deeper than say NW 25 or 30, then this product will not work for you. And it is very warm undertone. If you have a cooler, bluer undertone this will look too yellow on you.

8. Pixi Lash Boosting Mascara-I love this mascara for thickening. I was a bit hesitant about spending so much on a mascara at Target, but this mascara is really good for everyday volume. It is very very black too. My only complaint with this product is that although it isn't marketed as a waterproof mascara but is an absolute pain to get off. I mean, it is impossible to remove. On the one thing it's good because it doesn't budge during the day, but my eyes feel raw sometimes after I remove it.

9. Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara-I really like this mascara. It makes my eyelashes look longer and thicker. I didn't really see any drastic improvement in my lashes without this mascara, but it's still a good day mascara. The wand, I think however, is a bit unnecessarily large and the formula just a little too dry, but other than that it is a really solid mascara. If you're interested click here for the full review!

10. Lancome Waterproof Eyeliner-I am on the fence with this liner. On the one hand, it does a good job of subtly defining lashes, but on the other hand I could just as easily get the same effect with a drugstore liner. I know that Boots No 7 has liners that look almost exactly the same, from the colors to the design of the pencil, complete with a smudger. It's a good waterproof liner that lasts all day, but I just don't think it's worth the price.

11. Lancome Definicils Mascara-And finally, the mascara I've bought more of than any other mascara. I keep coming back to this mascara time and time again because it really is a good all around mascara. It gives decent volume, length, and definition, and has never once failed me. I don't usually use this as my daily mascara which is why a tube of this lasts me forever and I will definitely repurchase in the future.

That's it for now! More to come soon!