Highlight, Contour, and Add Color with One Perfect Product. Edward Bess Quad Royale Summer in Capri 03 – swatches & review

The Quad Royale from Edward Bess is a “palette of four coordinated shades to sculp and highlight the face.” The four luminous shades can be used individually or swirled together for all-over color. Summer in Capri is one of the three variations of the Quad Royale palette and is described as a beige-pink. Also available is Monte Carlo 02, a golden coral (reviewed by mybeautysample.com) and South of France 01, a shimmery sand and the lightest of the three (reviewed by indigo-kir-royale.com)

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The Quad Royale is a lengthy 4 1/2 inches to accommodate the included brush. I do like the shape of the brush but it is rather rough and does impart heavy pigment, so be light. I would personally rather tote along a separate brush for touch-ups.

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The formula is exquisite and blends into the skin beautifully. The powder is incredibly soft and imparts strong pigment. The micro-shimmering particles leave behind a believable luminous glow. I do suggest using a soft brush and a light hand to slowly build up color to your desired intensity. A small soft contour brush is best for applying the colors individually.

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Summer in Capri is a collection of peach, mauve, tan, taupe, and pale pink tones. Most often, I first apply the two deepest shade on to the contours of my cheeks and temples. I then apply all four shades swirled together onto my cheeks.

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The swatches in both lights are true to their nature as they appear on my monitor. The photo with flash helps to show the gorgeous sheen that this powder possesses although not as well as it does in person. I am personally smitten with the formula and finish. In the image below please note that I have over-applied the blush to help show the color.

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Edward Bess Quad Royale in Summer in Capri $45

available at sephora, edwardbessneimanmarcus 

Posted in Makeup/Nails | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

L’Occitane Firming and Smoothing Almond Supple Skin Oil – review and fragrance favorite

The Almond Supple Skin Oil from L’Occitane is a “firming and moisturizing body oil that protects skin and restores elasticity and suppleness.”  The Supple Skin Oil contains high concentrations of Almond Oil along with the essential oils peppermint, palmarosa and immortelle.

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L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil is an indulgence I allow myself because it’s fragrance is a delight that I can’t quite deny myself. I’m sensitive to fragrances with such a finicky nose, so when I find one that brings me such pleasure, no matter what form it might take, I allow myself that indulgence. The Almond in the Almond Supple Skin Oil isn’t the one you will find in a kitchen. The fragrance is supple, clean, warm and incredibly inviting. It just so happens to be that the oil itself is an exceptional body moisturizer as well.

The Supple Skin Oil is a product geared toward woman during pregnancy for prevention of slack skin and stretch marks. I find it best to apply this oil to damp skin, it will cover with more ease while allowing you to use less product. You can very quickly run through this oil which is another reason I suggest applying it to damp skin. The oil is a heavier one and will certainly provide optimal moisture even when diluted. The Supple Skin Oil absorbs very quickly and wont leave you slick or greasy in any sense. What you can expect is intensely deeply nourished skin, a slight sheen, and a gorgeous fragrance.

The Almond Supple Skin Oil is top-notch as a moisturizer and gets a big recommendation from me. However with a $40 price tag I would hope this little bottle would stick around a bit longer than it does. Ultimitaley it is the scent that keeps me coming back. The ‘Amande’ line from L’Occitane also includes a ‘Smoothing Milk’ and a lovely moisturizing ‘Shower Oil’.

L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil $40 (sephora.com)

Have you tried the Almond Supple Skin Oil? What are some of your favorite body fragrances?

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Gorgeous Cosmetics Madam Mini False Eyelashes Review

The Australian beauty brand, Gorgeous Cosmetics carries an extensive array of high-quality false lashes. With 27 different varieties, including individual and strip lashes, there is one to reflect each persons personal style needs. The ‘Mini Lashes’ are one of their best-sellers, and I am sharing my review of them with you today.

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The Madam Mini Lashes are not really “mini” in any sense, but full and glamorous with just the right amount of drama. The lashes are very soft with a natural appeal. While the lashes are full, they are incredibly lightweight, which makes them a big winner in my book. Blinking won’t feel like an extreme sport because these wear so comfortably. The base of the lashes require the slightest amount of liner to disguise. The mini’s can be re-used up to 10 times, although I don’t personally find that feasible nor have I with any other falsies I have tried.

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A small vial of glue is concealed underneath the lash packaging and perfectly suitable for wear. These very helpful instructions are courtesy of the Gorgeous Cosmetics website:

  1. Curl lashes and coat with mascara.
  2. Apply a thin layer of Duo Lash Glue along the band of the false lash.
  3. Leave for 10 seconds until the glue becomes tacky (this makes the lashes easier to stick onto the eye).
  4. Stand really close to your mirror, holding your false lashes (the opposite end of the glue) between your thumb and forefinger, tilt head up and place lashes down on top of your natural lashes. The false lashes need to sit in between the skin of your eyelid and where your natural lashes grow.
  5. Use your fingers to press your natural and false lashes together so you don’t get a double lash.
  6. Finish with an eye liner to disguise where falsies have been applied.
 via gorgeouscosmetics.com

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The Madam Mini Lashes are incredibly beautiful and create a lovely, full effect. These beauties are perfect to add an extra amount of drama to your look. The lightweight feel and nearly invisible base make them a great option. I can see myself personally purchasing these when just the right occasion presents itself.

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Madame Mini Lashes $16

available at gorgeouscosmetics.com, nordstrom.com, and beautybar.com

*This post contains product(s) provided by PR for my consideration of review. I never receive compensation for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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April Favorites ’13

Some favorites from April …
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With the warmer weather and a self-tan I have been sporting a more natural look. A self-tan certainly helps to make that look more obtainable, that and a good skin-care routine. I can attribute two exceptional products for helping my skin to maintain optimal moisture; the Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum* from One Love Organics for day and Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil* for night. These two along with Clinique Even Better Eyes have been my HG on the skin care front.

My Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer has recently made its reappearance, reminding me once again just how much I love this product. This one provides a bit more coverage than your standard TM and provides an exceptional glow. I’ve recently picked up the Edward Bess Quad Royale in ‘Summer in Capri’ which I will be reviewing soon. In short, this bronzing-highlighting-blusher is an absolute beauty which I simply adore!

The It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under-Eye Concealer is a favorite year-round and the ultimate for concealer dark under-eye circles. I included this concealer this month as a must-have for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. The Bye-Bye Under Eye Concealer along with Clinique Even Better Eye Cream, Rohto Cool Eye Drops, and L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara will bring the life back to your eyes. 

On to my tips and toes, Chanel Azure has been a standard for my pedicures, while I have been sporting the white nail trend via Deborah Lippmann’s Amazing Grace. For my lips I have been either opting for my current favorite bright, Dior Addict Extreme in Diablotine or going for a golden-nude lip with some balm and NARS Cythere Velvet Gloss Pencil.

What have been some of your favorites for the month on April?

Posted in Favorite Products, Monthly Favorites | 17 Comments

Paul & Joe Cheek Color in Re-Belle from Spring 2013 Carousel Collection

My introduction into the whimsical world of Paul & Joe Beaute began with their ‘Carousel Collection’ released this past Spring. I’m not one who is usually drawn in to such “pretty” although it seems to happen more often the older I get. My curiosity for the collection first began when I caught a glimpse of the elephant lipstick case (cases and lipsticks are sold separately), which I found quite irresistible. After seeing some swatches of the blushes on some of my daily beauty reads my interest was further piqued.

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The Collection included three limited edition lipsticks. I soon found that tracking down one of these limited edition shades was not an easy feat. After some searching I finally came across the lovely coral shade ‘Merry-go-round’, which I had my eye on, at ASOS.com. I havent included swatches of the lipstick shade in this post because its simply not available anywhere to my knowledge, so on to the blush!

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Paul & Joe released 10 blushes in their ‘Carousel Collection’. Like the Lipsticks, the blushes are purchased separately from the cases and come out to $26 together, $18 for the blush and $8 for the case. The blush refill fits securely in place the compact by a magnet. I picked up the shade Re-belle described as a “blissful blend of shining rose and warm apricot designed for breathtakingly neutral looks.”

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Re-belle is a lovely pink-rose shade. It has a sweet scent of plastic childhood toys, Charmkins anyone? The scent isn’t that overwhelming and does disappear after some time. The two shades can be applied separately to create a lovely contour or swirled together. The blush contains a heavy over-spray of shimmer. Most of the over-spray washes away, although to my best efforts, quite a large amount of shimmer still remained. The shimmer particles are quite large and tend to sit in pores which is unfortunate because the blush is rather lovely. The formula is very soft and blends into skin quite beautifully, leaving a lovely sheen.

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I have over-applied Re-belle in the above image to best show the shade. When photographing these photos I need to consistently apply the blush as the intensity wore away very quickly. Paul and Joe Cheek Color is not one for long-wear but does create a lovely natural glow for several hours.

In conclusion, the wear of the blush and amount of shimmer doesn’t make this one a love for me. I am hoping in due time some more shimmer will wear away making it more wearable. I am not against shimmer if it is executed well, leaving a natural effect. The lipstick however is a beauty and I will gladly review it upon request.

Paul & Joe Cheek Color

available at b-glowing.com, beautyhabit.com, and asos.com

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Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics – Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum

One Love Organics, known for its hand-made, natural, and high potency skin care joined forces with the green beauty guru Elizabeth Dehn, the writer of BeautyBets.com. Together, with a commitment to natural ingredients, they created the Active Moisture Line. The Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum and the Active Moisture Vitamin E Eye Balm aim to deliver maximum moisture and anti-aging benefits to all skin types with the power of pharmaceutical-grade naturally active ingredients.

In creating the Active Moisture Line, Suzanne LeRoux the creator of One Love Organics (who also makes this beauty) and Elizabeth Dehn came to recognize that something was missing from their skin care products. That something was moisture, “not just any moisture but intense moisture and active ingredients that deliver maximum hydration benefits.”  A tune too familiar to me. Together, Suzanne and Elizabeth have given us what we have so desperately been seeking, nailing it with the Moisture Active Vitamin C Serum.

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The Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum helps to “restore moisture levels and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” It’s potent mixture of antioxidants “naturally brighten and replenish skin for a more radiant, even-toned complexion.” It contains vitamins A, C, D, & E, antioxidants from green tea oil and sea buckthorn oil as well as rare fatty Acid Omega 7, along with Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.

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This amped-up serum is a bit heavier than your traditional serum and has a gel consistency. It blends out similar to a dry oil that completely absorbs into the skin without leaving any excess grease. Your skin will drink this up and feel instantly plumped and intensely moisturized while your complexion is provided with an instant boost of radiance.

For a dry-skinned girl like myself I was quite surprised when my skin felt sufficiently moisturized with use of the serum alone. I have been using the Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum for about 7 weeks now with great results. My skin feels incredibly nourished, radiant and perhaps even a little brighter. In the morning, after toning, I apply one pump to my face and neck pressing the product into my skin using my fingertips. This product takes place of a serum and moisturizer and more than meets my needs. I highly recommend the Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum to anyone of any skin-type.

 Vitamin C Active Moisture Serum is $68 for 0.8 FL OZ

 Available at OneLoveOrganics.com

Also available is the Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics is a sample pack that includes sample sizes of the Vitamin C Serum and Vitamin E Eye Balm for those who like to try before they buy!

*Disclosure: This post contains product(s) provided to me by PR for my consideration of review. I do not receive compensation for my reviews and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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5 things this week…

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a white mani for the week and the latest Allure

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some people have asked if I picked up anything from the Sephora VIB sale – ergo – some well trusted staples and a few new things (Shiseido Foundation Brush is new and incredible!)

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some Paul & Joe whimsy

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the weather permitted sandals this week! (Chanel Azure pedi pairing)

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Blu amid the dandelions

I hope you all had a lovely week! 

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