Favorites of 2010

In the spirit of New Years Eve, I decided to post about my favorites from 2010.  I am not restricting myself to just items that were released in 2010 because, let's face it, there probably wouldn't be that much (I'm a sad college student :P ).  I will restrict myself to 10 things.

1. Chantecaille 

I have really gotten into this brand this year. I have fallen in love with the skincare line, which is probably one of the only lines that does not create the burning sensation on my skin that other skincare usually does (thank you retin A micro).  I have also discovered future skin foundation which is now my holy grail (HG).  I have started to kind of collect that palettes which are completely gorgeous.

2. Chanel Illusion D'or

This was released this year along with several other polishes and a cake eyeliner.  I love this as a layering polish.  It looks awesome over teal, pink and black. 


3. Clarisonic
I don't have a picture of this yet. (I know, I need to review my skincare routine for you guys) This has really helped my skin out alot.  I no longer get large cystic like pimples.  I use it every night with Clinique take the day off balm. 

4. Qtica Natural Nail Growth Stimulator
I have been using this for about 3 months now.  It has helped quite a bit with the peelies I have been suffering from for quite some time.  I use it as a base coat before using colored products.


5. YSL Parisienne 
This was a gift from the darling boyfriend. Its a really nice scent. I am loving it as my fall/winter scent.

6. DDF sulfer mask
I got this from a Hautlook sale earlier in the year.  I use this every once in a while as a spot treatment at night and it works quite well.  I like to use it as an overall mask as well.  I have started using masks alot more in 2010, and I have noticed a real difference in my skin. 

7. Shu Uemura Lollishines

I have acquired 3 (I think) of these in 2010.  I have very dry lips and these are quite moisturizing.  The ones I have are quite shimmery and glittery, which I like, but I know is not everyones forte.

8. Chanel Glossimers

Ok, so I discovered these way before 2010, but they are so amazing.  They deserve to be on my favorites list every year. I did get pleasing from the Holiday 2010 collection which has become a favorite gloss.

9. Neosporin
Yes, this one is way old, but, I am adding it here not for the intended purpose. It works great to prevent scars and help heal cuts on the body (my knee is evidence of that), so I decided, hey, why don't I try using it on popped pimples. Well, whadaya know, works great there too.  I just dab some of after I have popped. (I know I shouldn't be popping pimples but I cant stand looking at a nasty whitehead).

10. Laura Mercier Eye Kohls

I have acquired almost all of the colors in the past year.  Brown copper is still my end all be all favorite, but I have a soft spot for the others as well.

I really want to thank all the readers I acquired in 2010.  My blog is just about a year old, and even though I haven't given the blog as much attention in the past couple of months as I would have liked to, I really enjoyed all of it.  I think I have really found some great products in 2010, and I look forward to seeing what 2011 has in store (I am so eying that turtle palette that Chantecaille has coming soon).

Haus of Gloi Yuletide

I am throwing up a quick review of the two Haus of Gloi yuletide items I ordered.  I also ordered some products in the regular line as well, but I will review those more thoroughly later. 

From the Yuletide line, I got 2 pumpkin butters, Hearth and Snow Wolf.  To be completely honest, on initial smell, I disliked both.  Snow wolf is very gourmand with a spicy note to it. (I am inserting a little caveat here that I am awful at describing scents but I will try).  However, I put it on because I have heard that the Haus of Gloi scents tend to change a bit when put on the skin.  I swiped some on the back of my hand and, after a little while, I decided that I quite like it.  It is still quite gourmand but it is more sugary, like frosting. 

The second scent I got was Hearth.  This was the one I thought I would love.  In the container, it is warm and somewhat spicy, very much a winter scent.  However, when I put it on my skin, it became mostly just spicy.  Not a bad scent, just not something I would normally wear.

Haus of Gloi describes Snow Wolf as having fir, frankincense, vanilla bean husk and blood cedar.  On my skin, I think the vanilla bean is mostly prevalent.  Hearth is described as having apple pickings, warm bread, orange rind, fire roasted chestnuts, cracked black pepper, and sticky benzoin.  I have never smelled fire roasted chestnuts, but I think that is probably the note that comes out most strongly on me. 

The Yuletide scents will be taken off of the Haus of Gloi site on January 5th, so if you are interested in any of those scents, snap them up while you can.

Blog Sales

Steven from the Blogsale List has featured myself and my blog sale on his blog (which reminds me that I really need to update the sale).  You can find the post here. The blog features various beauty related blog sales by many different bloggers. What a gem! A great place to browse if you like blog sales. 

He also does giveaways every month on the 15th.  You can win a $30 mini shopping spree where the winner gets refunded for purchases made from blog sales featured on the blog.  I would highly recommend heading over there and checking it out!

Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond

I am a bad makeup blogger. I own maybe two highlighters. I know, chastise me now. Its ok, I'm sure I will acquire more.  I got Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond (whew, that was a mouth full) back when Sephora had the friends and family sale, yay for 20% off! I had only been lemming it for basically ever. 
Amber Diamond has strips of color ranging from white to gold to bronze. You can use them to control the amount of color you want in your highlighter.  The left side is good for a lighter, more white highlighter.  The right side can be used for a darker, more bronzey gold highlighter.

I like to use it on the top of my cheekbones.  It can also be used down the bridge of the nose or anywhere else you would like to highlight.  I have also heard of people using it over a matte blush or as eyeshadow. 
The texture is amazing, light and buttery.  It is easy to use it subtley.  I just lightly swipe my brush across all the colors and tap off the excess before applying.  If you want more intensity, you can definitely layer it, but I think it can start to look a tad frosty. 

This swatch shows all the colors blended together.  It looks great on me when I'm pale and I'm sure will look even better when I am tan. 
The packaging is the typical sturdy, blue Dior packaging.  It comes in the velvety pouch as shown in the first picture. It also has a nice big mirror. 

This costs $44 and can be purchased at retailers such as Sephora and Nordstrom.

What is your favorite highlighter?

20 Days of Tinted Moisturizer: Day 9

Yes, I know you all probably thought I forgot about my tinted moisturizer series.  Well, I didn't, but I have been trying to clear up my face and haven't been trying new base products lately.  This review comes from a new reviewer to the blog, my mom.  My mom has quite different skin than mine.  She is light olive with very oily skin.  Although she is in her 50's, I wouldn't call her skin mature as she hardly has any wrinkles.  Her only issues are oiliness and some unevenness in pigmentation.

And now, on to the review.

This review is for the Vincent Longo Original Light Canvas Tinted Moisturizer spf 20. This tinted moisturizer comes in a brown plastic bottle with a pump style dispensing system.  I like that feature as I feel that it dispenses just the right amount.  I also like that the pump keeps it from being exposed to air so it doesn't dry out as fast.

The shade I am currently using is shade #3.  It is an excellent match for me.  It comes in 8 shades, numbers 1-8.  This is a great formula.  It blends very easily and looks natural.  It gives a nice glow and has just enough coverage to even out skin tone.  I have super oily skin and it doesnt make me feel oilier at all.  I also don't feel like i have anything one.  I love that is has spf 20, so I don't have to use an extra sunscreen. (Ok I'm going to intervene here and say that I do not recommend relying on makeup for your spf.  We do not use enough makeup to really rely on it as a source of sun protection.  I have bought her the La Roche Posay sunscreen but she really likes to minimize her routine.)

 (this swatch is on my arm. I think this can be sheered out enough to look good on both myself and my mother, despite our slight color differences.)

I purchased this at Bath and Body Works when the store was discontinuing carrying the brand, so I got it highly discounted.  I bought several at that time as it was such a good deal.

Overall, I would recommend this to those with normal to oily skin who only need light to medium coverage.

This can be purchased at VincentLongo.com and retails for $38.

Here is a list of ingredients which I found from the website mentioned above:
Octinoxate 8.00%, Octisalate 4.00%, Oxbenzone 3.00%   Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglycer, Butylene Glycol, C20-100 Alkyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylene Brossalate, Propylene Glycol, Dea-Cetyl Phosphate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Tocopheryl Acetate, C20-C22 Alcohols, Ethylhehyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Diazolidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Methylparaben. May contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492,77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica (CI 77019), Carmine (CI 75470).

This product can be purchased at Skincarerx.


*note: this post contains an affiliate link.  

Laura Mercier Eye Kohl set for Holiday

I don't think it has been any secret how much I love the Laura Mercier Eye Kohl pencils.  Brown copper is definitely HG status and has previously been reviewed here and here.  I have also swatched black turquoise here. 

This set includes 5 of the Laura Mercier kohls.  They are smaller than the normal ones, which is fine with me.  The colors are black gold, black turquiose, brown copper, black violet and stormy grey.  I swatched the 3 colors that had not been previously swatched. 

 They are (l-r) stormy grey, black violet and black gold.  This is in cool, natural light. I also took a picture with flash.

 Colors are in the same order as above.  As far as I can tell, they are the same quality as the regular sized ones. 

I bought this set from sephora during the friends and family sale.  I would highly recommend picking it up before its gone.

Lanolips in Rhubarb

Several weeks ago, I won this Lanolips in the shade rhubarb from My Lips But Better blog.  I was so so so excited as I pretty much never win anything.  My mom and I make my dad sign up for all contests and drawings as he is the lucky one in the family. 
Anyways, I've been wearing my Lanolips almost every day since receiving it in the mail, and I have to say, I'm in love.  The texture is light and not sticky.  It is very moisturizing.  I love that it has spf 15 to protect my lips from the sun (not that its out very much lately).

It is a squeeze tube with a blunt end instead of a slanted applicator tip.  I find it easiest to squeeze some out and use my finger to apply.  My only issue with the application is that in the cold weather, it gets difficult to squeeze out.  I usually stick it in my pocket for a bit to warm it up. 

As for the color, it is a nice warmish medium pink.  Being that it is mainly a balm, it isnt very pigmented.  I find that it imparts a sheer MLBB (my lips but better) look which is slightly hilarious considering where I got it from.  I don't detect any shimmer in it at all.

Would I recommend this? Yes I would.  Excellent product.  The only problem is that it isn't really available in the US.  In fact, I'm not really even sure how to get them in the US.  Ebay might be a good place to look to start out.  Hopefully they will come here soon. 

New Future Skin Shade and a Chantecaille Gift With Purchase

I have officially become pale. I had to make a trip out to Neimans to get a lighter shade of my beloved future skin foundation.  I went from shade Cream to shade Vanilla.

Here is a swatch to show the color.  I technically could still pull off cream because future skin just melds and adjust to your skin. It really is amazing. 

Carrie, my favorite Chantecaille SA, let me know about a gwp that was about to happen, so I also purchased the cleansing milk, the face brush, and hydra chic lipstick in tiger lilly.  I plan to review my skin care routine soon as well as the hydra chic.

The GWP included a rose gold colored bag

a green colored eyeshadow that I was told is the same as the green shadow in the Bengali palette

a mini liploss in mirth

as well as several skincare samples. 


I am really happy because I think I finally found a skincare routine that works.  Have you found skincare routines that you like? What are your favorite skincare items?

November Favorites

Here are some things that got alot of love in the month of November


Eye products:

• Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen
• Chantecaille Sylvie's Personal Palette
• Shu Uemura Brown cream shadow from the Egerie collection. Reviewed here
• Clinique Egyptian cream shaper
• Clinique Black Honey cream Liner

Face Products:

• Chantecaille future skin. reviewed here
• Vincent longo Creme concealer
• Physicians Formula Healthy Wear powder foundation in translucent medium
• Stila Convertible Color in Peony
• Armani Blush #2. reviewed here

Lip Products

• CO Bigelow mentha lipshines
• Rimmel Moisture renew lipstick in spotlight beige. Formula reviewed here

Did you have any beauty products stand out in November? If so, what were they?

Little Bits of Pretty

Today I'm just going to post some pictures.  Feel free to ask about anything you see.

What is natural?

My mother, who went through chemo several years ago, has recently become obsessed with only using natural products.  As I know just a bit more than her in the world of beauty, I have begun questioning, what really is natural?  I have heard that labels such as natural and organic are not regulated by the FDA.  If it is ok to slap such a label on any old product, how are we, the consumers, to know what is natural and what isn't.
I have recently gotten very much into the Chantecaille brand as a whole.  I love pretty much everything I have tried from them.  They boast an all natural and botanical line, which I mostly believe from looking at the ingredients and learning about the creators of the brand.
What do you think?  Do you mostly believe the brands that boast "all natural"?   Do you wear natural makeup and skincare?  What are your favorite brands?

image from thedailygreen.com

Sunday Stuff You Can't Have

Sorry for the blurry pictures today.  I just couldn't get my camera to focus.  The product I'm featuring is Laura Mercier's face tint in Filtered Brown.  I believe the face tints have been discontinued for about a year now.  I actually got this baby as an extra in a swap.  It is an interesting color, sort of brick-ish.

However, I did end up swapping this away.  I just really despise powder products.  Well, ok, I don't despise them.  I am just wayy too much of a klutz to own them.  They end up all over the place or dropped.  And we all know that never ends well. 

Strawberrynet does still have filtered brown face tint.  They also carry apricot, which I have heard is lovely.  Ebay probably has them pop up periodically too. 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

With all the sales that are occuring for black friday and cyber monday (for a list of sales check out Karlasugar.net and temptalia.com), what are you planning to buy?

I am considering taking part in Armani's friends and family sale as well as Shu Uemura's friends and family sale.  Both are for a 20% off discount.  Armani is having a special deal for a 6 piece gift with purchase if you wait until monday and spend $125. 

What am I buying?

From Armani:

Image from giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

This set includes Rouge d'Armani lipsticks in shades 102, 501, and 400. 

image from same source as above.

This is the new eyes to kill shadow in shade 15 which is a nice metallic bronze.

I will probably also pick up at least 1 Eyes to kill mascara in black. I have reviewed it before and it is still HG status for me. 

From Shu, I am considering the nubara stick foundation.  I also really love the antioxidant cleansing oil, but I asked for that for christmas.  I passed along the info for the ff sale to my mom so hopefully she takes advantage of it too.  

Will you be taking part in these sales or any others? What are you going to get?

Sunday Stuff You Can't Have

Today I am showing you the LE Chantecaille Sylvie's Personal Palette.  I actually managed to catch this on ebay for about $10 less than it retailed for. 

This is the perfect palette from going from day to night.  For work, I use the cream shade in the top left all over and then put the bronzey shade in the top right in my crease.  For night, I put the top right shade on the lid and the bottom right shade in the crease. 

Yes, the cream colored shade is swatched there. If you look really closely it is to the left of the bronzey shade.   The blush is quite bright, but I find it makes me look nice and healthy.  It is also easily toned down with a duo fiber brush.

Here are the colors in a little bit of a different light.  The colors really are more warm than they appear here.  The staying power is amazing and these really are quite pigmented. 

Overall, if you can find this on ebay or for swap on a site such as makeupalley, snatch it up.  Instant love, for me at least. 

Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color in GD810 Bullion

First of all, I would like to mention that I'm not really a fan of the name of this particular shadow.  I think bullion is a gross word.  I wasn't aware that it was named that when I bought it and that name is no where on the shadow.  I also don't really like things that don't have word names on the packaging.  There is no way I am going to remember that this is called GD810 if someone asks me what shadow I'm wearing! Ok, rant over. 

I actually really do love this shadow.  Shiseido has been rehauling their line with the help of esteemed makeup artist Dick Paige.  I am really loving  everything he is doing with the brand.  The colors and the formulas, at least what I have tried, have all been fantastic.  The packaging of this shadow is really nice, a sleek shiny black with a little flower emblem in the corner. 

I am really drawn to colors like this lately, as I have blue-ish eyes and coppery browns really make them stand out.  This color does not disappoint.  The formula is really silky and easy to apply and blend.  It lasts fairly well on me over a primer. 

This is a shimmer formula but it is definitely not frosty, just sophisticated and glowy. 

Overall, would I purchase this again(because I purchased it with my own money the first time)?  Heck yes I would!! I want to get more of the colors and am dying to go check out the trios. 

Armani's Gone but Not Forgotten Trunk Show

I am just popping in to give you all the link to Giorgio Armani's Last Call Trunk Show.  It offers Armani products at discounts up to 40% off, which I think is pretty darn awesome. 

Armani Trunk Show

I have featured several Armani products.  I have loved everything I have tried from the brand, so if you haven't tried them, I would highly recommend picking something up.


Disclaimer:  I am not at all affiliated with this trunk show or Armani Beauty.

Sunday Stuff You Can't Have

I have decided to start a new series.  This doesn't mean I'm abandoning the 20 Days of Tinted Moisturizer.  I have about 3 to review my self.  I am attempting to bully my mom into reviewing her tinted moisturizer for me and I'm going to get my grandma to review hers next time I see her. 

Anyways, this series is going to be Sunday Stuff You Can't Have.  I will feature a discontinued product each Sunday for you to drool at.  Saying you can't have it is just nice for the title.   Some of the items may still be available on ebay or other discount sites. 

Today is Guerlain lipgloss in 01.  I received this as an extra in a swap and it is really lovely.  I was very confused by it for some time because I can't figure out where it came from.  The packaging is similar to Guerlain's new glosses, but the color is certainly not similar to the new 01.  If anyone knows more info on this, I would love to hear about it.

The applicator is a doefoot applicator, which I like.  The texture is kind of thick, but its smears fine and settles in nicely with the heat of your lips.  It is decently moisturizing but not as much as the Chante gloss I featured yesterday.  It has a distinctly sweet smell, sort of like chocolate or something. 

The color is also chocolatey.  It has alot of shimmer and is distinctly brown.  I like it alot for fall, especially since the brown look of the 90's is on its way back. 

And another thing you can't have...

Maverick the chiweenie!  We think hes a chihuahua/weener dog mix.  Hes my parents dog as I can't have pets where I live.