Travel Sized Beauty

I am getting ready to travel back to my parents house (again, I know) this weekend to say goodbye to my dear friend who is moving to Ireland.  I was thinking about everything that will be checked versus everything I will carry on, and I got to thinking.  I will never be able to get away with not checking a bag. 

First of all, I am on a lot of prescription products for my acne and psoriasis, but those aren't the problem.  Dermatologists are usually more than happy to give you sample sizes of those for travel purposes.  My issue is my other skincare and makeup items. 

Absolutely none of my Chantecaille products come in sizes that are travel friendly, and we all know how much Chantecaille I use.  Maybe (in my dreams I know) Chantecaille will see this post and make a travel sized vital essence!! I can always stick some future skin in a sample pot, so that isn't the issue.

Apart from use in actual travel, travel sized items are a really nice way to try a product that you are unfamiliar with.  They are also perfect for keeping in your handbag as us beauty junkies tend to attempt to stuff our purses with way to many cosmetic items.  I love mini sized lip glosses and such for just this purpose.  I know Chantecaille did a small sized powder in a collection a couple winters ago, but I wasn't into the brand at that time and missed out on it. 

Are their any companies you wish made small sizes or any products you wish came in travel sized?



image from stuffunemployedpeoplelike.com

Chantecaille Winter Bloom Blush

Yes, I know, more Chantecaille.  Well, if you don't like it then you should probably leave now.

I think I have covered quite a bit of their line thus far, but here, I present to you, the blush in Winter Bloom.  I swapped for this initially, but now that I have the Promenade in Prague palette (I am collecting the palettes, kind of, in case I haven't mentioned that yet) I swapped this one away because it is in that palette. 

Winter Bloom is a really nice peach color that makes my cheeks just glow.  I was amazed when I first wore it because I couldn't perceive any shimmer in the pan at all. 

I would say this is decently pigmented but not so much that pale girls can't wear it.  You can definitely adjust for more or less color.  I actually prefer for my makeup colors to be able to be built up instead of needing to be toned down.  I just find this kind of scheme easier for my hurried lifestyle.

This is a swatch in natural light. I don't think I really captured the glowiness, but it's pretty darn color acurate.

Overall, I would recommend this to any and all fans of peach blush.  If you want it in the little case, it retails for $28.  If you prefer to put it in a palette, you can get just the pan for $21.

Chantecaille Quartz

My love for Chantecaille is no secret.  I have recently fallen in love with the eyeshadows and have started collecting the palettes. They are amazing, creamy, decently pigmented, and smooth.  I love how the shimmery shadows have tasteful shimmer, like quartz here. 

 Quartz is a kind of taupey color with pinkey red shimmer. 

 Its a really nice my lids but better (MLBB) color. Lasting power is pretty good, even without a primer. 

If you haven't already, I would highly recommend checking out Chantecaille eye shadows. They are available on Chantecailles own website, Nordstrom, Saks, and Neimans.  Free pans, as pictured above, retail for $21 and with a container retail for $28. 

Benefit Porefessional

I must say, I am somewhat of a primer-phobe.  I think it stems from the fact that I am very acne prone and don't like to use too much on my skin for fear of breaking it out.  This means that for the first several months I only used Porefessional as a touch up product.
Porefessional is a mattifier that helps to disguise the appearance of pores.  It definitely has a siliconey feeling, much like Smashbox's primer.  It is lightly colored beige, but I don't think it really translates on to the skin.  It has a slight scent which I find to be pleasant, but scent sensitive people be forewarned.

It comes is squeeze tube packaging which is nice and sanitary for the germaphobes of the world.  You get a decent amount of product. I would say it should last at least several months with daily use.

 Here is a blob on my hand, to show color and texture.

Porefessional can be used two ways.  One is as a mattifying touch up.  This is how I originally used it. I would pat a small amount over any shiney areas, and, I must say, the result was amazing. It really did disguise pores and mattify.  The effect lasts several hours as well.  I did finally break down and try it as a primer. It cooperates really well with my Chantecaille Future Skin founation and keeps me from getting shiney.  This lasts a little bit longer than using it as a touch up does.

Overall, I would highly recommend anyone who suffers from shine or large pores give this product a try.

Here you can see it blended out on my hand.



Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes from the company. This in no way influenced my opinion on the product.

This product can be purchased here.  Note: this is an affiliate link. 

Happy New Year!

Happy 2011 to everyone! The first thing I did in 2011 was watch Ghostbusters.  It was on Comedy Central when I woke up. So, I say I started it off right.

I updated my blog sale today. Links to that can be found to the right. Head over and check it out!

What was the first thing you did in 2011?

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.