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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Summer favorites from Tarte Cosmetics

This Summer, I am excited to get glowing with two of my favorite products from Tarte Cosmetics. (Of course, I will also be using the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blissful that I got from Meg's Makeup earlier this year.) They are the LipSurgence natural lip luster in Buff & the Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in Rose. :)


I first learned about the LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster at the NYC Beautylish Spring Trends event! They were doing mini-makeovers and I received this gorgeous Buff color- a natural-looking shimmery pinkish nude in our goody bags. Psyched to try this out, I have been using as my summer lip staple so far! This lip stain glides on smooth for a hint of color perfect for the hot summer days. Also adore that it looks like a chubby lip pencil but no sharpening is required!

More reviews here.



Learn more about the Tarte's Shimmering Powder...


I received another Meg's Makeup gift package about 2 months ago which included the Provacateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder. I got a few repeats in the package so I didn't do a separate post, but I was excited to try this out! If you're looking for a subtle glow this summer, try this in Rose. I am a bit pale, and this hardly showed on my skin, but it gives my skin a nice sheen & glow to it. (used this for cheek highlighting) Color is definitely workable and blendable so you can keep adding to it, but this won't be giving you a bronzed look if that's what you're aiming for.

Read reviews on the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour blush here.

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Influenster's Beauty VoxBox has arrived!

influenster voxbox

This month, Influenster.com sent their members who were beauty badgeholders a Beauty VoxBox filled with beauty samples! What is a VoxBox? Who is Influenster? Influenster.com is a site that lets members (anyone can apply!) unlock badges (need to qualify for all!) to earn & review products. This community is great to learn about new products and read what your peers have to say about them. A VoxBox is what they call their themed goody boxes filled with products and samples for qualified samples to try out.


June's VoxBox theme was Beauty and as a beauty blogger, I was qualified to receive this month's box to try out these goodies!

The box's content includes:
1) Pure Silk Shave Cream in Raspberry Mist
2) Softsoap in PamperedHands Foaming Soap in Plum
3) Diamancel Diamond foot file
4) Green Tea Peel Off masque by Montagne Jeunesse
5) Garden Botanika's Anti-aging lip treatment
6) samples of the Meaningful Beauty skincare line by Cindy Crawford


:) Can you guess which product I tried first?

If you said the Green Tea Peel Off masque, you are correct! I love masks and green tea, so this combo peel off mask was something I couldn't wait to try. I have seen these masks before at drugstores and always thought they were great for travel- easy convenient packaging. I never bought them but I have tried this brand before from other goodie bags. Each package always contains more than one usage for me, so I conveniently placed the leftover contents in a sample jar. (This lasts about 2-3 more applications!)

The masque is actually more yellow (b/c of the lemon) than green as shown on the packaging but a thin, not too goopy, layer is all you need for this masque. After 15 minutes, it hardens and you can peel away! It's freshly scented w/ ginger, green tea, and lemon smells nice but I could do away with some artificial coloring as listed in the ingredients. Would love to see this more natural!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from Influenster to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Monday, June 27, 2011

Burt's Bees Skincare for Men Body Wash & Shaving Cream Review


Are you tired of your guy always using your skincare and/or bath products? It's time to introduce him to Burt's Bee's Skincare for Men collection!

This natural line is specially made for your guy (its packaging is black and sophisticated so your guy doesn't have to use the yellow/white packaging that you're used to with regular Burt's Bees products). I'm already a huge fan of Burt's Bees because they use natural ingredients that I have heard of and they work great! So, I wasn't surprised when I found out that their men's line works just as well.

I received the Natural Skin Care for Men Body Wash & Shaving Cream to test- two signature products from their line to check them out. Guy approved? Definitely! The Body Wash not only does its job well (leaves your body clean) but also leaves your skin feeling soft and smelling "manly." I believe its the cypress and fir oils that makes the scent feeling outdoors-y. The Shaving Cream was also well-liked as he liked this natural cream that "felt like silk" on his skin. (It makes me wonder what he has used in the past..but I'm glad that it's been well-received!) He also claimed a smoother shave each time so looks like I will be getting more of this!

Have your guys tried the Burt's Bees Natural SkinCare for Men yet?

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Clinique Bonus Time- Summer 2011 at Lord & Taylor

The Summer Clinique Bonus is available now at participating Lord & Taylor department stores until July 10! Check it out- for a $25+ Clinique purchase, you can take this home! :)



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Saturday, June 25, 2011

How-to: Summer Makeup Trends

TotalBeauty.com
7 Summer Makeup Trends (Plus Melt-Proof Tips)

The sexiest looks for 2011 -- and application secrets from the pros -- you'll want to try now


7 Summer Makeup Trends (Plus Melt-Proof Tips)

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup trends article

Imagine your $28 Dior Addict Lipstick after leaving it in your car on a super-hot summer day. You end up with a gooey, hot pink puddle of unusable goodness. Now, imagine that on your face. Yuck, right? Get this season's hottest makeup trends and expert tips on how to keep them from melting off your face.

Get expert advice

Sunday, June 12, 2011

How-to: Summer Hairstyles

TotalBeauty.com
5 Best Summer Hairstyles

Hair extraordinaire Charles Baker Strahan answers reader questions on styling hair in the summer


5 Best Summer Hairstyles

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article

As temperatures start to rise, it gets harder to keep hair cool and coiffed. So Strahan gives us tips to beat the heat while still looking great.

Get tips

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Schick® Quattro for Women Disposable Razor in Raspberry Rain




The Schick Quattro disposable razors now have them scented in Skintimate's shaving cream's Raspberry Rain. I remember my very first shaving cream was Skintimate (forgot the scent but it was a light green bottle) and I loved how smooth the cream felt on my legs. after a while I realized I could use my regular shower gel to save a bit.. I believe in multipurpose items! I have also been using Schick Razors dor a while now too..in particular the Schick Intuition (with the moisture bar surrounding the razors). I hasve used the Quattro before too when it first came out and was impressed with the four blade technology and two conditioning strips around the blades.



This new product marries the wonderful scent of Raspberry Rain, a berrylicious fragrance, and its 4 bladed razor to give you a close shave experience. Fruity scents are my fave and make me excited to use this even more!The rubber gripped handle also makes it easy to hold onto during each use. Each package comes in a set of 3 disposable razors..perfect for travel! Cost? about $7-8 for 3, so it's a pretty good deal. To make razors last longer, remove them from the bathroom reach time b/c the heat dulls the blades!


See an upclose picture of the razor blades for yourself...




(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Saturday, June 04, 2011

Caudalie Skincare products for the Summer



Love wine? I'm sure you'll love the benefits of the grapes and its skin even more once you learn that Caudalie skincare products are created using polyphenols from grapes and the vine. (Bonus! antioxidants within the vine & grapes are absorbed into your skin!) I was recently contacted by Caudalie to try some of their products in which they generously sent me a few for my skin type- combo/oily! I've only seen and heard of Caudalie before so I was intrigued! (Have you seen the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the Beauty Plaza? :D)

Did I mention that their products don't contain parabens, mineral oils and artificial colorings? More reviews here! The packaging of the products are also great b/c it lists instructions inside so it's really using the entire box to give you more information! (ie. how to apply and where to apply on your face)

Here are my impressions of a few Caudalie products:
(ranging in no particular order, they're all fab to use!)

1) Eau de Beaute aka Beauty Elixir- This beauty potion is literally a pick-me-up refreshing spray that I use throughout the day when I feel I have an additional layer of oil.. (I personally like to spray on a cotton pad and then swipe on my face.) My skin instantly feels cleaner and also smoother. The scent also smells really good (it's citrus!) and also contains a rosemary and peppermint oil!


2) VINOPURE Purifying Mask- This clarifying mask is meant to for those with combination skin & slight blemishes. What I like best about this creamy white mask is that it instantly absorbs into your skin so you're not left with a thick mask just sitting on top of your skin. It contains grape seed oil which helps makes the mask application feel so smooth. It also contains kaolin to help absorb the sebum on your skin. My skin feel so great after each use and a must-have for my summer skincare routine.


3) VINOPURE Matte Finish Liquid- I got a sample of this (perfect size to carry in my bag) and use this in the mornings. I would say it lasts about a few hours before my t-zone acts up again. I particularly like using this after my Beauty Elixir!

4) VINOPERFERFECT Radiance Serum- This anti-oxidant serum with extracts from the grapevine stalks is intended to give you smoother, brighter-looking skin. My skin has felt smoother after application (in fact my skin has felt a lot better since incorporating Caudalie into my skincare routine) and two drops of this serum is all I need for my entire face. I have some unevenness in my skin- somewhat blotchy cheeks so it helps even it out.


5) VINOSOURCE Quenching Sorbet-Creme- In this hot weather, the last thing I would think of is putting a moisturize on my skin. However, this is really what I need to help my skin control its oilies. This super light moisturizer hydrates my skin, so this prevents the sun from zapping out the moisture which would lead to my skin producing even more oil. Bottom line- it is key to moisturize even in the summer! (Use this after the matte finish liquid..)


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Friday, June 03, 2011

How-to: Morning Stretches!

TotalBeauty.com
7 Stretches That'll Wake You Up

Try these stretches that will take you from tired to bright-eyed all before your non-fat latte


7 Stretches That'll Wake You Up

This is a TotalBeauty.com stretching workout for women article

Don't reach for the snooze button for the millionth time. Rather take those 10 minutes to get your blood flowing with these easy-to-do yoga stretches.

See stretches

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Dove's Go Sleeveless Campaign & Review


The weather here has been extremely hot recently and when it's boiling out, you gotta stay protected! Several weeks ago, I joined the Dove Go Sleeveless Twitter party to talk about "going sleeveless" and chat w/ others about using Dove. I've used Dove deodorants before but I actually have a few I rotate between and use depending on what I'm doing.. ie: working out and/or everyday use. At the Twitter party, I learned about Dove's new deodorants and their campaign featuring Jessica Szohr from Gossip Girl! Basically, you're invited to design a tank top and win a trip. Unfortunately, the contest is over now but you're more than welcome to design and share that design w/ your pals on facebook here.


The hosts of the Twitter party reached out to me to review the Dove Ultimate Go Sleeveless anti-perspirant/deodorant to try. They come in two kinds- Pearl Finish & Nourished Beauty. They claim that in 5 days of using this, you will get softer, smoother underarms. I find if I have bumps in the area, they're caused my ingrown hair or even sweat. (ew, right?) So it's important to clean and even gently exfoliate daily! There are moisturizers and vitamins E & F formulated in the deodorant to give you the right protection and keep your skin smooth!

I received the Nourished Beauty finish...
since I wasn't sure what the difference between that and the Pearl Finish were. Upon my first application, I couldn't help but notice how SMOOOTH the application was. It literally glided on my skin and felt a bit like a moisturizer. It has that distinguished Dove logo on the top as well as a Dove soap scent (which I'm not too crazy about). And after using it for a week, I found my underarms to be smooth and dry! As it should always! ;) The wearhter lately has been so humid that leaving the house w/o protection can be quite dangerous.. who wants sweaty pits when you can get the protection from Dove Ultimate Go Sleeveless? I recommend the Nourished Beauty if you're looking for a smooth change, or at least rotate it in your usage (esp. if you're like me and need to have choices!)

Learn more about Dove's Ultimate Go Sleeveless Nourished Beauty here.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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!

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

JUARA Skincare: Glow on the Go-Travel Set review

Happy June! This month, I will be traveling a bit for work and for leisure so apologies in advance if my posts will be sporadic..
When traveling, I only bring my essentials and travel-friendly items aka items that are less than 3 ounces! Juara Skincare offers this amazing kit with skincare essentials that will definitely take care of my skincare needs!


I first learned about Juara Skincare from Meg's Makeup and loved their Sweet Black Tea and Rice facial moisturizer, so I was, of course, excited to learn more about the other products JUARA Skincare offers at the Plaza Beauty for a Mother's Day Preview event. At the event, I saw a display of JUARA goodies that I got to test, including their Candlenut body creme, and perfume roller. I have to say that I really like the scent of Candlenut. It was explained to me as a "poor man's" nut but it smells really good! The cream is so moisturizing and made my skin feel smooth. I also tried their body polish- which is great for dry elbows.


As an attendee of the event, I got to take home their Glow on the Go Travel Set to use these goodies at home. Here are some of my initial thoughts:

This kit contains:
- Rice Facial Cleanser (1.1 oz) A gentle cleanser to use in the mornings, this smells great and contains rice to smooth and soothe your skin. Found this semi-foaming cleansing to
- Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner (1.1 oz) This toner will keep my oily skin at bay as well as keep it refreshed! Definitely a must-use after cleansing.
- Turmeric Antioxidant Facial Mask (0.5 oz) This tingly facial mask is great to use once or twice a week to help even out skin tone and brighten your skin. It contains turmeric to help just do that and it is not overdrying for my sensitive skin.
- Sweet Black Tea & Rice Facial Moisturizer (0.5 oz) This is the moisturizer sample I received from Meg's Makeup! Lightly scented and works wonders- however since it is no longer the winter time and my skin is getting extremely oily in this humid weather, I am only using this at night! During the day, I have started to use their mattefying lotion.
- Travel Size Candlenut Hand & Body Balm (1.2 oz) My skin feels moisturized and smooth after slathering the candlenut balm into my skin. The scent is exotic which is what I love best about Juara skincare in general.

All in all, this is a great, handy kit for my skincare needs during travel!! Definitely will be saving this for my trip!

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