213 FIELD ROSE BURBERRY LIP MIST NATURAL SHEER LIPSTICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

213 Field Rose, a Burberry Lip Mist, is a natural sheer lipstick. It is the perfect combo of a creamy lipstick but with a lightweight feel and shine of a lip gloss. In other words it gives just enough color on the lips to enhance the overall appearance and also leaves the lips moist with an unmistakeable dewy shine. The formula is lightweight and non-sticky with a creamy texture. It applied with little to no effort, and lasted about four hours wear time. I noticed a slight dulling of the shine after the first hour but no fading or feathering. Also, my lips seemed to stay moisturized which was nice. Most lip products dry out my lips really bad so this was a welcome experience. If I had to compare these I would say they are similar to the Chanel Rouge coco shines. The Burberry Lip Mist currently retails for $30.00 USD and contains .12 oz of product.

23 ENGLISH ROSE BURBERRY LIP COVER SOFT SATIN LIPSTICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Every so often I get the urge to branch out of my comfort zone to splurge on other high-end cosmetic brands. Here lately it seems as though the buzz has been all about the Burberry brand of cosmetics. Several people have been raving about how the whole line of products are wonderful and just so amazing. So I decided to purchase Burberry Lip Cover in #23 English Rose, a soft satin lipstick that is described as a soft mauve-y rose. The formula was very hydrating and seemed to apply almost as a full coverage lipstick even though when swatched it seemed a bit sheer. The lip cover didn't feel heavy on my lips and it applied with ease with no tugging or pulling of my lips. The lipstick case has a magnetic closure which gives it an extra luxurious look and feel. The selection of colors all seemed to be natural lip tones from nudes, fair to medium pinks, peaches and a select few darker shades. Almost all seemed to lean on the warm side with the majority having hints of red or brown undertones. I couldn't discern any noticeable scents, perfumes or flavors associated with the lip covers and wear time for #23 English Rose was around four to five hours with no feathering, smudging or smearing. I did notice a slight fading but overall it still looked fresh on the lips. The Burberry Lip Cover in #23 English Rose is a really beautiful lipstick and in my opinion was definitely worth the splurge!

Burberry Lip Covers currently retail for $30.00 USD and contain .13 oz of product. They are available at most higher end department stores and online at Nordstrom or Burberry.

13 RADIANT PIGMENT GIORGIO ARMANI FLUID SHEER - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

The Giorgio Armani EFFETTO NUDO Spring 2014 collection consisted of three rouge d'armani sheer lipsticks, three flash lacquer glosses, three eyeliners, the Belladonna highlight palette, and a new Fluid Sheer in Radiant Pigment. Another item from this collection the Luminessence CC, a color control bright moisturizer sunscreen, will not be available until later this year in March.

I love the Giorgio Armani fluid sheers, I've purchased #8 (check it out here) and #9 (check it out here) and have had fantastic results and most recently I repurchased #2 and #7 (I will review both at a later time). So I was super excited when I heard the news about a new fluid sheer - #13 Radiant pigment. It is said to contain varying gold and rose kaleidoscope pearls that instantly warm up tired sallow skin. It acts as a filler and will magically smooth and freshen the skin leaving behind a luminous complexion.

This week I have been trying to incorporate the Radiant pigment into my beauty routine. I have worn it as a highlight color on my upper cheekbones, my brow bone and my cupids bow. I have tried mixing it with my foundation for an all-over glow and I have used it to contour different areas of my face. One thing I have noticed **Be sure to shake it before using to blend the formula! The formula is rather sheer and not as thick as the other fluid sheers. It doesn't have an odor or scent but in the bottle it had a slight plastic smell. When dispensed the Radiant pigment has a milky white look but blended it took on a sheer pale pink pearlescent sheen.

I found the Radiant pigment worked best when blended with other products rather than worn alone. The only exception was my brow bone and cupids bow - it gave both of those areas a subtle glowing sheen. Other areas, when worn alone, it just didn't blend in as easily. When worn over top of my foundation it left streaks and splotches. However when I wore the Radiant pigment mixed in with my foundation (it did lighten the foundation up just a bit) it seemed to melt right into my skin. It smoothed over my fine lines and left me with a dewy complexion. As a highlighter, I applied both the Radiant pigment along with my highlight powder together onto my upper cheekbones, it lent definition to my cheeks and seemed to accentuate my face with a subtle glow from within. The Radiant pigment fluid sheer has really exceeded my expectations. It took a little trial and error to see what worked best for me but it has been worth it. It is definitely a "Must Buy" and a "Holy Grail" product to add to your beauty collection. 

Radiant Pigment Fluid Sheer is currently available on the Giorgio Armani beauty website. It is priced at $62.00 USD and it contains 1 fl. oz. of product.

Radiant Pigment mixed in with my foundation

Radiant Pigment used as a highlight
on my upper cheek and brow bone.

RADIANT RUSH SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE MATTE LIPSTICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Radiant Rush is a limited-edition lipstick in Radiant Orchid (pinkish purple shade) - the Pantone color of the year for 2014. It has a matte satin finish and moisturizes with the orchid essence and contains collagen for subtle plumping. This rich and vibrant lipstick is only available exclusively online at Sephora.com - although at this time it is sold out. The lipstick case has a magnetic closure which lends it a luxurious feel and the lipstick currently retails for $18.00 USD. Depending on what other makeup and clothes you pair with the lipstick it tends to pull more pink or purple based on skintone, color scheme, etc. The blue undertones in the lipstick also tend to make the teeth appear whiter looking as well. The wear time for the lipstick is better than your average lipstick. It wore about five to six hours with minimal smudging, smearing or fading.

320 ENGLISH ROSE MAKE UP FOR EVER HD BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD BLUSH is the latest product to be launched by the brand. There are sixteen blendable cream to powder blushes in the collection with a "natural look and finish made specifically for HD technology". The MUFE HD blushes are exclusive to Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com. They currently retail for $26.00 USD and contain .09 oz of product.

According to the Sephora website MAKE UP FOR EVER HD BLUSHES are "formulated with the perfect balance of oils, waxes, and powders, HD Blush combines the second skin look of a cream with the ease of a powder. Created for HD technology, this formula blends into skin with no visible texture for a truly natural flush of color. It’s completely weightless and can be worn over or under powder to flawlessly sculpt and highlight cheeks".

As soon as I saw these cream blushes on the Sephora website I immediately purchased 320 ENGLISH ROSE. The feel of the blush is really creamy and lightweight. It blended easily into my skin and it worked really well with my foundation. There was no streaking or smudging. When I wore the blush it lasted about eight to ten hours with minimal fading.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
I was looking for a cool toned pinkish rose blush with hints of mauve but it leans more warm. The warmth in this cream blush brings out a slight peachy-ness which is nice but it just wasn't for me. The pics on the Sephora website really don't give a true representation of the colors. If you are looking to purchase these then I would wait for them to arrive in-stores. That way you can swatch them in person to get a better idea of what will work for you.

RADICAL SKINCARE INSTANT REVITALIZING MASK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Several weeks ago I was given the opportunity to review the Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing mask. Lately my skin has been less than glowing - it has the look and feel of tired overworked skin so when this opportunity came along I was really hopeful that it would perk up my skin and brighten my complexion. Also, since December, I have been working 10-12 hour days Monday through Friday and then on the weekends it is non-stop running errands for my family so skincare and my overall health have taken a backseat and my appearance reflects this neglect. 

For the past four weeks I have been using the mask twice a week. Here are my thoughts / my review of that experience:

The Radical Skincare Instant revitalizing mask has a citrus-y scent somewhat similar to oranges but it actually smells kind of nice. When using the mask a thin layer must be applied to a clean and dry face. (Be sure not to get it near or around the eye area!) The directions say to let the mask activate for about 3-5 minutes and then rinse the mask off the face. Since I wasn't sure how my face would react if I left the mask on longer than the allotted time, I set my timer for about four minutes. Right away I noticed some areas on my face where the mask started turning white and then a bubbling sensation ensued. Nothing painful or damaging - just a bit of a shock and it does kind of tickle. It sort of reminded me when you pour hydrogen peroxide on a cut to cleanse it and then it starts to do that bubble effect - its very similar to that. With other areas of my face the mask actually seemed to disappear right away into my skin. Once the oxygen bubbles finished popping, those areas where the mask turned white, now seemed to disappear into the skin as well. After the allotted time had past I splashed water on my face and gently massaged the mask away. (It is important to note when one is removing any type of face product it is always best to be gentle and not tug, pull or rub the skin.) Then I used a hand towel to gently pat my face dry.

Right away I noticed / experienced a tightening of my skin, my pores seemed less noticeable and my skin was brighter with a healthy glow. Now as I have said in previous blog posts, I have extremely dry sensitive skin and trying to find skincare products that work and not dry out my skin even more is not an easy task. Since using the Radical Skincare mask for the past four weeks the results are amazing - my skin feels smoother, my face has a brightness to the skin and it is less dull looking. It definitely feels healthier and younger looking. Yes, I still have dry sensitive skin but it seems more hydrated so I'm definitely pleased with the results and I am going to be adding the mask to my weekly beauty / skincare routine from now on.

The Radical Skincare Instant revitalizing mask currently retails for $65.00 USD and it contains 1 fl oz. of product. It can be purchased in store or online at Sephora and Barneys. It is also available for purchase on Amazon.com and on the Radical Skincare website. 

Radical Skincare was created "to deliver radical results. Dedicated to those who want more, Radical products offer maximum antiaging potency for all skin types". Their "proprietary breakthrough technology, Trylacel™, enables the highest concentration of actives to deliver maximum benefits and quick results".

INGREDIENTS:
Aqua (Water), Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Perfluoroisohexane, Cocamido Propyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates / Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyhydrostearic Acid, Carrageenan, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Tropaeolum Majus Flower / Leaf / Stem Extract, Phospholipids, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Lecithin, Beta-Carotene, Allantoin, Camellia, Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Robusta Seed Extract, Vitis

-Sodium PCA: Humectants are ingredients that hydrate and hold moisture in the skin.
-Vitamin E: Preserves the skin against aggressiveness of free radicals created by oxidation coming from exposure to pollution, excess of sun, and age.
-Green Coffee: A good scavenger of active oxygen species, and a very strong antioxidant.

Here you can see the bubbling effect on my forehead.

Once the bubbling effect has finished.

SEPHORA UPSIDE DOWN MASCARA - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

OMG, have you seen the latest "MUST TRY" product from Sephora! It's the SEPHORA UPSIDE DOWN MASCARA - a double brush mascara! When I first saw the dual mascara wands I honestly thought it was some kind of joke or prank. Then the more I thought about it I realized this is such an awesome concept. The dual mascara wands assist in adding volume, curl, length and definition to the lashes. For curl and length one must gently squeeze the dual wands together and coat the upper lashes. The same can be done for the bottom lashes as well although I prefer to use only the "bottom" wand (smaller wand). It applies just enough mascara without making the lower lashes look messy or brittle. If you prefer amped up volume, then gently capture the upper lashes between the top and bottom wands (Please note this can get a little messy!). Then gently squeeze the wands together while applying the mascara to the top and bottom of the upper lashes simultaneously. Sounds crazy doesn't it, but it is actually quite easy after a little practice.

The double wand mascara is currently priced at $22.00 USD and it contains .5 oz of product. It is available in-store and online at all Sephora locations. Wear time for the mascara so far (my Sephora order just delivered on Saturday) has been on par with most mascaras. I did notice minor eye irritation with the mascara formula but nothing unbearable.

LOLLITINT BENEFIT COSMETICS LIP AND CHEEK STAIN - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

The Pantone 2014 color of the year is Radiant Orchid and Benefit Cosmetics newest smudge-proof lip and cheek stain, Lollitint, has nailed it. It's a beautiful bright candy orchid tint that can be applied to the cheeks or the lips for a flush of pink. The color in the bottle may seem extreme but when applied it blends into a nice pink color. Nothing over the top but of course if you prefer a more bolder look with a stronger intensity then reapplying will definitely amp up the color.

The first time I applied Lollitint to my cheeks I used the brush applicator but I felt like I had less control when applying and it deposited way to much product. The next time I wore the tint I tried using my fingers but it didn't blend as seamless as what it should - it looked rather splotchy. What I finally found to work the best was the MAC 188 duo fiber brush; especially for small application areas. For larger application areas the larger MAC 189 duo fiber brush worked beautifully. Both allowed me to deposit small amounts of product and then blend it in without any streaking, smearing or splotchy-ness. Wear time for the tint on my cheeks and face was 10 hours with little to no fading. By the 12 hour mark there was some slight fading but the flush of pink was still very apparent.

For my lips I used my fingertips to pat and blot the tint on rather than the brush applicator or a lip brush. When I used either of them the tint seemed to settle into my lips and it didn't apply as evenly. Once the tint dried down somewhat then I applied a clear gloss over it for a bit of shine. Wear time as a lip tint was about four hours although I did reapply the gloss which seemed to revitalize the lip tint and then I was able to extend the wear time by an additional two hours.

Lollitint currently retails for $30.00 USD and it contains .42 oz of product.

ULTA FRIENDS AND FAMILY EXCLUSIVE OFFER!

Thanks to Kathy aka Kathy @MakeupDetective for the heads up!

It's here -- Ulta Friends and Family exclusive offer!

I love a good sale, even more so when it involves beauty products! Ulta is offering a one time use 20% off coupon on your entire purchase for just about anyone with an e-mail address. It can be used online or in-store and the coupon is valid starting Sunday, January 12th through Saturday, January 18th. Sounds pretty good to me so count me in!

Be sure to read the disclosures below because there are several name brand companies that are excluded from this offer (oh, how I hate exclusions!)

Click on the link now for the ULTA coupon offer: ULTA FRIENDS and FAMILY

DISCLOSURES:
Coupon offer valid on all regular price and sale merchandise and on any one service at THE SALON™, excluding hair extensions (THE SALON™ offer is valid for all guests on one service only). Not valid on Lancôme, Clinique, Urban Decay Naked 1, 2 or 3, Benefit Brow Bar Services and Beauty Steals. Cannot be redeemed for cash or gift cards. This offer cannot be combined with any other ULTA coupon offer. Not valid on prior purchases. Void if copied or transferred and where prohibited by law. May be used on a single purchase and is limited to stock on hand. We reserve the right to limit quantities to normal retail purchases. Limit one per customer, per visit. Please check Ulta.com for your location details. ©2014 ULTA Salon, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Inc. Valid 1/12/14-1/18/14.

93 IMPULSION CHANEL ILLUSION D'OMBRE EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

The last item I purchased from the 2014 Chanel Spring collection (Notes De Printemps) was the limited edition Illusion D'Ombre long wear luminous eyeshadow in 93 Impulsion. It is a really pretty cool-toned silvery pink with loads of silver sparkle. During application it applied rather thinly and I needed to pat it on to obtain more of the pink color. I didn't experience any fall out but I did experience slight creasing after five to six hours of wear. It currently retails for $36.00 USD and it contains .14 oz of product.

Check out the entire Chanel 2014 Spring collection here: NOTES DE PRINTEMPS COLLECTION

Check out swatches and review for the quad here: 537 QUADRILLE CHANEL LUMIERES FACETTES EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review for the duo here: 70 ROSE MAJEUR CHANEL EYESHADOW DUO - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review of Diapason here: 92 DIAPASON CHANEL ILLUSION D'OMBRE EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review for Sonate here: 178 SONATE CHANEL LEVRES SCINTILLANTES GLOSSIMER - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review of Chamade here: 67 CHAMADE LE BLUSH CREME DE CHANEL

Check out swatches and review of Tapage here: 605 TAPAGE CHANEL LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review of Charivari here: 603 CHARIVARI CHANEL LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

603 CHARIVARI CHANEL LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

I love collecting nail polishes even though I am the world's worst at painting my nails. When I first saw the CHANEL 603 CHARIVARI I about freaked out cause I love me some purple nail polish. Charivari, which is part of the 2014 Chanel Spring collection - Notes De Printemps, is a smooth and creamy plummy purple nailpolish. The formula for this polish was rather thin and it took two coats before it was opaque. Even then, after the two coats, I still noticed a few thin areas where the polish didn't apply evenly. The polish currently retails for $27.00 USD and it contains .4 fl oz. of product. This gorgeous nail polish is so very pretty and its definitely a "nice to have" for the nail polish lover.

Check out the entire collection here: NOTES DE PRINTEMPS COLLECTION

Check out swatches and review for the quad here: 537 QUADRILLE CHANEL LUMIERES FACETTES EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review for the duo here: 70 ROSE MAJEUR CHANEL EYESHADOW DUO - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review of Diapason here: 92 DIAPASON CHANEL ILLUSION D'OMBRE EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review of Impulsion here: 93 IMPULSION CHANEL ILLUSION D'OMBRE EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review for Sonate here: 178 SONATE CHANEL LEVRES SCINTILLANTES GLOSSIMER - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out swatches and review of Chamade here: 67 CHAMADE LE BLUSH CREME DE CHANEL

Check out swatches and review of Tapage here: 605 TAPAGE CHANEL LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR - SWATCHES AND REVIEW