Guest Post

The Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection: Sometimes Versatility Comes in Small, Lovely Packaging

March 24th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

My makeup looks tend to be simple. As I don’t often wear a full face of makeup, I opt for what I know, and what I find suits my lifestyle, as I’m sure most of us do.

What I’m talking about, I guess, is convenience, and convenience is just one of the many things that makes these few products from the Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection special.

Launched as a cosmetics line in 2002, and named after owner Sophie Mechaly’s two sons, feline-fabulous brand Paul & Joe has been a French staple since 1995, when it began as a menswear company before expanding into womenswear and children’s fashion.

Now available in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia, the line has expanded significantly since its start.

Their philosophy says it all:

“Thoroughly enjoying life, valuing every moment- that is the philosophy of Parisians and Sophie Melachy herself. PAUL & JOE BEAUTE projects a lifestyle that brims over with a sense of happiness and well-being.”

Happiness is a present element when it comes to the packaging of these gorgeous spring products. This week I got my hands on the beautiful #11 compact, as well the #101 face and eye color combo, the #2 cream blush, and the #7 powder blush.

The compact itself is sold separately, and the products, such as the blushes, are designed to be interchangeable with the compact. This packaging is incredibly convenient for touchups throughout the day.

The Face and Eye Color Palette, the largest of the four products shown here, is also my favorite.

It’s stunning! And although I’m really not a fan of perfumed cosmetics, I can’t help myself. I like it here (it’s faintly citrusy with a hint of lily).

Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Face and Eye Color Palette — One of the few French words I can actually remember is the word for butterfly (*papillon*)

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Get Cheeky With These Hard Candy Cheeky Tints

March 24th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 11 Comments

Anything with the phrase “cheeky” in it is particularly nostalgic to this beauty lover, given the name of my blog, Getting Cheeky, which I nurtured for several years before “retiring.” So, of course, when I heard that Hard Candy had released a cheek product for spring 2016 called the Cheeky Tints, I was all ears.

Hard Candy was the cool girl makeup brand that I couldn’t get enough of as a tween, and it’s been fun to watch the brand’s style evolve over time.

I remember treating myself to their nail polishes with babysitting money (I won’t tell you when that was…because it will make me feel ancient) and lovingly collecting the rings that came with the polishes in a coordinated hue.

Hard Candy’s Cheeky Tints are part of the “new wave” of high quality makeup that’s fun, but doesn’t break the bank. These tints are available in six shades and, at only $6 each, you can definitely treat yourself to a fair few of them without dipping into your spring break fund.

I tested the Cheeky Tints both with a brush and with my fingers, and while the brush application looked lovely, I suppose I just like finger painting for grownups and favor my god-given applicators.

To avoid letting the product dry down too quickly and ending up with one splotch on each cheek that’s darker than the rest (liquid blush and stain, ladies; we’ve all been there), I make sure to dispense the product onto my hand before picking up the color with my finger and blending into my cheek. I’ve found that with all of the shades, this works best to control the pigment.

Hard Candy’s Cheeky Tints are water based with a thick gel formula that’s easy to control, both when squeezing the product out of the tube and applying. The consistency is incredibly easy to blend and lasts (I kid you not) all day.

I’ve been favoring Goddess applied heavily underneath my foundation to warm up my overall appearance, or on top of foundation for a lasting bronze that helps me look a bit less like I’ve just spent the entire winter in the “arctic tundra.”

But Geisha has been my favorite blush of late. It’s an incredibly natural flush that reminds me a bit of Benefit’s classic Benetint.. It’s perfect and so natural for spring.

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The Benefit Dandelion Collection for Spring 2016: Pretty in Pink

March 24th, 2016 by Anna Oh 27 Comments

Hi, everyone!

As one of the prettiest (in my opinion) collections of spring 2016, the Benefit Dandelion Collection is an expansion of Benefit’s bestselling Dandelion Brightening Finishing Powder ($29), with the new Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Highlighter ($26) and Dandelion Dew Liquid Blush ($28).

This is a small and concise collection with every product layering on top of each other to create a beautiful and brightening flush.

benefit dandelion collection shy beam dandelion dew — Benefit Spring 2016 Dandelion Collection

benefit dandelion collection dandelion box powder — Benefit Dandelion Powder

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Burt’s Bees Radiance Lotion Will Have You Channeling Your Inner Queen Bee

March 23rd, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 13 Comments

burts bees, radiance lotion, body lotion — Holding court in my lotion kingdom…

So, here’s a bit of a confession, and I only call it a confession because you, dear readers, don’t know me that well, and my boyfriend is probably the only other one who knows this, but…I can be a grizzly beast in the winter.

Bodily speaking, I mean. Body hair, specifically. Body hair has become less and less taboo as the years have passed, and I find myself caring less and less in the winter.

I’m a habitual bikini waxer, but other than that, in the wintertime, it just makes things worse. I shave my legs, and my skin just dries out more. Who needs that?

Well, despite my biggest excuses, I can’t resist trying a new body lotion, and if I’m going to try a new lotion, I want to feel like a baby dolphin when I do it. 🙂

Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion is part of the brand’s Radiance family of products, which consists of an entire line of skin care. formulated with royal jelly, as well as sunflower oil and aloe, which contribute to the amazing scent.

After a very long shower and the death of one very strong, very brave razor, my legs were once again hairless, and my body was ready to begin the testing. What I wasn’t ready for was how much I was going to sparkle! Radiance Body Lotion contains mica (a light reflecting mineral), and baby, does it reflect.

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A Face of the Day With the New LORAC Spring 2016 Releases

March 23rd, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 10 Comments

LORAC Color Source Blush and Alter Ego Lipstick, LORAC Soft to Smokey Eye Collection — LORAC spring 2016

What is it about spring that makes me want to bust out different products and start experimenting?

Could it be that spring cleaning is in full swing; the windows are finally wide open to let in a sweet smelling breeze; it stays light out well into the evening and (at least where I live) after a long white, dull winter, the whole world seems to be colorful again?

It’s finally sunny on a regular basis where I’m from! — a land I will lovingly refer to as “the arctic tundra.” (We’re not that far north. I’m just being dramatic.) Of course, for me, this means that I need to start bringing out my BRIGHTEST clothing, like my yellow cardigan and purple silk blouse. You name it — if it’s bright, I’m gonna wear it to celebrate the season.

For that reason, I like to keep my spring makeup a bit more understated, and LORAC has a wealth of new spring 2016 products to help.

LORAC released some truly fabulous blushes and lipsticks, two of which I’m wearing above. The Color Source Buildable Blushes ($22 each) are pigmented little pops of color in a beautiful array of hues from neutral to electric purple.

They’re 100% matte and smooth as butter, given their lack of shimmer. My worst nightmare in a matte blush is a product that deposits color on the cheeks but then blends poorly due to a stiff texture, and I’m happy to report that LORAC Color Source Buildable Blush blends like a dream! The pigmentation is intense, and these blushes blend incredibly well, allowing for layering to varying degrees of intensity.

I paired the bright pops of color on my cheeks with a nude lip, the new LORAC Alter Ego Lipstick in Exhibitionist ($17, exclusive to Kohl’s). When I think of a classic lipstick formula, these Alter Ego Lipsticks have it. Thick but smooth and easy to apply, they’re highly pigmented and, although not marketed as long-lasting, stick around on my lips for several hours.

LORAC Color Source Blush and Alter Ego Lipstick — LORAC Color Source Blush in Chroma and Technicolor and Alter Ego Lipstick in Exhibitionist (Kohl’s Exclusive)

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Cheeky New Products From Chosungah 22: So Tiny Lip & Cheek, C&T Blend Fresh Mix Liquid Foundation and Bounce Up Pact Powder Foundation

March 23rd, 2016 by Anna Oh 14 Comments

Chosunga 22 — Wearing Chosungah 22 c&t Fresh Blend Foundation and SO TINY in Orange on cheeks and lip (mixed with MAC Pure Fiction gloss)

Hi, everyone! It’s time for another K-beauty break with a new brand available at Sephora. Chosungah 22, a beauty line by Korean makeup artist Sungah Cho, is based on the principal that makeup is a platform for play and self-expression. The packaging is usually brightly colored with lots of polka dots and plenty of bold graphics.

Now, I am one of the biggest suckers when it comes to awesome packaging…but I’m happy to report that these products aren’t all fluff!

Here are some neat things the brand has to offer…

beauty illustration anna oh chosungah so tiny — Illustration of the Chosungah 22 So Tiny Lip & Cheek

These cute little bottles are the So Tiny Lip & Cheek Face Colors ($14 each at Sephora), and they are, indeed, tiny! They’re long-lasting lip and cheek colors that dry down without any tacky residue. The matte, dry texture means that you’ll probably want to mix them with a balm or gloss to make them easier to use on your lips.

chosungah 22 so tiny lip & cheek swatches — Swatches of the Chosungah 22 So Tiny Lip & Cheek (L-R) Peach, Orange, Pink, Purple, Dark Red

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The Ultimate Italian Makeup Look May Not Be What You Expect

March 23rd, 2016 by Carolina Braina 34 Comments

“Italians are always well-dressed.”

Who hasn’t heard that one at least once in their life?

It’s one of many stereotypes about Italians and, just like any stereotype, it’s not entirely true…but it does have a kernel of truth to it.

In my experience, people here are generally very concerned with the way they look, and they’ll usually put a lot of thought into what they wear.

There’s also a general sense of decorum that people are expected to observe. For instance, you’ll never see college students go to class in sweats and flip-flops. Here, dressing appropriately and looking nice are real social conventions.

So, what is makeup’s role in a country where most people always try to dress well and look good?

Well, Italians don’t normally use as much makeup as you might expect. A typical Italian look, which I’ve recreated for you today, will usually feature very few products.

Care to know which ones? 🙂

Foundation (often a shade too dark)

Italian Makeup Look — The foundation I’m wearing today is Diego Dalla Palma 2 W. W. Mattifying Foundation in 43 Warm Beige

That’s for two main reasons. The first one is that many people think the purpose of foundation is to make them look tanned, while the second one is that it’s pretty hard for those here with lighter skin tones to find the right color match.

The lightest shade of foundations from Italian brands will usually be my skin tone or darker and, although I’m pretty pale, I’m definitely not the palest. Even international brands will often have a more limited shade range here than abroad.

Bronzer

Most Italians don’t contour very much, but they definitely like to bronze. A LOT.
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Get the Too Faced The Sweeter Side of Sexy 4-Piece Collection for $49 This Wednesday, an HSN Daily Special! #TOOFACEDXHSN

March 22nd, 2016 by Jen Clark 16 Comments

HSN is doing something crazy!

They’re selling this amazing Too Faced The Sweeter Side Of Sexy Makeup Collection for $49 this Wednesday (as of this moment, that’s tomorrow). Take advantage of this, people. It’s a great deal (HSN’s regular price is $59).

Not only do you get what looks like a giant chocolate bar…but it’s filled with some of the best Too Faced products. You get four full-sized items for $49 (AND free shipping), including the coveted Semi Sweet Chocolate Bar Palette (regularly $49 all by itself), a Better Than Sex Mascara ($23), a Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer ($20), and the Love Flush Long Lasting Blush in Justify My Love ($26). That’s a $118 value for $49! #TOOFACEDXHSN

“Too Faced The Sweeter Side of Sexy 4-piece Collection with 1-Year Allure Magazine Who doesn’t love chocolate in all its forms? Take your indulgence a step further with this kit that showcases a cocoa-infused collection of eyeshadows. Decadently rich pigments give you endless color possibilities, and a long-wearing shadow primer helps lock it all down. Finish your look with a bold, beautiful blush and a swipe of luxe, smudge-proof mascara. It might not be edible, but this complete collection is just as scrumptious as the real deal. (No drooling, please).”

— hsn.com

What you get

0.56 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette

0.21 oz. Love Flush 16-Hour Blush – Justify My Love (bright pink with fine gold sparkle)

0.35 oz. Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer

0.27 fl. oz. Better Than Sex Mascara – Black

1-year Allure magazine subscription –> a nice extra

Not even kidding — all four of these products have been staples in my makeup collection, so ya know…I’m pretty much an expert on how well they all work.

The Semi Sweet Chocolate bar palette was given to me for Christmas 2014, and I have used little else since then. The shade selection is everything! You can create so many different looks, and you have everything that you need. There’s no need to go digging into another palette for a matte transition shade or an uber pigmented matte black because they’re already in here. The shadows blend like a dream and have amazing color payoff, to boot.

Not to mention, it smells like hot chocolate. 🙂 Every time you open the palette, it’s like opening a container of hot chocolate on a cold night, as the powder slowly spirals upward towards your nostrils, and you get a whiff of that cocoa-y goodness (the powders even have real cocoa powder in them).

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