Product Reviews

Shhh… Do you hear that?

That’s the sound of The Body Shop’s new Baked Powder Bronzer in Warm Glow ($21) whispering, “Come take a closer look.” 🙂

One of two new powder bronzers in the Nomadic Goddess summer makeup collection, Warm Glow appears aptly named, imparting a golden brown sheen with hints of peachy pink and faint micro-glitter.

First, would I call it a bronzer? Well, that depends. Darker divas might find that it makes a better highlighter or blush. In my case, I don’t feel it’s dark enough to contour with, and I probably wouldn’t use it as a basic bronzer. Lighter lovelies, on the other hand, should get to use it both ways — as a bronzer or a blush — with more of the brown coming through on their skin.

The Body Shop says they make this and their other powder products by hand, baking them in terracotta discs that bind the pigments together. I can see it now… men and women dressed like cooks in a kitchen, covered from head to toe in excess powder!
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When the cold goes away, the corals come out to play. It happens every summer just like clockwork; lovely little coral blushes bloom on makeup counters galore.

It’s great if you happen to love coral, but what if you feel it’s too intense for your skin tone?

Here’s an idea: you could try something like Illamasqua’s Powder Blush in Lover ($23).

It’s more of an apricot with a matte finish than a vibrant coral, subtler than, say, MAC Hipness, but with just enough pigment to give cheeks a light kiss of color.
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A desert princess might wear Yves Saint Laurent’s Water Resistant Cream Eyeshadow in Golden Sands to a royal banquet, but I’d probably wear it to the club. 🙂

New to YSL’s makeup line, it’s a very light, airy mousse eyeshadow, thinner than a regular cream but thicker than a liquid. One of six colors overall, it’s the only one to come out for summer 2010 (available now).

For $30, you get 0.22 oz of light peachy golden glitter for your eyes, like a sunset in a jar. As a shimmery wash over the entire lid, it’s a marvel, water-resistant and easier to use than a glittery powder that might leave fallout on my cheeks.

This particular shade isn’t very pigmented at all; it’s almost like glitter suspended in a mousse base, but judging by the swatches online, some of the other colors pack a stronger punch.
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There’s something poetic about Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pure Shine Sheer Lipstick in Pink Lychee ($30) — how pretty yet fleeting it is, like butterflies, or a summertime tan.

By all appearances…

It’s one of two limited edition SPF 15 Pure Shine Lipsticks YSL released with their summer 2010 collection, the other being Blood Orange.

The first thing I thought after seeing it in the tube? — wow, that sure looks pale. I didn’t think I’d be able to wear it, but I’ve been surprised so many times before that I figured, who knows, right?

I really didn’t know what to expect and hoped it wouldn’t have that p0rn star opaque coverage we’ve seen from other light pink lippies.
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