Product Reviews

Set Sail for the Isle of Sheer Cheeks and Lips with the New Bobbi Brown Nautical Collection

April 29th, 2009 by Karen 50 Comments

bobbi brown nautical collection final

Bobbi Brown plans to deck you out this summer with her new Nautical Collection.

The new line includes blushes, glosses and a mascara in a variety of sheer colors. The look itself features flushed cheeks, shiny lips with a hint of color and a clean, defined eye. It’s a breezy, simple summer look oozing classic Bobbi style — understated, natural and elegant.

bobbi brown nautical collection sheer color cheek tint all
The entire batch of Sheer Color Cheek Tints

Bobbi stoked the 11-piece collection with six Sheer Color Cheek Tints ($22 each), four Sheer Color Lipglosses ($20 each) and a new mascara called Perfectly Defined Mascara ($22).

The blushes and mascara are permanent additions to the line, but the glosses are limited edition.

bobbi brown nautical collection sheer color lip gloss official
All of the Sheer Color Lipglosses

bobbi brown nautical collection perfectly defined mascara
Perfectly Defined Mascara

I’ve been road testing four of the Nautical Collection products…

1. Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Coral

bobbi brown nautical collection sheer color cheek tint sheer coral

bobbi brown nautical collection sheer color cheek tint sheer coral fotd

2. Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Pink

bobbi brown nautical collection sheer color cheek tint sheer pink

bobbi brown nautical collection sheer color cheek tint sheer pink fotd

3. Sheer Color Lip Gloss in Popsicle

bobbi brown nautical collection sheer color lip gloss popsicle
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Sonia Kashuk’s $13 Coral Reef Highlighter Brush

April 29th, 2009 by Karen 38 Comments

sonia kashuk coral reef highlighter brush

Sonia Kashuk is frickin’ *bringing* it in the brush department this spring. Just like the travel brushes in her Hidden Treasures Brush Set ($20), her limited edition Coral Reef Highlighter Brush ($13) performs like a champ and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

When I want a veil of sheer, shimmery powder or bronzer, Coral Reef handles the job perfectly.

The domed brush head resembles the head on a kabuki brush. It’s a little different than a regular kabuki, though, because the bristles (sooo soft!) are less densely packed, and the brush head feels fluffier.

It lays down sheer layers of color evenly on my skin. I’ve used the brush to apply highlighting powder, bronzer and blush, and it works well with all three types of products. This doll’s a multi-tasking monster.
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MAC Fix+ Rose Romanced My Dry Skin

April 28th, 2009 by Karen 46 Comments

mac-rose-romance-fix-rose

I’ve had an itchy trigger finger with my new bottle of MAC Fix+ Rose ($17). The stuff’s so great I haven’t been able to keep my hands off it!

MAC took spring and rose waters and infused them with minerals, and the resulting face spray feels about as refreshing on my skin as anything I could imagine.

Too bad it’s limited edition…

It was released with the A Rose Romance collection, so it won’t be around forever.

I think MAC’s original Fix+ Spray ($17) pales in comparison. Fix+ Rose just feels more hydrating to me and doesn’t leave the same heavy film I seem to get with Fix+ Spray.

tabby-cat-smelling-roses

As for the fragrance?
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MAC Splashproof Lash Mascara Lengthens and Curls, But Does It Thicken?

April 24th, 2009 by Karen 23 Comments

mac splashproof lash macara

Ah, the wonders of makeup bribery!

Yesterday I bought MAC’s Splashproof Lash Mascara in Blacksplash ($12), but before throwing down the credit card, I struck a deal with myself.

The “payment” for the mascara would have to come in the form of seven 45-minute sessions on the stair stepper machine at the gym. Hello, sweaty beast.

I figure the whole makeup-in-exchange-for-cardio thing 1) helps get my booty looking cute in time for summer and 2) provides me with an excuse to try a new waterproof product! 🙂

mac splashproof lash mascara wand

Splashproof is MAC’s only waterproof mascara, and I’ve been told it lengthens, thickens and separates lashes without clumping or flaking. Right now it’s being sold with the new A Rose Romance collection, but it’s also part of MAC’s permanent collection.

Last night I applied two layers before my first 45-minute stair session and paid close attention to how it performed…

First, it glided on without clumping or flaking, so application-wise it’s a star.
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Sonia Kashuk Freshness of Spring Palette Blooms with Delicate Purple and Pink Colors

April 24th, 2009 by Karen 27 Comments

sonia kashuk freshness of spring palette 1

Hey, ladies, TGIF! I’m feeling pretty good today because the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and my hair is somewhat under control. 🙂 It looks like it’s gonna be a great Friday.

This morning I was itching for some light, springy colors to reflect my mood, so I busted out the new Sonia Kashuk Freshness of Spring ($20) makeup palette and went to work.

sonia kashuk freshness of spring palette 2

The palette contains seven coordinating pink and purple products for eyes, lips and cheeks:

A matte pink eyeshadow
Matte purple eyeshadow
Light pink glitter eyeshadow
Creamy reddish pink lipstick
Creamy rosy pink lipstick
A sheer light pink gloss
Matte light pink blush

sonia kashuk freshness of spring palette 3

Sonia even throws in some instructional cards describing how to create her “Freshness of Spring” look.

I liked the lipsticks and glosses right off the bat but was a little wary of the eye and cheek colors. They looked tres pastel to me, and pastels can look “Hello, chalky!” on girls with tan/brown skin.
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Shu Uemura Pink Collection: Pink Enough for the Afterlife

April 21st, 2009 by Karen 58 Comments

shu uemura pink collection

As a kid I was fascinated by pyramids and ancient Egyptian burial rituals. One day, I read that old school Eygyptians were buried with all the things they’d need in the afterlife. That gave me an idea: I listed all of the things I’d bring with me into MY pyramid for MY journey to the great beyond.

I think I needed to get out more…

Every once in a while (like today), I’ve revisited my list of afterlife necessities.

Permanent items on the list: Tabs, toilet paper and an endless supply of Strawberry Pop Tarts.

tabs-mummy-cat-final

The latest additions to the list: Shu Uemura’s Pink Collection of lipglosses and lipsticks.

If I could take all nine Rouge Unlimited Pink Lipsticks ($23 each) and five Gloss Unlimited Pink lipglosses ($22 each) with me, my pink lip needs would be eternally covered.

shu uemura pink collection pk369

What makes the new line so special? It’s the pink. Shu scientists created a new ingredient they call “Pink Hybrid Pigment.”

They claim it’s a perfectly shaped pigment particle able to produce unusual pink lip shades, with yellow and blue tints, previously unseen in the world of makeup.

shu uemura pink collection pk343

I’ve tested five of the shades so far. I couldn’t say whether they’re unlike any other pinks ever created before, but they’re definitely true pinks in every sense of the word.

Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 369: A creamy, cool and bright hot pink with blue tint
Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 343: A creamy, ultra-cool pale pink with blue tint
Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 232: A creamy and warm pale pink with a yellow tint and silver flecks of glitter
Gloss Unlimited in PK 325N: A shimmery, cool medium pink with blue tint
Gloss Unlimited in PK 315N: A shimmery, warm dark pink with yellow tint

shu uemura pink collection pk323

You know how sometimes you try on a pink lipstick or gloss that ends up looking more coral, red or plum than pink? These shades aren’t like that at all. First and foremost, they’re pink, with the blue and yellow tints adding subtly cool (blue) or warm (yellow) elements.
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Estee Lauder Baie Rose Peony Body Splash Made a Splash with Me

April 20th, 2009 by Karen 10 Comments

estee lauder pleasures baie rose peony splash

If there’s such a thing as a body splash intervention, I think I need one! I’m addicted to Estee Lauder’s Pleasures Baie Rose Peony Splash ($52).

It’s one of three new spring limited edition body splashes (joining Sandlewood Amber Splash and Jasmine Violet Splash) from EL’s long-running Pleasures fragrance line.

Each of the splashes takes the classic Pleasures blend of lilies and jasmine and tweaks it just a little bit.

Body splashes are lighter than perfumes and eau de toilettes, with fragrances typically lasting less time on the skin. That’s why many gals prefer them, particularly in warmer weather, in place of heavy or cloying perfumes.

The original Pleasures scent is an old-school fave of mine (soooo 1997!), and Baie Rose adds a yummy rose to the mix.

I think EL got the balance of rose just right in Baie Rose. It stops way shy of matronly and rests solidly in the Land of Great.

On me Baie Rose smells of lilies, first, and crushed roses on a fresh, dewy spring morning after a night of April showers — clean, crisp, feminine and young. Lurvely!
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Lock Down Your Eye Makeup with Too Faced Lockdown

April 20th, 2009 by Karen 25 Comments

too faced lockdown shadow insurance primer

Guess who needs some makeup first aid? Yup, the weather here in Nor Cal is hot again, and EVERYTHING’s blooming. Not only have my eyes been a watery mess thanks to all the allergens in the air (ah-CHOO!), but I’m also sweating like a medieval beast.

My eye makeup hasn’t stood a chance for days. I’ve either been crying from allergies or melting from the heat.

Alas, must I sacrifice everything to the warm weather gods?

To survive the past few steamy, pollen-fueled days, I’ve graced my lids with Lockdown, a new line of cream shadows by Too Faced ($18.50).

The simple wash of shadow adds a little punch without going for the knockout. I think it’s a fab look for lazy days or hot days when the thought of heavy makeup is the last thing on my mind.

To create the Lockdown line, Too Faced injected their famous long-wearing eye makeup primer, Shadow Insurance (LOVE!), with colorful shimmer.

What’s the result? How ’bout six long-lasting shades that pack plenty of shimmer and pigment to spare.

Prisoner of Love: A soft, shimmery pink
Bedroom Eyes: A shimmery taupe
Bondage: A shimmery champagne
Dramarama: A shimmery milk chocolate
I’m Guilty: A shimmery teal
Jail Bait: A cool and shimmery pink

too faced lockdown jailbait im-guilty drama rama swatches
From left to right: Jailbait, I’m Guilty and Dramarama

So far I’ve tried Jail Bait, Dramarama and I’m Guilty…

Isn’t that shimmer crazy good?
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