Best of August Roundup - Lush, Pacifica, Aveda

Hello, We had just a few warm days to speak of this summer, such is life in the Bay Area!  I was in search of the sun, so I went to Southern California twice in this summer.  And I found ample sun to no end, love So Cal! 

Let's get started with some of my August favorite products:

Skincare - Lush Eau Roma Water

I am a BIG fan of Lush products, the company completely deserves their large cult following.  The Lush's concept and products draw me in from the beginning.  I remember making my very first Lush purchase when I was traveling in London.  I have fallen back in love with Lush again, especially with their brilliant new color line, Emotional Brilliance.  When I get a chance to try out the two products I got, I will do a write up on them.  I love them so far!

Lush Eau Roma Water was an essential item in my bag this past month.  The name is lovely, isn't it?  It is a toner, but I use it more as a pick-me-up facial mist and it gets used throughout the day.  The scent is a gorgeous blend of rose and lavender, the rose is definitely more prominent.  It is a great product for setting makeup.  It is not particularly moisturizing, but it is not drying either.  It is very soothing and refreshing.  Good to use in any season.

Makeup - Pacifica Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint

I haven't loved a lip tint this much since I used up my Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balms.  I bought a set of three Pacifica Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tints from Sephora a good few months ago.  I did not get to photograph the first color I used up, Blood Orange, my favorite of the three colors.

According to Sephora's website:

What it does:
It's the ultimate lip product, the Pacifica way. This lip tint provides major moisture, adds sheer, universally gorgeous color, and imparts a hint of sophisticated flavor. It thoroughly soothes and satisfies lips with avocado and coconut oils, both superfoods rich in amazing essential fatty acids. Nourishing and natural, this fool-proof product goes anywhere for touch-ups anytime, no mirror needed. 

Coconut Nectar - Pale shimmer champagne color.  This is the least pigmented out of the three colors and it is too pale for me to wear on its own.  This color looks pretty over a darker or vibrant lip color. 

Guava Berry - Berry shimmer color.  The shimmer is very subtle in all the colors.  I often wore this alone without lipstick because the color payoff is quite good. 

Overall, I love these and I will definitely re-purchase.  These lip tints are natural and very hydrating, but you do need to re-apply throughout the day as with any other lip treatment products.  The scent or taste of the lip tint goes according to the name of the color.  They are now on sale at Sephora.com, grab them while they last.  I highly recommend these for anyone who wants a quality natural lip balm with a wash of color. 

Hair Care - Aveda Beautifying Composition

In the July Roundup post, I mentioned that I have been using an oil treatment for my hair and this is it, Aveda Beautifying Composition.  This is a re-purchase for me as I have using this oil on an off for years.  It is a rich blend of jojoba oil with rosemary and bergamot, for hair, scalp, and body.

I keep my bottle in the shower because I like using it as a scalp and hair treatment.  On wet hair, I massage in about ten drops focusing on my scalp and the ends of my hair and leave on for at least five minutes.  As I mentioned, it is a very rich oil.  So for the body, I would massage it on my skin in the shower and rinse off.  It leaves a protective barrier on my skin after the rinse and  I can even skip lotion or dry oil if I use this product in the shower.  The aroma is the signature Aveda scent, it smells like a concoction of floral and ylang ylang.

I am always interested in oil treatment for face, hair, and body, so I would love to know what works for you.

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!  Until next post......

Things That I Have Been Loving This Summer

Hello, An image diary of things that I have been trying and loving this summer...  

Skincare 

Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk is all natural and works like a dream for dry skin.  Not to mention, it smells delicious!

SK-II is not new to me, but I have not used anything from the line in a few years.  This SK-II Pitera Essence Set (similar set sold in link) was gifted to me from my relative.  It was purchased in Asia.

I bought the SK-II Cellumination Mask-in Lotion to go with the set.  It offers mask like benefits and keeps my skin moist throughout the day.  This is the perfect toner/treatment when you do not have time to do facial masks.  Love!

Thanks to Rowena at rolala loves for telling me about La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk.  This is the best drugstore sunscreen!

Heliotrope is a San Francisco natural skincare company.  This purifying mist is the first purchase from the brand for me, I carried it in my purse wherever I went this summer.  It has a refreshing scent.  It can be used on the face and in the home.

Makeup

I have been reaching for pink blushes a lot this summer.  Bobbi Brown Blush in 9 Pale Pink is one of my all time favorites.

I have been a big fan of the Diorsnow sunscreen for years.  I picked up Diorsnow UV Shield BB Creme when it came out earlier this year.  It does not disappoint.  It has excellent coverage, color, and skin protection.  For me, it looks best without a setting powder.   This is my current HG BB cream.

Random 

If you are in the Bay Area, you need to try Simply Mochi.  They make the best mochi outside of Japan.  Interesting flavors and always made perfectly!   Mochi goodness!

What are you loving this summer?  Thanks for stopping by and until next post......

Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask and Soy Face Exfoliant

Hello, I am obsessed with Fresh skincare.  The brand is inspired by ingredients that are commonly used in different parts of the world and they are reinvented in the Fresh line.  Fresh products are sourced mostly from natural ingredients. 

I have been using Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask since I purchased one from the last Friends and Family event at Sephora earlier this year and I just re-purchased a second one last week from Neiman Marcus.

From the box:

The innovative formula includes:

•  radiance-boosting black tea
• restorative lychee seed extract
• softening and purifying sake
• smoothing hyaluronic spheres

It is perfect for my skin type that needs constant hydration.  I like using it a couple of times a week for maintenance and it is gentle enough as an overnight mask.  It is a must before events because it will give your skin that extra boost and freshness after using it.  The light and airy whipped texture is unlike any masks that I have tried before.  It smells like a mixture of tea and maybe sake, hard to describe but it is a good scent.  Lastly, the cooling sensation is so relaxing.   One of my all time favorites!

I learned a tip from the SA at Neiman Marcus.  This is not a must, but it is really nice to use Fresh Soy Face Exfoliant before this mask.  After massaging with the exfoliant, I would leave the product on my face and then pack on the mask.  I feel and look like as if I had a professional facial when everything is removed.  I do not get facials often, so I like treating myself at home.

The exfoliant is a thick product and it is clay based.   It has micro granules in it, but it is very gentle when used on damp skin.   I exfoliate with it once a week with or without using the mask afterwards.

Do you like Fresh products?  What do you like using?

Until next post......

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

From The Unknown Beauty Blog, a new makeup line to check out Addixt'n Cosmetics.

At Lola's Secret Beauty Blog, Lola dishes about a potential dupe for MAC's Play It Proper Beauty Powder with a Milani Blush!

Want a first look at two of the new Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadows?  Kelly at The Reasonable Blonde has the scoop... and swatches!  And don't forget to enter her giveaway for some fun, retro-style beauty products that are classics from way back when!

Meera at Love For Fashion gives us a sneak peek of Lana Del Rey's editorial for H&M.

At the Beauty Think Tank, Lindsay details one of her favorite makeup looks for Fall 2012!

Please check out Rola's Fountain of Youth - a recent Liebster Award recipient and all around ace blogger!

If you would like to be included in next weeks Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report, please e-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com!

Liebster Blog Award Recipient

Hello, thanks to Lola from lola's secret beauty blog for nominating me for the Liebster Blog Award!  Please go visit Lola's fabulous blog, it has become one of my daily must reads.  Her product reviews are top notch, well thought out, and interesting to read.  Not to mention, she is one of the kindest and most respectful bloggers that I know from the blogsphere.

Here are the rules:

1)  Link the person who gave you the award in your post to show appreciation
2) Post the award on your blog
3)  Choose 5 up and coming blogs (with under 200 followers) to receive the award
4)  Leave your nominee a comment on their blogs letting them know about the award
5)  List your nominees on your award post that links to their blogs

The five blogs that I nominated are:

1)  Beauty Professor
2)  Free To Be Natural
3)  pure makeup
4)  Everyday Beauty
5)  The Alternative Life

Have a good week!  Until next post......

Current Favorite Drugstore Foundations - Rimmel, Loreal

Hello, I like cheap thrills with quality.  I have amassed some drugstore foundations since the beginning of the year that I have been really enjoying.  I will discuss the products in the order when I purchased them, from oldest to newest.  I chose these foundations because of the price and positive reviews.

Swatches in the same order as the foundation line up above

Blended out

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation SPF 15 in 230 Warm Ivory



I have seen this foundation at the drugstores for a while.  One day I spotted it on sale for under $3 at one of my local Walgreens, I had to try it.  

It turned out to be a lovely foundation, I like it a lot for my dry skin.  It has light coverage buildable to medium coverage.  The finish is dewy.  My skin glows and looks fresh with this foundation on.  The color match is excellent,  it is yellow based and it is the best match out of the three foundations being discussed here.  It blends in with my own skin color very well.  I would compare this foundation to Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation, they are similar in coverage and finish.  It has a lotion scent.

One of the cons is that it is not a long lasting foundation.  The foundation disappears after about four hours on my dry skin, so it might disappear even faster on oilier skin.  The other con is that the glass bottle does not have a pump, but apparently it does come with a pump in Europe (shown in video) and maybe in other parts of the world.

Loreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup SPF 20 in C3


This foundation is the newest out of all three.  It was launched over a month ago here.  I was excited and intrigued by the description of this foundation.  Who doesn't want healthy and luminous skin, right?  According to the Loreal website, the ingredients in the foundation are supposed to be good for the skin and will improve your skin over time.  I have not tried it long enough to confirm the claims.  

I was surprised to find testers for this foundation at the drugstores, finally!  Despite trying out the shades under all three undertones W (warm), N (neutral), and C (cool), I realized I fall in between level 2 and 3 in any given undertone.  C3 was somehow the most decent match for me with W3 being too orange and N3 being too dark.  The 1-2 colors were all too light.

The coverage and finish are very similar to that of Rimmel Match Perfection, but this foundation is slightly more luminous or glowy than Rimmel.  I like that it looks very natural and there are no shimmers involved to create the glow.  It will not cover major blemishes, so concealer is necessary if you need to camouflage redness or acne.  Again, with foundations that are more glowy, it does not last on the skin.  Even with a setting powder, the makeup will stay put for only three to four hours.   

It is not a cheap drugstore foundation, it retails around $13.  So wait for the BOGO sale on this one.

Loreal Infallible Makeup SPF 20 in 605 Nude Beige

This last foundation has mixed reviews, but it is my favorite drugstore foundation.  I discovered it in July when it was on clearance for $7.99 at Walgreens.  They disappeared very quickly at every Walgreens.  It was also on sale at CVS around the same time, so I am not sure this is being discontinued.  For the time being, it is still being sold online.

It has medium coverage buildable to high coverage, yet it looks natural.  It is not necessary to use a concealer with this foundation because it will cover every blemish, big or small.  If you have tried Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation, you will like this foundation.  It comes in a thin consistency and a little goes a long way.  In order to achieve a flawless look, you have to work quickly and blend, blend, blend.  It has a radiant finish, between matte and dewy.  Best of all, it lasts all day.  It can last up to 18 hours, of course with some fading towards the end.  For the most part, this one has Amazing staying power! 

The only con is if you are not careful and use too much product, it can look masky.  Grab this if you like high coverage makeup and like saving a few bucks. 

I leave you with Gwen Stefani's first Loreal photo shoot, I am such a huge fan of hers!  



Have a good weekend, everyone!  Until next post......

107 Posts Later

Hello, This blog is officially one year old!  I would like to extend a big "Thank You" to all my readers and fellow bloggers, you motivate me to keep going!  

I may not be posting as frequently as I did a year ago, but this is still my passion and my creative outlet despite the busy schedule.  

I leave you here with another new passion of mine, my baby koi fish.  I have had them for almost two months.  They are the cutest and they are very smart.  They have been trained to feed from our fingers, feeding times are so much fun!

Have a wonderful week!  And until next post......

Best of July Roundup - Rodin, Chanel, Melvita

Hello, July was a fabulous month with many new beauty discoveries for me.  Luckily for me, they were all winners with no major fails.  I had to narrow down to the few that I felt were "Gold Medal" material.  Yes, I have been watching the Olympics games non stop, they are exciting and addicting.  Go USA! 

Skincare - Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil

If this is good enough for Adriana Lima, VS model, it is good enough for me.  I often get sucked into celebrity endorsements when it comes to beauty products, but this oil has been nothing but amazing.  Since I finished Sunday Riley Juno which I love, I wanted to try a new facial oil because I like to experiment.  Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil surfaced on to my radar after I read this article about the founder, Linda Rodin and the product.  Rodin is in her 60's.  She comes across as a really cool lady with her own unique sense of style and taste.  Not to mention great skin to boot.

I use this luxurious natural oil on my face and neck at bedtime.  I would describe it as "Liquid Gold".  It is not greasy and I find the floral scent from the essential oils help me fall asleep.   The downside of this product is that it does come with a hefty price tag.  So I would consider repurchasing, but I will probably alternate it with a less expensive oil.

Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil is available at Barneys New York.

Makeup - Chanel Le Crayon Khol Intense Eye Pencil in 75 Peche Cuivre


This golden peach color eye pencil was an unexpected find for me.  A few months ago, I was looking for a flesh tone pencil for the waterline at the Chanel counter at Macy's.  They did not have anything close to what I was looking for, but I stumbled upon this color from the summer collection.  This pencil is a sweet surprise in the sense that I can achieve the same bright eye look with it as compared to using a flesh color pencil.  It is a versatile color that can be used on the lid, lower lash line, or waterline.  If you haven't tried Chanel eye pencils before, you should know that they are really soft and easy to apply.  The colors are pigmented and long lasting.  The color would stay on my lower lash line for more than 10 hours, impressive!


Chanel Le Crayon Khol Intense Eye Pencil in 75 Peche Cuivre is available wherever Chanel is sold.  I am not sure if this is a limited edition color or not.

Left - Heavy swatch
Right - Light swatch

Body Care - Melvita Scented Dry Oil

I have been using this dry oil after shower everyday for the last two weeks.  I bought it from a sale event at Melvita's a while back.   Some of the main ingredients include Pomegranate, Argan, and Moringa of which all have anti-aging and repairing properties.  It comes in a spray glass bottle which I am not too crazy about because it is sometimes hard to spray the oil out and the bottle is weighty.  The oil itself is very light and is easily absorbed on the skin.  The scent is supposed to be orange blossom, but to me it smells more grassy or herbal on the skin.  Overall, I like how it softens my skin without being too heavy and the ingredients are of natural origins.  It can also be used on hair, but I have yet to try it on my hair.  I have been using another oil as hair treatment and loving the results.  I will report on that product later.


Thanks for reading.  Until next post......