Random Sightings of Spring 2013 Makeup Displays

Hello, Spring is in the air, here are my favorite Spring makeup collections as of late.  The romantic colors are beautiful and perfect for Valentine's Day coming up!  

Clarins Spring Makeup Collection

Revlon Naked Tips and Neon Lips

Flower Beauty Cosmetics by Drew Barrymore

Yves Saint Laurent Spring Look 2013

Stila

What is your favorite makeup collection for Spring?

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

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Lola of Lola's Secret Beauty Blog reviews Le Metier de Beaute Empress Lip Kaleidoscope.

Harriet at Little Miss Student Beauty has reviewed her Crown Brush set!

Olivia of The Unknown Beauty Blog shows us how she "flosses between the pans" and depots without using heat!

Missed your chance to snag Sally Hansen's iconic blue shade Pacific Blue?  Kelly over at The Reasonable Blonde has found an alternative that is nearly identical.  Check it out here, and happy polishing!

Rola at Rola's Fountain of Youth shares her Current Favorite Winter Facial Moisturizers and she is now on Instagram!

Jeneille of Beauti by Jinjer spills the details of another photoshoot she worked on.

Lindsay at The Beauty Think Tank reviews the shades she thinks stands out from the rest in the Colorglide Lipstick range offerred at The Body Shop.

If you would like to be featured in a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report, please e-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com.

Current Favorite Winter Facial Moisturizers and Instagram

Hello, It has been a very harsh winter in the Bay Area.  Though the weather here is not as severe as other parts of the country, but it is still extremely cold and dry which is very unkind to our skin.  Temperature and environment like this call for heavy duty moisturizers that can banish dry and flaky skin.  My current favorites are:

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer has been a staple in my bathroom cabinet.  This is my third purchase.  Unlike the scents of other Perricone MD products, this is a rose scented anti-aging moisturizer packed with Alpha Lipoic Acid, DMAE, and Vitamin C Ester.  It feels airy light, but it is very hydrating.  I reach for it a lot in the winter time.  It is very lightweight, so it can be used anytime all year round.  I am in love with this moisturizer!  

When I went to my dermatologist's office last year, I was introduced to Skin Medica Dermal Repair Cream.  This is another excellent moisturizer for dry skin.  The texture is slightly thicker than Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer.  The scent reminds me a lot of Pond's Cold Cream.  It contains a lot of antioxidants including high levels of C and E.   I have dry vascular skin that needs extra nourishment from antioxidants, thus this was highly recommended for my skin type.  I am also using Skin Medica TNS Recovery Complex in conjunction with this cream, it is the dynamic duo that gives my skin that boost it needs most.  Skin Medica is available at most dermatologist offices and Lovelyskin.com, a new favorite website of mine that offers a vast variety of pharmaceutical grade skincare products. 

Last but not least, I have been trying out some Lancer Dermatology products and they are impressive!  Dr. Lancer is a dermatologist to the stars with an office in Los Angeles.  After Oprah (his client) made a request that his products be made available to the general public, he complied and since last year Nordstrom carries his line exclusively.

The packaging of Lancer Dermatology products is simple, but it is the synergy of the ingredients in the products that really matters.  Lancer Dermatology Overnight Rescue Relief is housed in an air-tight container with a push down type top with a hole that squeezes out the right amount of product, very sanitary compared to dipping your finger into the product.  The product contains placenta serum (I was intrigued by this ingredient), collagen, and other potent antioxidants.  It is a night treatment that can be used up to three times a week.  I like it so far, my skin definitely feels more rejuvenated and smooth when I wake up.  I am hopeful and will further investigate this brand and its products.  

I am now on Instagram and it is addicting, go check it out and follow me!

What are your current moisturizers?  Until next post......

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Jeneille of Beauti by Jinger showcases her laptop case, a piece by designer Jeremy Payne of Fashion is Payne.

Lola of Lola's Secret Beauty Blog reviews her Rouge Bunny Rouge Eyeshadow collection, by request.

Emily of Mrs. Wasp tells us about her top picks from Laura Mercier's Arabesque Collection.

Harriet at Little Miss Student Beauty has been reviewing the Maybelline Superstay Lipsticks!

Barbara at Barbara & 1923 reviews the Fashion Fair True Finish Refining Mineral Foundation.

Elizabeth at Love.Life.Beauty gives us the scoop on the NARS Spring 2013 collection.

Olivia of The Unknown Beauty Blog asks us - Is Your Makeup Life A Bit Boring? Stimulate It With a Touch Face Vibrating Sponge.

Rachel from Rachel's Makeup and Skincare has jumped on Pammy's wagon and started building a core MAC collection with $21 a month. See what she bought for January!

Come see the last installment of Best of 2012 Roundup - Body Care, Hair Care, Etc. at Rola's Fountain of Youth!

Lindsay at TheBeautyThinkTank wonders if the new Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream is a glitterbomb or not?  And if it's not, then what is it!

If you would like to be featured in a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report, e-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com.

butter LONDON Nail Lacquer and Lippy in Come To Bed Red

Hello, Thanks to butter London, I received their nail lacquer and matching Lippy lip gloss in Come To Bed Red last year.  This bright red creme nail lacquer is one of their classic best sellers.  When I can't decide on a color on my nails, I almost always go for red.  In my opinion, this is a very classy and chic red.

Swatch of Lippy

The matching Lippy is a lip gloss, but it is almost like a liquid lipstick due to its heavier consistency and excellent pigmentation.  The patent shine of the gloss is lovely and just right.  It has a delicious vanilla scent and the lasting power is not bad either.  This is my first Lippy and I am sure it won't be my last.

Check out both products on butter London's website.  Have you seen their Spring 2013 nail colors?  Gorgeous!

Thanks to my fur model!

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

The above mentioned products are sample products sent for consideration by PR.  All review posts are expressed with complete honesty.

Best of 2012 Roundup - Body Care, Hair Care, Etc.

Hello, We already talked about my 2012 picks on skincare and makeup in the previous posts here and here.  This is the last (but not least) installment of the Best of 2012 Roundup, let's get on with it...

Body Care

It looks like soap, but it isn't!  Lush Body Butter in King of Skin is a skin conditioner that is meant to be used after cleansing on wet skin in the shower.  Be sure to keep it in a closed container or you will lose product if it is in contact with water.  It is so convenient to use, I can even skip lotion if I use this.  It is very moisturizing and nourishing.  There are five types of body butters available online at Lushusa.com.  I was informed in store that King of Skin is the most hydrating.  It smells creamy and really good!  Some of the ingredients are avocados and bananas, good enough to eat.  I highly recommend it!

Caudaline Divine Oil was my favorite all-purpose dry oil in 2012.  Read more about it here. Try it!

Hair Care 

When it comes to hair, it was year of Oribe for me!  My hair is thick, dry, and chemically treated constantly.  The Oribe products really keep my hair in tip top shape, my hair has become better conditioned and more shiny.  If you have similar hair to mine, you should consider trying Oribe Masque for Beautiful Color, a deep treatment for colored hair.  Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream is a leave-in conditioner that will tame and add shine to your hair.  Lastly, I am on my second mini bottle of Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray, still loving it!

Also, Ombre is still my favorite hair color look.  I like it because you can always tweak and customize your own look.  I am inspired by Song of Style, her hair is always beautiful...

Image via Song of Style

Etc...

Gel nails has been on my radar in the last few years, but I actually started getting gel nails in 2012.  Do I love it?  Yes and no.  I love that the polish is super shiny and it can remain chip free for two weeks, but it is very drying for the nails and can look artificial.  

From my experience when I am wearing gel polish, it helps to use cuticle oil or any emollient oil on the entire nail and skin around the nail every day.  And if you can find nail salons that use non-toxic gel polish removers instead of Acetone, that will save your nails from becoming further dried out and damaged.  If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out Nova Nail Spa.

Thanks for reading, until next post......

Gelish after one day

Gelish after two plus weeks

OPI Gel

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog reviews Chanel's Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Merveille.

Olivia of The Unknown Beauty Blog shows us how to turn bronzing into a beauty with Manna Kadar Bronze Beauty!

Check out Rola's picks for Best of 2012 Roundup - Makeup at Rola's Fountain of Youth!

Kelly at The Reasonable Blonde loves clothes but hates the crazy crowds at the mall.  So she joined a new fashion subscription service to keep her on trend and in-season.  Check out her first Le Tote bag here!

 Jeneille of Beauti by Jinjer gives us the scoop on the Odini Southerland Photoshoot being featured in the next issue of the Vincy E-zine!

Lindsay at The Beauty Think Tank has a Holiday Hangover with the Tarte Baby It's Bold Outside giftset from Holiday 2012.

Want to ring in the New Year with a great feature on the Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report? E-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com to get details on how your blog can be showcased with these great bloggers!

Best of 2012 Roundup - Makeup

Hello, Happy New Year!  I sorted through many makeup products and I have summed up the most amazing short list of products of 2012...

Base

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup was launched in Fall 2012.  It is by far my current favorite and the best foundation from Giorgio Armani cosmetics.  The new Fusion Technology covers imperfections flawlessly with only a thin layer.  It never looks heavy or feel cakey.  My color is 4.5 and it blends beautifully with my skin tone!  Thumbs up!

I have heard about Eve Pearl for over a year before I made my first purchase at IMATS in Los Angeles last year.  I do not why I waited so long, I should have made the plunge earlier.  I got a good price on this palette at IMATS;  I paid $40 less than the regular price.  The Eve Pearl Flawless Face Palette contains all the products you need to perfect your canvas.  The flat palette is great for travel.  The kit includes: 2 Cream Foundation Shades (Light 1, Light 2), 2 Cream Concealers (Fair, Light), 1 Cream Blush (Rosy), 1 Mattifier, 1 Illuminator.  I highly recommend this palette if you have drier skin and want to give Eve Pearl a try.

Bronzer

Guerlain Terracotta Spray Bronzing Powder Mist is my go-to spray bronzing powder for the last few years.  I like the fine mist that gives me an airbrushed and healthy glow any time of the year.  Besides this bronzer, I am a big fan of other Guerlain compact bronzers too!  Love!


Brows

When it comes to brows, I stick to brow pencil and brow gel.  When I want a super natural look, I will use brow gel alone.  Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel does it for me.  It is fantastic in adding a touch of color to the brow hairs and the gel grooms the hairs in place.  Granite is grayish taupe and it looks very natural on my black color brow hairs.  It softens up my natural brow color.

Eyes

For eyeshadows, the following brands are what I reached for the most in 2012.  They are all fabulous in texture, pigmentation, and blendability:

Inglot Freedom System for eyes

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow

Kevyn Aucoin Eye Shadow Duo

  

Blush

I tried many good blushes in 2012, but THE one that I was most impressed with was Illamasqua Powder Blush.  It might be the most pigmented and long lasting blush that I have ever tried.  I was amazed that it can last all day until I took it off.  As you know, the Illamasqua color range is always intriguing and beautiful, I am obsessed with this brand.

Lips

When it comes to lips, I had to choose my favorite texture of the year and a good drugstore find that was surprising smooth and hydrating...

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick

All in all, I was very adventurous in makeup in 2012, I was happy with many products that I got an opportunity to play with.  For the short list mentioned above, I have no doubt that I will re-purchase every single item in the future.  What were your favorites in 2012?

Thanks for looking!  Until next post......