Through the Cosmos...KURE BAZAAR Nail Lacquer

Of the 30 Kure Bazaar nail lacquers in my collection, I thought I had posted on some of them. But, to my surprise, I haven't.

Before we get into the polish, let's talk about the brand for a moment. Free of Toluene, Parabens, Formaldehyde, Synthetic Camphor, TPHP, Styrene, and Dibutyl  Phthalate, Kure Bazaar nail polishes are formulated with 85% natural ingredients. They are vegan, and do not tested on animals.

Cosmos is a pastel lilac-pink, with a glossy, cream finish. Also, when dry, I did notice that Cosmos was relatively darker on the nails than in the bottle.  The majority of all my Kure Bazaar polishes are practically one coaters, but Cosmos needed three coats to get full opacity. Just like all her other sisters, Cosmos wears for an average of 6-to-7 days.

Kure Bazaar Polishes are some of the best polishes on the market, and one of my favorite nail polish brands...and I wouldn't make such a claim so flippantly. These polishes apply remarkably smooth, are ultra-shiny, and resilient against signs of wear. There are several polish brands that make me want to own all their polishes. Given that I'm 30 nail lacquers in, I believe I'm at the half way mark to achieving that goal!

Got My Lipstick On...Lancome French Collection Lip Products

Lancome included five limited edition lipstick products in their French Temptation Collection (four L'Absolu Rouge Matte lipsticks and a Jelly Flower Lip Tint).

The four French Temptation L'Absolu Rouge shades are: 400 Framboise Pulse, 401 Crunchy Myrtille, 402 Rose Acidule, and 403 Zeste Mandarine. Albeit the formulas and finishes are different, I passed on 402 Rose Acidule because the shade was in the same family range as the Jelly Flower Lip Tint.

Although these L'Absolu Rouge lipsticks are suppose to be matte, their finish is more of a creamy, semi-matte. All three lipsticks are highly pigmented, comfortable on the lips, and wear exceptionally well without any dryness, uneven fading, feathering, or peeling.

How gorgeous is the transparent tube packaging and the bright, deep pink with suspended petals of the Jelly Flower Lip Tint in 01 Rose Jelly Cake?! Based on appearance alone, this Flower Lip Tint was coming home with me.

Encapsulated with real rose petals, Rose Jelly Cake has a light, non-sticky, gel-like consistency. From the tube, the gloss has a subtle pink coloring. However, it seems as if  the product reacts to the warmth of the lips because the color intensifies the longer it's worn; thus, leaving a lovely deep, pink stain.

From left to right: 01 Rose Jelly Cake Jelly Flower Lip Tint, L'Absolu Rouge 400 Framboise Pulse, 401 Crunchy Myrtille, 403 Zeste Mandarine.

400 Framboise Pulse: a medium, reddened raspberry.

401 Crunchy Myrtille: a vibrant, deep, violet-purple.

403 Zeste Mandarine: a bright (almost neon), milky-orange.

01 Rose Jelly Cake: a vibrant, magenta-pink. 

I really like all of the lip products from the French Temptation Collection. But, I must say, my favorite is L'Absolu Rouge 401 Crunchy Myrtille.

The Candy Mani Can...Lancome 440 Candy Blue Le Vernis

Lately, the weather here has been pretty sporadic; cold and overcast one day, and rainy the next. To brighten these gloomy days (and my mood), I've been wearing 440 Candy Blue.

A fun pop of color, 440 Candy Blue is a bright, medium sky blue, with a glossy, creme finish. The formula is great, practically a one-coat polish. Lately, I've been changing out my manicures quite frequently. As a result, I haven't experienced any tip wear or chipping. However, I have worn 440 Candy Blue for three days now, and without any incidents.

The Real Slim Shady...Visee BR305 Soft & Slim Eyebrow Pencil

By no means am I betraying my tried and trusted B & C Browlash EX Water Strong W Eyebrow pencil (I wish it came in more shades), but it's fun having a little tryst with a new brow product.

Available in six shades, I first bought GY 001 some time ago, and put it away like a squirrel does its nuts in the Winter...and now I can't find it, anywhere.

Anyway, Spring is a time when I like playing with colored brow products. Currently, I'm loving MAC's Eye Shadows in Blackberry and Haux to create a muted, plummy or rosy brown brow. Enter Visee's Soft & Slim Eyebrow Pencil in BR 305. Described as a Dark Brown, BR 305 has a minute plummy tone to it, pairing perfectly with both of the aforementioned products.

Visee's Soft & Slim Eyebrow Pencil comes in an ultra-slim, featherweight plastic holder, with a spoolie on the other-end. The pencil tip is 1.7mm, which allows for quick and precise "hairlike" strokes; thus, filling in those sparse areas, and shaping the brows, while giving them a soft, natural look.

I particularly like that the spoolie bristles are very firm; they do a great job at grooming and combing the product through the brow hairs.

Anyway, Spring is a time when I like playing with colored brow products. Currently, I'm loving MAC's Eye Shadows in Blackberry and Haux to create a muted, plummy or rosy brown brow. Enter Visee's Soft & Slim Eyebrow Pencil in BR 305. Described as a Dark Brown, BR 305 has a minute plummy tone to it, pairing perfectly with both of the aforementioned products.

Not too waxy, nor powdery, the Soft & Slim Pencil's formula has a creamy-dry consistency that glides on the brows.

I'm not into the habit of rubbing my face into things, so I can't account for the smudgability of the product. That being said, after a 14+ hour day,  my brows are still in tact.

Visee's Soft & Slim Eyebrow Pencil is a great alternative when I'm going for a softer brow, and with a 864 yen price tag, I'll definitely be repurchasing.

A Real Smoothie...Ducato N 83 Berry, Berry Smoothie

Hey all! How's your week going? Golden Week is underway over here, and I'm doing exactly what I want to do, which is nothing. I didn't want to have any commitments, and whatever it is I'm going to do, I want to play it by ear.

Anyway, the last four day's I've been wearing Ducato's N 83 Berry, Berry Smoothie; a dusty, mauve-lilac, loaded with microscopic silver, violet, baby blue and copper glitter. The glitters are so tiny, you can only see them from up-close or in certain angles.

Where's the glitter? I couldn't capture the glitters (they are microscopic, you know), but they're in there! 

On the first coat, the formula goes on sheer, but evenly. Depending on application, the whites of the nail line and preference, you are able to get full color on the second coat. However, I do prefer the look of Berry, Berry Smoothie when it's layered a third time. Btw, the finish is rather dull; therefore, a top coat is required.

I've worn Berry, Berry Smoothie three times, and I usually get tip wear on the third or fourth day.

Even though the glitters are teeny tiny, their coloring gives Berry Berry Smoothie's dusty shade a pretty nuance.

All You Need Are Blush & Macarons! Lancome French Temptation Collection Blushes

I would have to say, my favorite pieces from Lancome's French Temptation Collection are the blushers, of course.

I got both of the Le Teint Blush & Blender Duos, and one of the two Light Cream Duo Cushions. The other duo cushion, 02 Refreshing Pistachio & Pinky Peach are meant to be used as a primer to correct redness, and brighten dull skin. Not a fan of the cushion formula, it was an easy pass for me.

I had my first "blonde" moment, as it took me a good minute to realized that these macaron-shaped thingies were sponge blenders.

The macaron shaped packaging of the Le Teint Blush & Blender Duos in 01 Rose Whipped Cream Blush & Pistachio Blender, and 02 Coral Whipped Cream Blush & Raspberry Blender are cute, but confusing. For example, the rose blush is in the coral-colored macaron, and the coral shade is in the pink one.

The blushes have a firm, creamy, mousse-like consistency; they are not sticky nor wet. Instead, they have a pleasant, soft powdery-velvet texture. I was highly impressed with how intensely pigmented these blushes are. Sometimes cream blusher can disappear when blending them out, but not these Macaroons! They are very easy to apply, blend out, and achieve the desired flush effect. I've used my fingers, the macaroon blenders, beauty blenders, and brushes, and the end result was always lovely. Apart from using them on the cheeks, I've tried both shades on the lids, and lips. I found them too drying for the lips, but gorgeous on the lids, especially 02 coral.

The Light Cream Duo Cushion compact is fairly large; it practically covers the palm of my hand.

I love how the collection's graphic print was extended to the cushion puff; thus, giving it a wardrobe change for Spring.

I solely purchased the 01 Juicy Berry & Luminous Peach Light Cream Duo Cushion for the blush side. The highlighter side does give a subtle dewy sheen, but it contains silver micro shimmer that migrates all over the face once the product dries down. I'm not keen on the micro shimmer,  at all! At the counter, I fell for the shade of the blush half of this duo. The blush has the same consistency, and finish, as the other Lancome cushion blushes; hence, giving the complexion a dewy, wash of color.

From left to right: 01 Rose Whipped Cream Blush, 02 Coral Whipped Cream Blush, 01 Juicy Berry & Luminous Peach Light Cream Duo Cushion.

01 Rose Whipped Cream Blush: a warm, yellow-toned, medium pink.

02 Coral Whipped Cream Blush: a vibrant, reddish-coral.

01 Juicy Berry & Luminous Peach Light Cream Duo Cushion: a watermelon pink and a peachy beige with silver micro-glitter.

Between the Le Teint Blush & Blender Duos and the two Light Cream Duo Cushion, the Le Teint Blush & Blender Duos are my favorite. They perform beautifully, look stunning, and wear for over 8+ hours. I keep trying to give these cushion blushes a chance, but I don't think they are for me.

Have you tried any of the blushes from the French Temptation Collection?

Icing on the Nails...Lancome 430 Icing Pink Le Vernis

In your nail polish collection, which color do you have the least of? For reasons unbeknownst to me, that shade would be pink...and to be specific, the paler shades of pink.

I really like the red, pink and white graphic print of the exterior packaging. 

Lancome changed their polish bottles some time ago, and I love the chic new form. 

The top of the removable black plastic is adorned with an embossed  gold colored plate with the brand's rose logo. 

Part of Lancome's French Temptation Spring 2018 Collection, 430 Icing pink is a soft grayish-tinged, lavender-baby pink pastel. with a pink and muted lavender duochrome. The flashes of pink and muted lavender give the polish a special uniqueness, and warmth.

The formula is sheer, but goes on easily and evenly. Depending on your application, and nail line, you can get full coverage with two coats. I love the look of a third coat, which I don' mind doing because the vernis is fun to apply.

By no means is the finish dull. however, Icing Pink does need a top coat to amp up the shine. The polish wore for five days without incident.

A stunning color for Spring, I feel Lancome captured the sugary wonders of French pasties when they created 430 Icing pink.

Did you purchase any polishes from the Lancome's French Temptation Collection?