5/05/2013

Parsley, Sage, Lemon, & Thyme...The Body Shop's Earth Lovers Lemon & Thyme 100% Biodegradable Shower Gel

This is my first time trying the Earth Lovers line from The Body Shop; and although I've only used the shower gel twice, I must say, I'm impressed!

When I saw Lemon & Thyme, I hoped the fragrance would be similar to that of my favorite Yankee Candle scent, Sage & Citrus, and it's close enough.

Lemon & Thyme is a harmonious blend of fresh herbs and zesty citrus. A scent that works for both men and women. The consistency is thinner than most shower gels I've tried, and despite being soap free, you only need a small amount to achieve a good lather. After use, my skin feels clean, soft, and smells great.

Another reason (the main reason) I like this product, is that it's Eco-conscious, and animal friendly. The packaging is 100% recycled plastic, the product is not tested on animals, and contains no Sulfates, Parabens, or Colorants.

The Body Shop's Earth Lovers Lemon & Thyme 100% Biodegradable Shower Gel (250ml/8.4 us fl oz) retails for ¥1,260.

Have you tried Earth Lovers line?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

5/04/2013

So Lonely In Gorgeous is Ready To Wear Addiction's Summer 2013 Ready To Wear Eye Palettes!

Here you have it, photos of the upcoming Addiction Summer 2013 Ready to Wear Eye Palettes! It was SO packed that I wasn't able to provide you with any swatches. To be honest, I don't like taking photos of swatches at the counter. I rather purchase the items and give you good quality swatches( or try to), then some rushed images (like you'll see below...sorry).

Unrated: This palette comes with four matte shadows. The texture is a tiny bit stiff, but still smooth, if that makes since. A nice basic quad for every days looks and blending out other shadows. I'll be passing on Unrated.

Tuxedo Moon: Isn't that the name of Sailor Moon's boyfriend :P Okay, focus Liz...Tuxedo Moon comes with three buttery mattes, and a stunning pearlized shadow (bottom left corner). All the shadows are great, but that bottom left corner shadow has a life of its own. Tuxedo Moon WILL BE MINE!

Sugar Rusk: Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! If you love taupes, violet/purply taupes, then you need this in your collection! All the shadows are stellar! One of the MUST (you listening Iris and Claire) haves out of all six. You know this is going into my shopping cart :)

Mudd Club: I was tempted to pull out my tweezers, and pry Mudd Club from the display. Mudd Club offers two of my favorite eye shadow colors, green and purple. When I played with this palette, I had a smile from ear to ear. That upper right green has so much dimension and character, words can't describe it; and that purple, WOW. Another MUST GET OR DIE (again, that means you Claire) from the collection.

Here's where the quality went down hill. I had three other ladies pushing themselves in my way.

Soda Lunch: If you love color, this is the palette for you. The same yummy buttery matte textures with that ohhhh Ahhhh factor(Ahem Claire :P). The colors are vivid and pop! I'll definitely be getting Soda Lunch.

Black or White: The final palette in the collection, and one I won't be getting. Don't get me wrong, the shadows are just as fantastic as the shadows in other palettes, I just wasn't blow away by the two variations of silver and black. For now, I'm going to have to pass on Black or White.

So in my opinion, the must-haves (and the four I'll be getting) are: Mudd Club and Sugar Rusk, followed by Soda Lunch and Tuxedo Moon.

Addiction's Summer 2013 Ready To Wear Eye Palettes will launch on May 10th, and retail for ¥6,510.

Which palettes will you be getting?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

5/04/2013

Running On Empty: April Empties!

Redken All Soft Shampoo & Conditioner: I switched to Redken's All Soft after Tsubaki's Damage Care line stopped working its moisturizing wonders. All Soft leaves my curls soft, bouncy, and most important, frizz free. I would repurchase, but I like to rotate my shampoos and conditioners.

Lux Super Damage Repair: In general, I don't care for the Lux hair care line, but this hair masque really does live up to the "Super" in its name. This mask leaves my hair feeling hydrated and soft. I was very impressed with this drug store hair mask, and I will buy it again!

Skintimate Moisturizing Shave Gel Flirty Mango: A staple in my shaving regimen.

Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Shower Gel: One of my favorite BBW's scents, and I'll always repurchase.

Mac Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator: A good exfoliator(not the best), but it works well at smoothing my dry skin. I would repurchase, if I didn't have two backups.

Colgate Maxfresh Toothpaste: wouldn't brush my little choppers with anything else!

Dior Top Coat: This top coat came with Dior's Electric Tropics Summer 2011 Aloha lacquer. It's a decent top coat, not the most glossy, but it does the job. I have another bottle from my purchase of the Paradise polish; so, I have one more bottle to use up until I move on to another top coat.

Bath & Body Works Wallflower Fragrance Bulb in Winter: My all-time favorite Bath & Body Works Wallflower! I always stock up on this scent every Holiday season.

Cocoa Puffs Cereal: I'm a big Cereal junkie, and whenever a friend visits the states, I always ask them to bring me cereal; not makeup, cereal (or salad dressing) because I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs! I asked my friend to bring me the chocolaty goodies that is Cocoa Puffs, and sadly, between Aki and I, the box only lasted one day :(

What did you finish this month?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

5/02/2013

Bath & Body Works' Shower Gel, Water Blossom Ivy

May's Shower gel was suppose to be Water Blossom Ivy, but the scent is so unpleasant, that I'll be looking for a replacement.

Water Blossom Ivy has been discontinued, and I can smell why. The floral scent is too strong and artificial, that it gives me headaches and makes me feel nauseous. This BBW shower gel is so vile, I wouldn't even use it as a hand wash!

What is your least favorite BBW scent?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

5/02/2013

Les Merveilleuses Laduree 'La Fete Galante' Summer Collection 2013

Laduree's 'La Fete Galante' Summer Collection 2013 launches on May 3rd (tomorrow!).

The Summer Collection features some new additions to the permanent line, as well as some Limited Edition pieces. For images for the items, please click here.

The Collection product lineup includes:

Liquid Cheek Color (limited edition) in 101, 102 ( ¥3,675).

Rouge in 13, 14, 15 ( ¥4,410).

Mixed Pressed Cheek Color (limited edition) in 101, 102 ( ¥3,990).

Pressed Cheek Color Limited Case (limited edition) with pink detailing ( ¥1,575).

Eye Color Palette in 06, 07 ( ¥4,200).

Face Brush (¥5,565).

UV Protection Body Cream ( ¥3,675).

Vanity Case (limited edition) ( ¥3,780).

I've had a very bad cold for the last three days, and I think some Laduree is just what the doctor ordered!

Most likely, I'll pick up the limited edition pieces first (which works in my favor, since I mainly wanted the blush products), and get the other items later.

What items are you lemming over?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

5/01/2013

Too Much Of A Good Thing Can be Wonderful! Rouge Bunny Rouge Joys & Desires Decadent Duos Swatches

Last month, I really enjoyed an old favorite, Rouge Bunny Rouge's Decadent duos. This lovely 2-in-1 product offers a liquid blush with a brush applicator on one end, and a lip gloss with a doe-foot applicator on the other.

From left to right: Cubana/Rumba, Duende/Flamenco.

The liquid blush blends superbly, giving the cheeks a beautiful luminescent flush. Also, the blush performs well as a lipstick. The lip gloss is moisturizing, with a non-sticky texture, while providing a sheer hint of color.

From left to right: Enredo/Samba, Argentino/Tango.

Sadly, Rouge Bunny Rouge has discontinued the Decadent Duos. However, they are still available on the website.

If you love liquid blush, lipgloss, multitasking products, or Rouge Bunny Rouge, I highly recommend picking up these duos before they've gone the way of the dido.

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

4/29/2013

Ain't She Sweet Look!

Here's yesterdays look, again, using products from Laduree's Spring collection. Go here for the swatches.

Products used:
Face:
Les Merveilleuses Laduree UV Protection Make Up Base.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Moisturizing Cream Compact Foundation #20.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Powder Foundation # 20.
Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow Pencil in Seal Brown.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Cream Cheek Base 103.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Mini Face Color Trio 102(the muted neon orange shade on the apples of the cheeks).
Eyes:
Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC30.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Mini Face Color Trio 102:
The left golden peachy-coral shade dusted all over the lid into the crease and along the lower lashline.
The pale mint green shade on the brow bone and in the inner corner.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Pencil Eyeliner 102 (on the upper and lower lashline and waterline).
Chanel Inimitable Intense Multi-Dimensionnel Sophistique Mascara in 10 Noir.
Lips:
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Lip Lacquer in 02.

Hope you enjoyed this look.

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

4/28/2013

I Know A Polish That's Tough But Sweet...China Glaze's Kinetic Candy!

Question: are you experiencing the same sporadic weather? It's been cold, gray, and rainy for the past few days, and the only thing reminding me it's Spring are my manicures.

Kinetic Candy is a pale, grayed, robin's egg blue creme that I adore. I really love the dusty undertone in this polish, and I find it quite soothing to look at, especially on overcast days.

What polishes do you like to wear on cloudy days?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

4/27/2013

The Eyeshadow Strikes Back! Inglot Eye Shadow Singles

Sorry for the mini absences!

I totally forgot about the Inglot eye shadow singles that were stashed away in one of my eyeshadow bins. Many years ago, these singles were my first introduction to the brand. I was on the last leg of my vacation in Miami, shopping at Aventura Mall, when I happened upon the Inglot store. It felt as if the store had magical appeared, like some kind of cosmetic brigadoon. I knew nothing of the brand, or their freedom system, so I grabbed eight singles; When I think back on that evening, I feel a bit cheated. The MUA didn't offer/recommend purchasing these shadows using the Freedom System, which would have saved me around $50...beauty Jihad on her!

For a more in-depth review, check out my first Inglot post here.

From left to right: P416, DS465, P444, DS500.

From left to right: P420, M376, P434, DS458.

The individual eye shadows come with 2g/0.07 oz of product, unfortunately, I don't remember how much they retail for since I bought them a long time ago, but I believe they were around $12.

What Inglot eyeshadows do you own?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

4/22/2013

Stealing Beauty: Cosmeme at LakeTown

Lately, I've been shopping without my boy Friday(Aki). So, without him there to distract the Sales associates, it's been impossible for me to take pictures of the immaculate beauty counters. Tonight, we were at LakeTown, and with no SA in sight, I seized the moment and took a photo of my favorite store in the entire mall, Cosmeme. Cosmeme offers a small range of high-end brands such as Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Lancome, Helena Rubinstein, Shu Uemura, Clinique, and, now, Addiction. The main reason I love shopping at Cosmeme is their member's card. Out of all the beauty member"s cards I have (and I have all of them), Cosmeme's is the only one that actually awards you with cash back. After you've accrued a certain amount of points, you get ¥1,000 yen off your purchase. Yay for cash back!

What stores give you cash back rewards?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.