L'OcciBox Spring Edition by L'Occitane (L'OcciBox #2)

L’Occitane’s second edition of L’OcciBox is now available in select stores and online, and features a great assortment of L’Occitane goodies in travel and deluxe sizes. This edition of L’OcciBox also comes with a delicious box of Sugarfina’s Champagne Bears (non-alcoholic) Candy and the entire box can be purchased at this link : http://usa.loccitane.com/locciboxset with code SUGAR for $20!  Here’s a quick look at what’s inside!

Two Shea Butter Handcreams, one in my favorite Whipped formula. They’re both great sizes to toss into your bag and super moisturizing. 

Immortelle Precious Serum - This is quite a generous size for a sample and has a week’s worth to trial. The Immortelle Brightening Essence can be used like a serum, alone or before your moisturizer.

Jasmin & Bergamote EDT - A gorgeous floral fragrance for spring, infused with bergamot essential oil. Its a light, crisp and a very feminine scent.

A full size of the Bonne Mere Rose Soap. Its a good cleanser for the summer that needs to followed up with a lotion, but the scent is amazing!

1 cube of Sugarfina Champagne Bears in the cutest, chic packaging. The flavors include classic Brut and and fashionable Rose. 

Overall, I find this L’OcciBox absolutely worth more than the $20 it retails for. The selection of products are fabulous and easy to get a feel of some of L’Occitane’s bestsellers before splurging on full sizes! 

This Spring edition of L’OcciBox was provided to me by L’Occitane. NO Affiliate links have been used.

Brett Freedman Beauty Brett Brow Duo-Shade Pencil in Dark Brunette

Brett Freedman Beauty is now available at Sephora, a line that has a well edited selection of brow products. The Brett Brow Duo-Shade Pencil ($18; sephora.com) is a dual ended brow pencil with a pencil to powder formula that comes with a teeny tiny brush comb attached to the cap that helps define and groom brows. 

My brows are very dark, so Dark Brunette, the darkest, is what matches me perfectly. The color isn’t too dark, or too warm. One side is slightly lighter than the other, but both are variations of taupy browns. It would have been nicer to include a little more of a grey toned color, but there’s not much red tones to both colors. I found this pencil to be much creamier than most brow pencils I’ve tried, so it is very easy to go overboard. The small comb that comes with it keeps brow hairs in place and the creaminess from the pencil also acts like a brow wax, shaping them perfectly. I also liked how easy it was to create an arch without looking too unnatural. Overall, if you can find a color that matches you, I would definitely recommend one of these dual ended pencils. If you do have thinner brows, be sure to have a spoolie handy to remove any excess. 

*Press Sample

Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick in Tempt

During the month of April, Vapour Organic Beauty will be donating 10% of proceeds from their best selling Siren Lipstick in Tempt ($24; vapourorganicbeauty.com; credobeauty.com) to the Beyond Pesticides BEE Protective Campaign. Tempt is a gorgeous rosy pink with a hint of golden sparkle that goes on with a semi matte finish. 

As for the formula, its kind of an odd, but good one. There’s not much slip to the lipstick, so it does look better on lips that are in good condition. The shimmer can feel just a tad gritty, but the color is gorgeous and the comfortable formula keeps lips soft and smooth without drying. The color lasts about 2-3 hours on me and definitely needs reapplication beyond that. The packaging is slim and chic and this particular color also looks lovely as a light flush on the cheeks.  It does have an impressive ingredients list and is now being sold for a good initiative. The Siren Lipstick in Tempt is available at vapurorganicbeauty.com and also on Credo Beauty, who will be matching the brand’s 10% donation for a total of 20% until the end of this month!

*Press Sample

New Natural Beauty Buys + Quick Reviews | Indie Lee, Acure & Orico

Just a quick roundup of these four, new to me, natural skin and haircare products that I've been trying out recently.  I don’t particularly look for natural ingredients, but when I do come across something nice and affordable, I can’t help but try it out. 

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser ($32; amazon.com) - I’ve been wanting this for a really long time now & got it finally after reading Gummy’s thoughts on it! I absolute love it. Its not a one step cleanser, but a good one when you have no makeup on, to be used in the shower or as a second cleanse. It doesn’t foam very much and the slippery texture is sort of odd, but it does wash away with no greasy residue. The scent is nice, a tad artificial maybe, that got better & fresher with use, but not too bothersome even for my sensitive nose. I find most brightening cleansers drying, but this one isn’t.

Acure Eye Cream Superfruit + Chlorella Growth Factor ($18.99; whole foods) - nothing too fancy here, just a basic eye cream for the under eye area that moisturizes. I haven’t seen much of a difference with my dark circles, but the texture of this cream is very light, quick absorbing and doesn’t meddle with my concealer. It can be used morning and night. Its a fuss free, basic moisturizer that doesn’t feel too greasy, but also doesn't do anything miraculous besides moisturizing. 

Acure Moroccan Argan Stem Cell + Argan Oil Shampoo ($9.99; target.com)  - A gorgeous sulfate free shampoo that cleanses without drying. You do need more product than usual for it to foam up well, and a conditioner to follow up with, since it leaves hair tangled, but its one I can definitely recommend for all hair types. I do use a clarifying shampoo once a week as my hair gets oily with all the product build up, but this one doesn’t add to the greasiness. It smells fantastic and isn’t terribly expensive for something so nice. Leaves my hair looking fuller and shiny. 

Orico Orange Micellar Cleansing Water ($24; orico.com ; press sample)  - A very mild, orange scented micellar water that removes dirt and a light layer of makeup. Its not a one step cleanser, but good for no makeup or barely there makeup days. I found it to be very gentle, but not that efficient on waterproof makeup. The scent is very citrusy and not too strong. 

Deborah Lippmann Painted Desert Summer 2015 Collection

Deborah Lippmann’s new summer 2015 Collection ($18 each; shop.nordstrom.com), Painted Desert features gorgeous murky creme polishes in four fabulous shades. The colors do seem more fall appropriate than summer, but they make for great transition shades in between seasons as well.

Love In The Dunes - A purple grey cream that was opaque in just one coat. Its a beautiful shade that would flatter most skin tones and is very understated. Dries a tad darker than how it looks in the bottle.

Desert Moon - A grey cream with hints of green. This definitely is a fall color, but great formula, a one coater and dries super fast!

Terra Nova - Probably not the most flattering shade for my skin tone, but another beautiful cream formula. I used two coats for swatching, but you can easily get away with one.

Shifting Sands - The most sophisticated, chic shade that went on beautifully. It is a tad less opaque than the others though, so I went with three thin coats, but the color and formula are very worth it.

*Press Samples

Christopher Kane For NARS Summer 2015 Collection | Glow Pink Lip Gloss & Starscape Blush

NARS’s new summer collection in collaboration with Christopher Kane is a gorgeous mix of brights and sheer pops of color in limited edition packaging. My two favorite pieces from the collection are the Glow Pink Lip Gloss ($26; narscosmetics.com) a sheer cool toned purple-pink gloss and the hot pink blush, Starscape (limited edition; $30; narscosmetics.com).

Both colors, although very bright to look at, are extremely wearable and flattering. The Starscape Blush can be sheered out to look like a light flush of pink and since there’s no chunky shimmer or glitter, it looks very natural when used with NARS’ Yachiyo brush. It is quite easy to go overboard, but also easy to control the intensity with a less dense brush. 

The Glow Pink Lip Gloss is almost a clear gloss with a hint of pink on my pigmented lips. It brightens up the complexion and layers beautifully with many other lipsticks. There’s no strong scent or taste and the formula is super comfortable and moisturizing. If you are looking for a brighter pop of color, just as it looks in the tube, Glow Pink might not be the one, but if you love sheer pinks and easy to swipe and go glosses, this is fabulous! Both these products are absolutely gorgeous and will flatter any complexion, especially those in the medium/dark category. They are an easy way to wear brights effortlessly without having to worry about going overboard.

*Press Sample

Burberry Beauty Wet & Dry Silk Eyeshadow in Aqua Green No.309

Burberry’s new spring collection included four of the new reformulated wet/dry silk eyeshadows in colorful matte shades. Aqua Green No.309 ($29; shop.nordstrom.com) is a bright matte green with fabulous color payoff and intensity that can be used wet or dry.

I’m not sure if Aqua Green is limited edition, it still seems to be available at a few retailers like Nordstrom and Saks though. I found the silk formula to be smooth, blendable and super silky, just as the name describes it to be. While I do love mattes, Aqua Green isn’t the most flattering color on me and would look much nicer on someone with lighter skin tone. Its not a pastel, but not warm enough to flatter my  my complexion. I do love to layer it paired with olive greens and shimmery browns than by itself. I found the intensity of the shadow to be great when used both wet and dry, although I prefer dry application better. I did have a bad experience with my Nude Glow eyeshadow cracking after using it wet, so I guess I won’t be experimenting much by using the formula wet. That apart, its a beautiful formula - I love Burberry’s original formula and the reformulation feels just as silky and smooth!

*Press Sample

Dior Vernis Sunwashed 319 | Dior Tie Dye Summer 2015 Makeup Collection

Dior Vernis Sunwashed ($27; dior.com) is one of three new nail polishes released as part of Dior’s Tie Dye Summer 2015 Collection. Sunwashed is a pale, milky yellow creme.

I love the new Dior Gel Formula of nail polishes and the super easy application brush. Sunwashed unfortunately was not the best, formula and consistency wise. The formula felt a bit streaky and required three coats for complete opacity. The brush was perfect, but the consistency was difficult to work with and messy around the cuticles despite Dior’s flawless application brush. I used three thin coats, but the polish felt thick, took a long time to dry and did not self level very well. The color is absolutely gorgeous and would be the perfect summer color especially with a tan, but the formula was not as good as the other Dior polishes. If you are clumsy like me you would have a difficult time getting a neat application with Sunwashed. If you don’t mind three coats and a little bit of bubbling and streaking, Sunwashed is probably worth checking out. I so wish the formula was a bit more opaque and smoother for such an interesting color. 

Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Dry Rose

Laura Mercier’s Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Dry Rose ($27; lauramercier.com) is one of eight new shade additions to the brand’s sping/summer lineup. Dry Rose is a mauve-rose creme with a super smooth, rich formula and great color payoff.

Dry Rose swatches lighter, more rosy compared to how it looks in the tube. On my lips, it translates to a soft rosy pink with a lovely sheen. The Creme Smooth Lip Colors have a non-drying formula that don’t move around too much and average lasting power. Dry Rose is a very flattering color on most skin tones, particularly medium/dark and a great one if you like light washes of plummy pinks and can’t pull off deeper plums. Overall, gorgeous color, comfortable formula with a mild, barely there scent and a great color addition to the Creme Smooth Lip Color range!

*Press Sample

RITUALS Ayurveda Collection | Honey Touch Body Cream and Himalaya Wisdom Body Scrub

Rituals’ new Ayurveda Bath and Body Collection features products that pamper and smoothen, with good for your skin, nourishing ingredients. 

The Himalaya Wisdom Crystal Sea Salt Body Scrub ($29; barneys.com)  is a rich body scrub that exfoliates deeply, perfect for dry skin. The scent is quite strong, but it leaves behind a silky smooth veil of moisture and a citrusy scent behind. It is a gritty scrub and quite a strong one at that. It does leave behind an oily residue and can make the bathroom floor a bit slippery, but it does what it says and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. I also like to use it as a hand/foot scrub, followed up with a thick layer of moisturizer. The Honey Touch Body Cream ($25; barneys.com)  is a rich textured body butter with a strong floral citrus scent. I found the scent to be a tad more stronger than the body scrub, but the cream itself is very nourishing and quick absorbing for something so thick. Overall, I love the duo for smooth, soft skin and there’s a generous amount of product in there with a great ingredient list for the price, but the scent is one to keep in mind if you don’t like very strongly scented body care. 

*Press Sample

TOCCA Isabel Eau de Parfum

TOCCA’S newest scent, Isabel ($68; sephora.com), is a beautiful spring floral with notes of Bergamot, Mediterranean Orange, Pear, Sangria Accord, Spanish Rose, Leather Accord, Vetiver, Turkish Rose Petals, Guiacwood, Amber and Vanilla.  I love rose based scents and I’d have to say that Isabel is one very unique rose fragrance, more of a dry rose scent, not one bit like many other typical rose based scents I’ve tried.

Isabel opens up with fresh notes of Pear, orange and rose, which makes for a very beautiful, soft opening without being too heady. The scent isn’t very powdery for something rose based, rather warm and comforting with a beautiful vanilla-rose dry down. It is quite sweet, mostly floral and just perfect for any time of the year. Isabel has average longevity, about 5-6 hours on me after which most of it is gone. Before trying Isabel, my favorite Tocca perfume was Florence, which is a gorgeous gardenia, but Isabel tops that. I absolutely love it and not to mention the classy, elegant Tocca bottle that perfectly complements the scent itself. If you like light florals and rose based fragrances in general, do try a spritz or two of Isabel next time you are near a Tocca perfume counter.

*Press Sample

DIOR Diorskin Nude Tan Tie Dye Edition Blush Harmony in Coral Sunset | Dior Tie Dye Summer 2015 Collection

Dior’s Summer Tie Dye Collection is a gorgeous mix of brights and nudes in the most wearable selection of colors. The Diorskin Nude Tan Tie Dye Edition Blush Harmony ($57; dior.com) is one of the standout pieces that I just had to pick up one of! Coral Sunset is a bright coral in the pan that sheers out to a wearable pinky coral, while the shimmers are almost non-existent on the cheeks.

I absolutely love the stunning design of the Tie Dye Blushes in this collection. The blush comes with a tiny kabuki brush which I use to apply. The brush is soft, picks up the right amount of product and blends beautifully. I like to swirl all the colors together which translates to a soft, satin matte coral on the cheeks. There’s little to no fallout and the texture is luxuriously smooth and easy to work with. While the colors in Coral Sunset are interesting, the end result is more coral than anything else and its a color that you can hardly go wrong with. Overall, love it! Definitely worth checking out if you love the special edition Tie Dye design and the gorgeous , wearable colors.