Korres Mango Butter Lipstick in Coral - Review, Photos & Swatches

Korres Mango Butter Lipsticks($18) are sheer, moisturizing lipsticks with SPF 10 that tint & condition lips with mango butter. "Coral", which looks like a very bright, vibrant coral in the tube, sheers out to be a very wearable shade and leaves a super glossy finish.



The formula feels very moisturizing, just like the Korres lip butters. The light weight & smooth texture makes it a great pick for even the driest of lips. You don't even need a lip balm underneath. I love the way Coral turns out on my lips. Although I have very pigmented lips, the color still shows through very well.

Also because it is a very sheer & glossy lipstick, it lasts only about 2-3 hours but does not dry out my lips after its gone. This is a great pick if you love very moisturizing lipsticks, with a super glossy sheen and sheer color. I love the balmy, light feel so much that I almost forget I'm wearing a lipstick! These lipsticks are also free of Parabens, Sulfates, Petrochemicals and Synthetic fragrances.

What are your thoughts on the Korres Mango Butter Lipstick?

Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy

Bath and Body Works Paris Amour Shower Gel

Paris Amour, one of the recent launches from the Bath & Body Works signature collection is described as a warm, romantic scent. I think its one of those girly, flirty scents that you either love or hate. It is strongly sweet smelling and has just a teeny tiny hint of musk.

TOP NOTES

Sparkling Mandarin, Petite Strawberry, Cassis, Pink Apple Blossom, Dewy Freesia

MID NOTES

Luscious Peach, Jasmine Petals, French Tulip, Water Lily, Frangipani

DRY NOTES

French Vanilla, Coconut Milk, Amber Wood, Sandalwood, Creamy Musk

Initially, when I took a whiff of this shower gel in the bottle, I wasn't sure if I liked it so much and thought it may be too generic. But, when it lathers, it has a very creamy, sweet, luxurious scent that lingers on for quite a while. Very classy without being too overpowering! However, if you plan to layer the shower gel with the matching lotion or a body mist, it may turn into a strong scent which is something to keep in mind. Like most of the shower gels from BBW, this one too doesn't strip my skin of moisture, at the same time is not extra moisturizing either. You would need a light lotion afterwards.

Overall, Paris Amour is a very feminine, sweet scent that I would love any time of the year. The shower gel is a very good pick as an everyday indulgence and if you like to layer your scents, keep in mind that this one needs to be done in moderation else, you may end up totally not liking it.

Available at all Bath And Body Works stores and online at bathandbodyworks.com.

What are your thoughts on Paris Amour?

Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Review : Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer($31 for 1.6 fl.oz) is a moisturizer specifically formulated for dry/sensitive skin. This intense, rich moisturizer is the third step of the Liz Earle cleanse, tone, moisturize system. I like to use this more as a night time moisturizer than during the day. It is super rich and thick in texture, smells wonderful and absorbs quite fast.

I would love to use this as my day time moisturizer too, once the weather starts getting a little dry. But for now, it works amazingly well as a night cream. My skin feels plump, hydrated and smooth in the morning. Since it is very rich, I only need a very tiny amount for my face & neck. I find the skin boost tonic to be moisturizing itself, so depending on how much moisture my skin needs, I decide whether or not to skip that step in the night. If you have normal skin, you can still get away with using just a tiny amount but, it is formulated to work as an excellent moisturizer for dry/sensitive skin. Although it is super rich, it does not leave an oily film, making it a great base for makeup too.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer feels luxurious and perfectly fits the bill if you are looking for a super hydrating, non-greasy moisturizer. It may be a little too heavy during the summer even for dry/sensitive skin types but as the weather gets dry, this is something your skin will love!

Have you tried the Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer? Do you like it as much as I do? Share your thoughts!

Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Winner of the MAC Sheen Supreme Giveaway!

I had a total of 411 entries for the giveaway. So, it took me a while to tally them all. I used a list randomizer to run the entries through and then picked a random winner using random.org. And the winner is....

                                                     ***funkiichiicka***

Congrats, funkiichiicka! You get to pick a MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick of your choice. You'll receive an e-mail from me shortly!

A big Thank You to those who entered! If you did not win this time, don't worry, I have another one coming up soon!

theBalm Frat Boy Blush - Review, Photos & Swatches

Frat Boy($21) is a talc-free powder blush, also to be used an an eyeshadow from theBalm. Like all theBalm products, this one too is great value for money. Frat Boy is a matte apricot shade that has a velvety smooth texture and is super pigmented. It looks a lot rosy on me when applied though. Its easy to go overboard with this shade so, be very light handed while using it.

The packaging is one of the obvious reasons I was drawn to theBalm. The quality is equally amazing and since it is talc-free, it's safe to be used on sensitive & acne-prone skin types. Frat Boy complements a lot of looks and gives the most natural flush ever. And since it is matte, it looks flawless without enlarging pores. A very light dusting makes it a work-safe shade too.

Frat Boy is a great everyday, fuss-free shade that will look absolutely gorgeous on most skin tones, particularly on those with medium skin tones. Although it is a matte blush, it does have a very slight dewy sheen that people like me with dry skin will love. I love that it is paraben-free too!

What are your thoughts on theBalm's Frat Boy Blush?

Last Day to Enter my MAC Sheen Supreme Giveaway!(CLOSED)

 ***This giveaway is now closed & the winner will be announced shortly. Thanks for entering!***

Have you entered my MAC Sheen Supreme Giveaway yet? A random winner gets to choose their choice of MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick! Today is the last day to enter (Ends 11:59 pm PST) so, if you haven't already, go to the original post to enter! Open Internationally!

Good Luck!

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tints

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tints($7.50) as the name suggests, are glossy lip tints that provide color, moisture and long-lasting freshness to breath with a 100 % minty flavor. They feel a little sticky and too glossy for a lip treatment so, I like to wear them more as glosses topped over a lipstick or alone. They smell very strongly of mint as there's 2% peppermint oil and the minty freshness does stay up to the claim, feeling minty in a very nice way, not in a lip plumping, tingly way.

"Plum Mint" is a sheer berry, "Pink mint" is a very sheer, pearly pink, almost transparent and "Bare Mint" is a pinkish brown that has a sheer, beautiful nude sheen. On my pigmented lips, all of them look like very sheer glosses with just a tint of color. If you are expecting a lot of pigment, you maybe disappointed. But, as moisturizing glosses, they perform amazingly well, stay on for about three hours and do not dry out my lips at all.

L-R : Bare Mint, Pink Mint, Plum Mint

L-R : Plum Mint, Pink Mint, Bare Mint

The squeeze tube is super convenient and there's a ton of product in there that will last you a very long time. I just wish they were a little less sticky!

Overall, they are very nice to have and make really good glosses over any lipstick or alone but, keep in mind that since most shades are very sheer, there's just a slight difference in the color and it won't make a huge difference if you have pigmented lips like me.

Available at all C.O Bigelow outlets, Bath and Body Works stores and online at bathandbodyworks.com, bigelowchemists.com.

What are your thoughts on the C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tints?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Illamasqua Lipstick in Kontrol - Theatre of the Nameless Collection

"Kontrol"($22) is an intense-color lipstick launched as part of Illamasqua's Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection. Kontrol is a rather bold shade that goes on just as deep as it looks in the tube. Illamasqua describes it as a blue violet but, it looks more like a deep, vivid purple to me. It's definitely not your everyday lipstick and is by no means a safe shade. But, the color looks so beautiful in the tube, I could sit and stare at it all day! Although it is supposed to be a matte finish, it does have a slight sheen that keeps it from looking very flat. It goes on smooth, feels creamy and you get full opacity with just one swipe.

The easiest way to make Kontrol a wearable shade is to dab just a "tiny" amount, blot and apply a sheer gloss on top. At least, that's the only way it looks wearable on me although, I know that's not the purpose of this pretty purple lipstick. If full on purple lips are your cup of tea and you are one of those lucky people who can pull this off effortlessly, look no further. The color is buildable but trust me, you won't need to do that with this one. It does not bleed so you wouldn't need lip liner but, a layer of lip balm underneath helps since, it does have a tendency to stain lips.

Kontrol worn all by itself!

Just a dab of Kontrol topped with a sheer pink gloss

Overall, "Kontrol" may not be everyone's shade and it does need a lot of effort to make it work on certain skin tones but, formula wise, the lipstick feels amazing. For something that is so rich and pigmented, it feels very light and comfortable on the lips!

Available now at Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com.

What are your thoughts on Kontrol? Would you wear it just the way it looks? If not, what would you pair it with?

Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Sonia Kashuk Eye On Fall Color Instructional Eye Shadow Palette - Review, Photos & Swatches

Eye On Fall Color ($19.99) is a permanent addition and part of the Sonia Kashuk fall/winter 2011 collection. This palette has the right mix of colors, mostly wearable shades that look flattering on most skin tones.

The eye shadows are very pigmented and smooth. They are numbered 1 to 12 and come packed with instructional cards on how to create looks. Everything except numbers 5 and 6 go on just the way they look on the pan. These two eye shadows alone need a little layering though. All of them have a nice sheen and very little shimmer that looks beautiful when blended out well. There's less fallout compared to the previous Instructional Eye Shadow palette released for spring. There's a ton of beautiful looks that can be done with this palette. All eye shadows look amazing just as a lid shade, worn alone with just some eyeliner and mascara. You can never go wrong with such shades!

A few of them are even work-friendly, simple and work well as everyday shades. You would however need a good primer underneath these to make them stay put for a few hours without which they dissappear after about 2-3 hours. Apart from that, the palette has some safe, easy to work with shades that need very less effort. If you want to play up your lips and add some color to your eyes at the same time without looking OTT, this palette perfectly fits the bill. 

Shades 1,2,3(first row)

Shades 4,5,6(second row)

Shades 7,8,9(third row)

Shades 10,11,12(fourth row)

Available now at Target stores and online at Target.com


What are your thoughts on the Eye On Fall Color Instructional Eye Shadow Palette?


Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Forest - Review, Photos & Swatches

How gorgeous is this shade of green gel eyeliner from Maybelline's Fall Fashion Week 2011 collection? I always have a tough time finding green gel liners at the drugstores so, I had to get this plus it was limited-edition! There's another shade of metallic blue that is part of this collection called Sapphire. I wasn't too keen on that since blue gel liners are not so hard to find.


"Forest" is a deep, jewel toned green with very fine shimmer. It is dark enough to work with a smokey eye and perfect when used alone too. I love the formula of Maybelline gel liners. They are super creamy, stay put for hours together and waterproof too. I'm not very fond of the brush though. It's alright, works in a pinch but, is not great when you want to wing your eyeliner. So, I stick to my Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner brush or any regular flat eyeliner brush.

 

Overall, if there is just one item you want to pick up from this collection, it is this eyeliner. It looks absolutely gorgeous on any eye color, is not too bright and is very versatile.

Have you tried the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Forest?

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer($8.99) has been my go-to primer these days. It is a permanent addition to the fall collection from Rimmel and also a replacement for the older version of the Fix and Perfect foundation primer. This new and improved version claims to provide 5 in 1 results. I use this over moisturizer on areas like my cheeks, nose & forehead, the places where I have large pores and pretty much anywhere makeup slides off easily.

I love how light-weight this primer feels. It is white in color and has a texture that spreads very easily without flaking off. Unlike most silicone based primers it does not leave a silky finish. It feels like an ultra light face lotion, almost weightless, leaving skin soft with a semi-matte finish. You'll even forget you have primer on! I can immediately see a difference in my pore-size and skin looks much more refined, creating a better canvas for makeup. It does have a mild fragrance which I like.

As far as the staying power of my makeup goes, this is the only primer that actually holds on to it for almost the entire day! It works really well even with cream blushes. Powder blushes last almost 8-9 hours and don't slide or smear all over the place. This is a great primer for all skin types except exceptionally oily and acne-prone skin since it contains silicone.

Overall, I would highly recommend Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer over any other primer from the drugstore or even department store! Its easy on the wallet, feels light as air and does what it is supposed to do!

Have you tried the Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer?

Disclosure: The product in this article was provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

New York Color In The Spotlight Collection for Fall 2011 - Limited Edition

New York Color launches "In The Spotlight" Collection featuring a few limited editions pieces in some gorgeous fall-appropriate colors. The collection consists of Individual Eyes Custom Compact eye shadow palettes in Fall Makeover(Blue Eyes), Designer Denim (Brown Eyes) and Hot Couture (Green Eyes), Smooch Proof 16H lipstain in Work It! Plum, Fashionista Mauve and Look Book Pink, In A NY Minute Nail Colors in Scenestealer Grey, Backstage Brown and Underground Purple, Cheek Glow Single Pan Blush in Hello Lover! Pink and Lippin Large Lip Plumper in Fashion Week Mauve and Berry Fashionable.

 

Individual Eyes Custom Compact Eye Shadow Palettes($4.99)
These palettes are designed according to eye color. Each palette has a lid color, crease shades, highlight shade and an eye base. The eye base feels a little too creamy to hold on to eye shadows so, I wouldn't rely on that. The shadows themselves are very pigmented, blend well but, there is quite a bit of fall out especially the ones with glitter. With a good eye shadow primer they last well and do not crease. Fall Makeover especially is a beautiful neutral palette while the other two are more playful. 

Hot Couture

Designer Denim

Fall Makeover

Hot Couture

Fall Makeover

Designer Denim

Top to Bottom : Highligher, Eye Base

Fall Makeover

Hot Couture

Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stain($4.99)
I've talked about these lipstains previously here. These three colors are new for fall. Work It! Plum is one shade that will look good on all skintones and gives a beautiful wash of color.

 

L-R : Look Book Pink, Work It! Plum, Fashionista Mauve

In A New York Minute Nail Colors($1.99)

All three colors needed a good 3 coats for opacity and the consistency is on the thinner side. Scenestealer Grey is a perfect shade for medium skin tones. All three shades are very metallic but, very wearable at the same time!

L-R : Underground Purple, Scenestealer Grey, Backstage Brown

Cheek Glow Single Pan Blush($2.99)

Hello Lover! Pink is a sheer, shimmery light pink. Darker skin tones may have a problem with the color showing up but, keep in mind that it is very buildable and blends really well. The pigmentation is a little sheer and this shade would be a great pick for light-medium skin tones. The texture is finely milled and there's very less fallout. Works great as a highlighter since it leans a tad towards the frosty side!

Overall, the collection has some beautiful shades and is well worth a pick up. The eye shadow fall outs might require a bit of work but, apart from that everything else is fabulous! If you like something, pick it up really soon since everything is Limited Edition.

What are your thoughts on the New York Color In The Spotlight Collection?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.