Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Heather Pop

The Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes ($21; sephora.com) have been on my list to try out forever, but none of the older colors appealed to me so much. They did recently come out with a newer range, which sure was much more interesting and the formula seemed less chalky/powdery too.

I picked up Heather Pop , a dusty pink with just a hint of shimmer. The shimmer is very subtle and translates to a soft glow on the cheeks. I found the color payoff to be decent, and good enough to show up on my skin tone when used with a dense blush brush like the Hakuhodo 210 Blush Brush or the Tom Ford Cheek Brush, two of which I like to use with this kind of formula. There’s no major fallout or patchiness and the texture blends beautifully and looks very natural on the skin.  I love the design on these blushes & the packaging is alright - quite practical & sturdy, and not too cheap for the price. Heather Pop wore a good 6 hours on my cheeks and stayed looking quite luminous and fresh without fading much. Overall, I really love the formula, it works perfectly with the right brush and is sheer in a good way so you can build up the color without going too overboard!

Topganic Brazilian Nut Oil Shampoo & Intensive Hair Mask

Topganic is a natural haircare line new to me, with an affordable range of haircare products that are free of parabens, the shampoo is free of SLES & SLS (though not completely sulfate free) and perfect for sensitive scalp and over processed hair. I tried out the Shampoo and the Intensive Repair Mask from the Brazlian Nut Oil range and absolutely loved them both.

The Brazilian Nut Oil Shampoo ($12; topganic.com) is a slightly thick textured, concentrated one that you only need a little bit of each time. It lathers well, cleanses thoroughly and leaves hair super soft. I did not need to follow up with a conditioner since the shampoo itself is quite detangling and I also ended up using much less styling product later on. The Intensive Hair Mask ($12; topganic.com) is very thick, hydrating and adds a lot of bounce. I wouldn’t combine it with the shampoo though since it can weigh hair down a little, but it works great after a clarifying shampoo when hair feels a tad stripped. Both products do have a slightly strong scent that lingers for a while though, so that’s one to keep in mind if you don’t like very scented haircare products. That apart, they’re both amazing for the price and do the job really well, especially on dry/frizz prone hair.

*Press Samples 

Oscar de la Renta Extraordinary and Flor Eau de Parfum

Extraordinary and Flor, are both great spring/summer fragrances by Oscar de la Renta. Both very fresh, light florals, very feminine, delicate and perfect for this time of the year, from early spring.

Extraordinary Eau de Parfum ($92; macys.com) includes notes of Neroli, Passion Fruit, Dewy Cherry Blossom, Rose, Peony, Vanilla Orchid and Amber Resin. It starts off very floral and dries down to something more creamy, but the scent is floral for the most part with the rose, peony and a little bit of the passion fruit being the most prominent ones. I like the touch of musk that keeps it quite interesting. Lasting power is decent, about 6-7 hours on a hot day. Flor Eau de Parfum ($78; macys.com) on the other hand is a fruity floral, with notes of Lychee, Pink Jasmine, Mango, Neroili, Peony, Tonka Bean and Creamy Musk. Unlike Extraordinary, this one is a straight up floral with a sweet touch. Even through the dry down it does smell more sweet with very less of the musk. The lasting power is a tad less than Extraordinary, but the fragrance itself is very light, airy and perfect for hot summers if you like fruity florals that leans a little towards the sweeter side. Of the two, I like Extraordinary just the little more, the bottle design is nicer and the fragrance is a touch more of a grown up scent, in a really nice way. 

*Press Samples

Guerlain The Eye Pencil in Katy Navy

Guerlain’s The Eye Pencil ($31; shop.nordstrom.com) is one I’ve wanted to try for a long time now after reading a few rave reviews. The obvious choice was the jet black color Black Jack, which has always been out of stock, so I ended up picking Katy Navy, a gorgeous metallic blue with hints of grey.

Its a twist up, retractable pencil with a sharpener included and the gel-like formula is smooth, creamy and does not tug or pull along the lash line. I assume the formula is waterline safe, but Katy Navy has a little bit of shimmer going on, so I keep it strictly to the lash lines. It is a beautiful shade of blue, nothing like what I have in my stash and the color payoff is decent with the color being fully buildable in just two strokes. I din’t have any problems with irritation, but then, I also kept it to the lash line because of the finish. As for it being waterproof, I wouldn’t call it very smudge or waterproof, as it tends to rub off a little overtime, but doesn’t smear or move around too much. It is water-resistant though. Overall, I love the color and the formula is great too. If you do like a pop of blue without wanting something too bright and colorful, Katy Navy is a one to definitely check out!

Laura Mercier & RéVive Skincare Friends & Family Event

Laura Mercier & Revive have their Friends & Family Sale, both going on from Wednesday-Friday of this week!

Laura Mercier : 20% Off & Free Shipping with ANY order. 6/24/-6/26.

(No offer coded needed; exclusively on www.LauraMercier.com)

Some of my current favorite Laura Mercier Products and a few of my top recs (with links to reviews) include: 

Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight - 01 

Caviar Stick Eye Color in Copper

The Eau Gourmande’s in Ambre Vanille and Verbena Infusion

Smudge & Pony Tail Brush

And the very fabulous Creme Smooth Lip Color in Dry Rose

RéVive Skincare:  

REVIVE: $50 Off Your $250 purchase + Free Ground Shipping. 6/24-6/26.

(No offer code needed; exclusively on www.ReViveSkincare.com)

*NO Affiliate Links have been provided.

Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm

Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm ($65; colleenrothschild.com) is a balm to oil cleanser that removes eye and face makeup, deep cleanses pores, without stripping skin of its natural oils. It comes with a muslin cloth that helps with easier removal and leaves skin looking clean and soft. 

The texture is absolutely amazing - it is a thick balm that melts into a luxurious oil upon contact with skin. I did need very little for my face makeup, and a little more than usual for heavy eye makeup and waterproof stuff. Like any other balm cleanser, just massage it well onto the skin and use the muslin cloth warm to get all the makeup off. I also like to splash my face with cold water once done, but if you do like the slightly oily layer, you could skip that step. I did not find the need to second cleanse since my skin leans quite dry, but if you do like squeaky clean, you could do a second cleanse with a mild cleanser. Because of the texture and the light film it leaves, I would definitely recommend only removing it with a muslin cloth or a flannel and I quite enjoy the experience of a warm muslin while cleansing. The balm does have a slightly strong herbal scent, but that washes off and doesn’t linger at all. Overall, its a pricey, but beautiful and a very luxurious cleansing balm with a really nice ingredients list that helps get rid of makeup and leaves skin balanced and super soft. The oils do tend to make your vision a tad cloudy though so be sure to rinse well with cold water if you have very sensitive eyes or wear heavy eye makeup most of the time. 

*Press Sample

Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas | Skincare & Fragrance from L'Occitane, Cartier and Penhaligon's

Some last minute gift ideas for Father’s Day and three tried, tested picks that make for a luxurious treat for any skincare & perfume lover!

Cartier Declaration Eau de Toilette Limited Edition ($136; bloomingdales.com)  - A new edition for Father’s Day that comes in Limited Edition packaging. The fragrance is the classic Declaration by Cartier, with notes of Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Cardamom and Cedar wood. I would classify the scent as unisex, though intended mostly for men. The Cardamom keeps it from being too musky and the bitter orange adds a zesty touch. 

L’Occitane Cedrat Collection - Two products were sent to me from the new range and both absolutely loved by my husband - the After Shave Cream Gel ($34; usa.loccitane.com) and the Stick Deodorant ($18; usa.loccitane.com), which is alcohol-free. Cedrat is very fresh, the citrus notes toned down by the Ginger and the Cedarwood base. Very masculine with just the right amount of spicy notes added to the mix. 

Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling Eau de Toilette ($150 for 100ml; penhaligons.com) - One fabulous fragrance that I’ve loved it on myself personally. It is quite pricey, but the fragrance is just as beautiful as the packaging. Very aromatic, zesty and deliciously fresh and intoxicating, inspired by London Dry Gin. The notes that stand out the most are Orange, Vetiver and Pepper in a Amber-y base.  Amazing longevity too!

*Penhaligon’s bought by me; L’Occitane & Cartier Press Samples.

Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod, Coco & Sandalwood Replenishing Hand Creams

Molton Brown’s Pink Pepperpod and Coco & Sandalwood Replenishing Hand Creams ($15; shop.nordstrom.com) are both great hand creams to have for summer. They come in a cute handbag size and do the job without being too greasy.

The Pink Pepperpod line is one of my favorites from Molton Brown. The body scrub is divine and the hand cream is just as nice, with a spicy, yet fresh, almost cologne like scent that I love. The Coco & Sandalwood is a beautiful creamy coconut and sandalwood fragrance that is very uplifting. Both hand creams have a very light consistency and a slightly strong scent with a beautiful, quick absorbing texture. They are good for summer, not a cure all for extremely dry hands and chapped cuticles, but nice to apply during the day to maintain. The packaging is beautiful, I particularly like the luxurious feeling weighty caps. Overall, I absolutely love them both. They’re great for this time of the year & I’ll definitely be checking out more of the other scents soon!

*Press Samples

L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime Skintone Perfecting CC Cream in Medium

L’occitane’s new Pivoine Sublime Skintone Perfecting CC Cream ($35; usa.loccitane.com) comes in two shades, Light & Medium with a skin tone adjusting formula and broad spectrum SPF 20 protection. *Press Sample

The CC cream starts off as a white, gel cream consistency and blends to match a few skintones. I tired out medium, which was quite a nice match for me at the moment. It is quite a sheer formula that can be built up and would need a light layer of powder on top to tone down the shine. The formula does feel quite lightweight and easy to blend with fingers or a dense brush. The physical sunscreen can leave a very slight whitish cast that does take a little bit of time to go away though, so proper blending is key. It is quite an illuminating formula and since it is sheer, it can work even as a light base with a dusting of powder on top. The packaging is neat, and although the formula is somewhat self adjusting, I hope L’Occitane expands the shade range in the future. Overall, a good CC Cream/tinted base for summer if light or medium matches your skin tone. A concealer might still be needed for blemishes and under the eyes, but if you’d like to keep your base light, this is a good one to look into!

Wearing the L'Occitane Peony CC Cream in Medium paired with NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger, NARS Soft Velvet Loose Powder in Eden