Laura Mercier Eye Art Caviar Colour Inspired Palette

The Eye Art Caviar Color Inspired Palette ($55; sephora.com) is new from Laura Mercier, a Sephora exclusive Caviar Color Sticks inspired palette that features 12 powder eyeshadows, in a mix of six matte and six pearl-shimmer finishes. The packaging is sleek and very travel friendly and the palette has a nice mix of neutrals that I would reach for more often. The colors are a mix of the shades in the Caviar Sticks and some new shades. The formula was easy to blend, but some of the shimmers were a tad less pigmented than the others, while the mattes were all pigment packed. I do think the colors are slightly different from the Caviar Sticks, but they layer very well over the Caviar Sticks as a base and wear well with a primer underneath when worn by themselves. There’s a little bit of a fallout from the colors in general, but nothing too crazy and it is quite easy to clean up. I love the Caviar Sticks in cream form and think these are nice when layered over those than by themselves since the colors pop better. But if you are always looking for powder shadows in shades similar to the Caviar Sticks, do give this palette a try!

*Press Sample

L’Eau d’Issey Pure Eau de Parfum By Issey Miyake

L’Eau d’Issey Pure ($88; shop.nordstrom.com) is Issey Miyake’s newest fragrance launch for women, a crisp summery aquatic floral, with notes of Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Sea Notes, Lily, Damask Rose, Cashmere Woods and Amber. Its a very light scent that starts off quite heady, though the dry down is quite light, soft and very floral. I get more of the floral notes than the aquatic notes on my skin. The Jasmine, Orange blossom and Rose are what I can prominently detect at the very first spritz, while the dry down brings out a lot of the musk, keeping it floral, woody yet crisp and light. The bottle is similar in shape to the other Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey fragrances, but has a rounded base (the bottle was designed to look like a drop of water) which I really like. L’Eau d’Issey Pure has the original Issey Miyake touch, yet is lighter, fresher and more of a typical summer scent. Overall, if you like aquatic florals or Issey Miyake fragrances in general, definitely give L’Eau d’Issey Pure a try!

*Press Sample

Lancome Energie De Vie Nuit - The Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask

The Engergie de Vie Nuit Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask ($65; sephora.com) is a new addition to Lancome's Energie de Vie Skincare range. Its a gel based mask that melts onto skin and works overnight to leave skin feeling soft, bouncy and bright. I love the texture and consistency of the mask. True to the name, it definitely does melt into the skin and sinks in instantly. It is quite fragranced though, but I quite like the fragrance and the weighty glass jar packaging quite a bit. I find that skin looks instantly plump and hydrated with this mask on and there’s absolutely no greasiness. It also has a nice, cooling sensation that lasts a few minutes after application. I usually like to use it alone and sometimes over a light serum since it helps lock moisture and about 2-3 times a week is how often I use it. It can be used like a moisturizer overnight or as a thick layer depending on how hydrated or not your skin feels. I prefer leaving it overnight like a night cream. Overall, its a lovely mask for combination/dry skin types that is a nice addition to my summer skincare rotation that is lightweight, hydrating and plumping!

*Press Sample

Elemis Smart Cleanse Micellar Water

Elemis Smart Cleanse Micellar Cleansing Water ($39; shop.nordstrom.com) is a new quick, easy and effective way to remove makeup. Its a lightweight micellar water that I like to use when I have little makeup to remove and also something I love using before my cleansing balm/oil. I use it just like I would any other Micellar - just pour (pump in this case) a little onto a cotton pad and swipe to remove makeup. I do find it quite effective at removing makeup, most of it, though not all. But, I follow up with a cleansing balm or oil anyways, so I don’t mind that. It is very gentle, doesn’t sting my eyes and also doesn’t leave behind any kind of a residue, so perfect to correct any small mistakes like eyeliner or mascara smudges too. Overall, its a nice addition to my cleansing routine, on lazy days or when I have little to no makeup. It doesn’t require a second cleanse, but I usually do one anyways even if I use a heavy duty cleanser.

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Laura Mercier Kajal D'Orient In Noir Supreme

Laura Mercier’s Kajal D’Orient in Noir Supreme ($28; sephora.com) is one of my current favorite products for a super quick, smudgy, slightly smokey eye. Its a creamy kohl that is jet black, glides easily and is perfect if you like that lived in, smudgy look. The kohl doesn’t actually set, but it is very easy to blend in and work with on the lash lines. I also love it on the waterline since it is quite dark and defines the eyes beautifully. When I’m in a hurry, I just smudge this along the lash lines, run over a little on the waterline, curl my lashes and add some mascara. If you are looking for something super long wearing, this may not be it, but if you like your kohl to look naturally smudgy and effortless, do give this one a try!

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The Trio That Helps Cover My Dark Circles and Brighten The Under Eye Area

Three products I’m currently loving to cover up my dark circles and brighten the under eye area when I’m in hurry and want something super quick! Burberry Cashmere Concealer ($40; sephora.com) is my current favorite concealer. I use the shade Honey No. 04, which is very brightening and has medium coverage. It doesn’t cake as much as other creamy concealers and blends beautifully without setting onto creases. It wears pretty well through the day - no fading or feathering and the formula blends well with fingers and a brush. My only qualm though is that it starts to dry pretty quickly, so you’d have to work sooner than most concealers. Other than that, I love it! To set the Burberry Cashmere Concealer, I use the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder ($38; sephora.com) with the Wayne Goss Air Brush ($35; beautylish.com; no longer available). The Laura Mercier powder is fantastic for the entire face and doesn’t look too powdery once it sets and keeps makeup looking fresh. The shade is a universal beige-yellow that is quite neutral when used over foundation/tinted moisturizers and the Wayne Goss Air Brush is the perfect sized brush to powder smaller areas like the under eyes and is super duper soft! Again, I’m not one looking at super heavy, 100% coverage, so this is still sheer and you can still see some of the pigmentation showing through, but I don’ mind that. The Burberry Concealer is very buildable though, so if you like heavier coverage, build away! 

*Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Loose Powder is a press sample. 

L'Occitane Lavande Shower Gel & Hand Cream

L’Occitane’s Lavender is a line that I haven’t tried much of, until very recently when I got to try out a couple of products, which I now absolutely love. The Lavender Shower Gel ($20; usa.loccitane.com) is a foaming, gentle shower gel. It is quite strongly scented though, but is very foaming and cleanses squeaky clean without stripping. The scent does linger on for a few minutes post shower and is a great one to try for summer. The Lavender Hand Cream ($22; usa.loccitane.com) is also another one I’m absolutely loving. It is light, yet moisturizing and keeps hands comfortably soft during the day. it also does a great job with keeping cuticles nice and healthy. It is not a greasy cream, but perfect for the summer when I only want something just a tad thicker than a lotion! L'Occitane also has a new, limited edition Lavender Foaming Bath, in a limited edition packaging, to celebrate the brand's 40th Anniversary, which I'm super curious to try! 

Photo Courtesy : L'Occitane

*Press Samples

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Lipsticks | New, Reformulated

Lancome’s L’Absolu Rouge Lipsticks ($32; lancomeusa.com; September 2016) have been reformulated and launched in three different finishes and 44 different shades. The finishes include sheer, matte and cream. I tried a few colors from the sheer & cream range, so here’s a quick review with swatches.

The packaging of these lipsticks are beautiful - they come in a classy lacquered black tube with the signature Lancome rose embossing which clicks to open and close. The lipsticks have a scent similar to the older Lancome L’Absolu Rouge lipsticks. The formula is really nice in terms of texture, creaminess and overall wear. The cream finish is full coverage with a smooth glide and has a beautiful sheen to it. The sheer finish isn’t too sheer, it is quite pigment packed for a sheer lipstick and is a tad more glossy compared to the cream finish. These lipsticks wear really well throughout the day and they feel very smooth, nourishing and comfortable to wear. Overall, I really like them and would love to try more of the sheer finishes once they launch. The color range looks like a fabulous one, with 44 shades ranging from nudes to bright pinks to deeper plums and reds, I'm sure there’s at least one color & finish for everyone. 

Wearing Pourquoi Pas?

*Press Samples

Skincare Minis With Quick Reviews

A quick roundup with mini reviews of some deluxe size skincare I’ve been trying the past few months/weeks!

Amorepacific Treatment Enzyme Peel ($60; sephora.com) - Love this one. Its a gentle peel, more like a face waash that leaves skin feeling clean, smooth and soft. The fragrance in this one is quite strong, which is my only complaint. A little goes a really long way. I’d definitely consider buying a full size once I’m done with the sample size, which itself is quite a generous size.

Amorepacific Treatment Cleansing Oil ($50; sephora.com) - Its a lovely cleansing oil with the same kind of strong fragrance as the peel. I did find it to be effective at removing stubborn makeup, but it irritated and left my eyes itchy and watery when used to remove mascara and eyeliner. Probably won’t buy the full size, but it is a lovely oil that doesn’t leave an oily film and takes care of removing makeup quickly.

Lancer The Method : Polish ($75; sephora.com) - is a gritty, physical exfoliant. Its quite heavy duty and a tad scratchy for sensitive skin, but leaves skin super smooth looking and bright. I do think the full size is a tad pricey, but if it comes as part of a kit or a value set, I would definitely get one.

Pixi Glow Tonic ($15; target.com) - Picked up a smaller size from Target to try and really like it. Gentle enough for everyday use, yet very effective at brightening. Will definitely repurchase and recommend if you are looking for a gentle, daily exfoliating toner.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($38; sephora.com) - Nice and gentle, nothing too special though. Good for everyday and non stripping. I can see this being a nice, gentle face wash for all skin types that can be used throughout the year.

Fresh Seaberry Face Oil ($52; sephora.com) - A sample size that I had picked up a while back, but started to use very recently. Its good for the winter time, can get a tad greasy in the summer and is a good one to mix into creams. It is quite brightening and very moisturizing.

Fekkai Full Blown Volume Foam Conditioner

Fekkai Full Blown Volume Foam Conditioner ($20; fekkai.com) is a super lightweight conditioner that helps add volume and bounce to hair without weighing it down. Its a foam based conditioner, something I’ve never tried before and is super easy to use. Just pump a little bit of the foam, apply to the ends and rinse off like you would with any other conditioner. It has a fresh citrusy scent and a super light texture that adds a bit of bounce and shine. It may not be the best at detangling, but it does a great job of leaving hair feeling very soft without weighing it down unlike heavy conditioners. If you have fine hair that gets weighed down by regular conditioners, do give this one a try! I have it on rotation at the moment and reach for it at almost every wash! 

*Press Sample

Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture Dream Come True Wonderful Scalp Exfoliator

Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture Dream Come True Wonderful Scalp Exfoliator ($32; sephora.com) is a pre wash, exfoliating scalp treatment that helps remove product buildup and balances dry scalp. Its a thick cream that is supposed to be massaged onto hair and scalp, left on for about 15 minutes before washing it off with shampoo. There’s a slightly strong fragrance to the product and the thick cream can be a tad difficult to spread, but it rinses clean and doesn’t leave behind a film. While I do like the way it leaves my hair feeling, it is not something that would replace a clarifying shampoo. I think its more of a balancing scalp treatment pre-shampoo and one that would work once a week in between washes. If you are looking for a balancing scalp treatment for dry scalp and to keep the oiliness in check, this is a good one to try.

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Laura Mercier Flawless Icons Eye & Cheek Palette | Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Exclusive

Laura Mercier’s Flawless Icons Eye & Cheek Palette ($65; shop.nordstrom.com) is a new Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusive Palette featuring eight eyeshadows, a Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight-01 and Bronze-02. The packaging is really nice and the selection of eyeshadows in here are beautiful. There’s a nice mix of matte and shimmer in the palette. The eyeshadows are a mixed bag - the shimmers feel a tad easier to work with even though the mattes are better, pigmentation wise. But overall, they are colors I’d wear more often than brights. The texture is nice and the mattes feel more like satin mattes which is great even as an all over lid color or on the lower lashline to smoke eyeliner out. The Matte Radiance Baked powder in Highlight - 01 is one of my all time favorite highlighters that I love, while the Bronze - 02 is a beautiful subtle bronzer on my skintone. Overall, its a lovely palette with a nice selection of mostly wearable neutrals that is quite travel friendly too. 

*Press Sample

Laura Mercier Twist & Pout Collection (Nudes) - Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Exclusive

The Laura Mercier Twist & Pout Collection ($25; shop.nordstrom.com) in Nudes is a new value set that is now launching as part of Nordstrom’s Anniversay Sale. It is a fantastic value that includes full sizes of the Creamy Lip Parfait Colourbalm in Cinn-ful and a Lip Pencil in Hazelnut. I love the formula of the Creamy Colorbalms and Cinn-ful is the perfect nude for my skintone that looks beautiful when paired with the Hazelnut Lip Pencil. Its a combo that I’ve been wearing a lot lately and something that goes with every look. I also like how the Lip Pencil is a nude that works with most lip colors since it is almost the same shade as my natural lip color. Overall, I’d say this is a must have set from Laura Mercier to add to your list when you shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty section! The set also comes in a Pink version that includes the Lip Parfait Creamy Colourbalm in Raspberry Ripple and Lip Pencil in Naked! 

*Press Sample 

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencils

Make Up For Ever recently launched the Aqua XL Eye Pencils ($21; sephora.com) in a gorgeous array of 20 shades. They are waterproof, budgeproof pencils that come in a range of everyday neutrals to bright pastels. The color pay off of these pencils are pretty amazing - they are rich in pigment and glide on easily without having to tug or pull. I did find the pastels a little hard to pull off, but the neutrals are really nice everyday colors. They also have a matte black that does’t bother my very sensitive waterline. My only gripe with these pencils are how quickly they set, giving very less time to smudge and work with. On the plus side, they do not budge once set and need something oil based to get off completely. Overall, if you are looking for a budge proof pencil for summer and love fun pops of colors just as much as neutrals, this is a good range to try!

*Press Samples