My Favorite Lip Glosses Review and Swatches

Hi there.  Are you enjoying all the beautiful color of Fall?  

I have pretty chronic dry lips and the cooler, dryer air just make it more of a challenge.  Hence, I naturally gravitate toward lip glosses.  Today, I just want to share with you my favorite that I am currently using.  Lets start with Korres, they are my favorite brand when it comes to natural lip products.

(L to R) Pomegranate, Quince, Raspberry, Light Purple.

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Pomegranate:  The lip butter glaze texture is thinner than their original lip butter (the one in the pot) hence slightly less moisturizing, but is still more hydrating than most lipglosses out there.  I prefer the lip glaze because it is easier to apply and more hygienic.  Pomegrante is a true coral. 

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Quince: Quince is a warm red; a very wearable red for those who are timid.

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Raspberry:  It has more red and brown than purple, like a deep burgundy.  Perfect shade for Fall.

Korres Cherry Lipgloss in Light Purple:  I so adore this color, it is a very wearable purple.  It does not make you look dead or clash too much against my warm skin.  It is actually a very pretty, semi sheer pinkish lavender.  (Lip Swatch)

(Swatches L to R) NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Tokyo, BareMineral in Wild Honey, Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Peony, BareEscentual Buxom in Bambi, Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Lust

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Tokyo:  Remember how I said I battle with dry lips?  This one will accentuate any dry flakes.  Aside from that, it is still one of my favorite for it pigmentation and shade.  Tokyo is an opaque neutral baby pink that does not clash against warm skin tone, it actually brighten my face.

BareMineral in Wild Honey:  Wild Honey is a beige with warm golden sheen.  It is pretty on it own but when you pair it with another lipstick...wow!  It makes everything look so much better especially those unimpressive lip color.  My favorite pairing is with a warm red lipstick or to tone down a too cool tone lipstick.  (Swatch of Wild Honey layer over MAC Sheen Supreme in Full Speed)

Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Peony:  Peony is a sheer peach with micro gold glitter.  It is easy to wear, great for everyday, goes with almost anything.

BareEscentual Buxom in Bambi:  I love Bambi not only because it is a beautiful true, bright coral but it is also very pigmented and long lasting for a lipgloss.  However, if you are strictly against sticky lipgloss then you might find it sticky.  Personally I don't mind because it is what make it long lasting. 

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Lust:  Lust is like the most beautiful dark red.  When you apply it, there is a tiny hint of raspberry and gold shimmer.  Unfortunately I think this is a limited edition color but I have seen it on ebay.

Phew, there you have it, all my favorite at the moment and most of them are great color all year around.

Amala Detoxifying Body Polish and Soothing Lip Salve Review

Today, I would like to introduce you to Amala, a German, 100% natural origin skincare brand.  Their products are free of synthetic ingredients, petrochemicals, parabens, and genetically modified ingredients.  Amala is also committed to longstanding fair-trade partnerships with farmers around the world and their packaging is made out of recycled materials.

I have the chance to try out Amala Detoxifying Body Polish, which is a gel-based body scrub infused with sea salt and antioxidant plant actives. I used this tonight to exfoliate my feet and gosh, it smells so good.  It has that refreshing peppermint and something else (perhaps myrtle?) scent that just wake you up.  This body polish is gel based that foam up a bit when you rub and it is so finely mill that I say you can even use it on your face.  I find that you don't need to use as much product compare to other scrub because it lathers up pretty nicely.  It is easy to rinse off and does not irritate my sensitive skin.  Afterward, I am left with soft skin that smell good.

(it lathers up as you rub it in)

The next product I am using is Desert Fig Soothing Lip Salve, a nourishing blend of organic Desert Fig Seed, Marula Seed and Shea Butter that moisturizes lip with a subtle sheen.  Did you know that the average woman swallow pounds of lip products in her lifetime?  The fact that almost every ingredients in this lip salve is from organic farming make me feel worry free.  I use it twice a day and it does a good job keeping my lips soft and moisturize.

 

Price:  Detoxifying Body Polish - $26 for 1.7 oz

            Soothing Lip Salve - $18

Overall Rating:  4.5 out of 5 for both

Disclosure:  The products being review was sent for consideration.

Create Your Own Stia Lip Glaze Trio @ Ulta

I am a fan of Stila Lip Glaze and right now, exclusively at Ulta, they allow you to customize your own trio.  There are 16 shades available, pick 3 for $15 or $8 individually.  If you order online, there is 6 additional "online only" shades available.

DHC Moisture Care Liquid Lipcolor Review and Swatches

Hi there!  What happened to Spring?  We had a very long Winter, it was cold, snow and windy...I was so looking forward to Spring.  Then all of the sudden, it gets hot, like 80 degree.  I hate it when the weather just skip over Spring, which tend to happen a lot in this area.  Oh well, at least it is finally warm now.

With the warmer weather, I am busting out all my peachy, coral makeup.  Which bring me to this review, DHC Moisture Care Liquid Lipcolor in PK05 Pink Sand.  First off, how adorable is the packaging?  Beauiful packaging is always a welcome added bonus.  I also really like the applicator.  It is flat, longer, and also bendable, making it an ease to apply.

Pink Sand is a pinkish coral with very fine gold irredescent.  As for the formula, it is light, moisturizing, and non sticky.  I like that there is no funky smell (it is my pet peeve).  I really like this lipcolor, the only thing I wish is that it is more pigmented.

 

 

Price:  $18, available at DHC

Overall Rating:  4/5


Disclosure: I purchased this item.

Introducing Willa Skincare

I am here today to introduce you to Willa Skincare, a new all natural skincare brand designed to address the needs of young girls, created by a young girl (with the help of her mom, Christy)!! The line is free of chemicals, petroleum and dyes.

I was sent a few samples to test drive. While I am far from being a teenager, I thought cleanser, body lotion and lip balm are basic and general enough that I can give a fair assessment.

Start Fresh Foaming Face Wash is a self foaming face wash that is light in both feel and scent. It is effective in removing light makeup and leaving your skin freshly cleanse. I appreciate that this cleanser is free of SLS, unlike many foaming cleanser out there. Unfortunately my skin feels a little tight after cleansing but it could really well be dehydrated due to air conditioner.

Like their face wash, Be Brilliant Natural Body Lotion also have very light and fresh scent. The texture itself is also light and absorb quickly. It is the perfect body lotion for summer when you need to care for your skin without the heaviness of a cream.

Born to Glow SPF 15 Daily Tinted Shimmer Lotion claims to protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays while giving you a dose of glamour! I have to warn that the SPF level is too low to use as a standalone sunscreen. While the shimmer is pretty, it is a bit too shimmery and glittery to use all over for someone my age. I instead use it as a body highlighter, i.e. on my sheens, collar bone, upper shoulder, and it works fine.

Smile Butter Lip Balm in vanilla is a clear balm that smells really good, not too strong. It is thick, moisturizing and non-sticky. I like it, include the packaging and would love to try the other (with color).

You can purchase Willa Skincare from their website, Willa Skincare and Target or JCREW Crewcut.

Sephora Glossy Gloss Review and Swatches

Price: $10 for 15ml/.5oz

You get a lot of product for your money, 15ml. It is semi opaque with a non-sticky texture. It has decent lasting power, especially for a non-sticky lipgloss. I applied the gloss over a lipstick and after breakfast, my lips are still pigmented with a glossy sheen. I also find it moisturizing.

The color I have is Rusted Rose, which is a neutral brownish rosy pink, a my lips but better kind of color. The website description said there is shimmer but I don’t really see any. They are very fine compare to say those from BE Buxom where you can actually see the glitter in the tube.

Rating: 4.5/5

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

How Safe is Your Lipstick?

Yesterday, I came across an article from the Washington Post about FDA recent testing result on lead in lipsticks (click here for full article). Similar study was done in 2007. In its most recent study, the FDA picked 400 popular shades and found that half of the top 10 lipsticks that contain lead are from L’Oreal and Maybelline (both are under the same parent company, L’Oreal). Actually I am surprise that even natural brand like Burt’s Bee is on the list.

FDA’s Full List of 400 Lipsticks Containing Lead

If you are like me, you are probably wondering how does lead get into lipstick? According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, this occurs when raw materials or pigments use in lipstick are contaminated with lead. Also, FDA studies only contain a very small sample of all the brands and shades that are available on the market. At this point, it is hard to tell which product is safe and which is not. On FDA website, when asked if there is a concern about the safety level of lead found in lipsticks, the answer is “no”.

“Lipstick, as a product intended for topical use with limited absorption, is ingested only in very small quantities. We do not consider the lead levels we found in the lipsticks to be a safety concern.”

Whether or not you agree with this statement is a matter of personal opinion.

Eyeing On At the Moment

Hi there! Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate it. Lets start off the new year with a few new items that caught my eyes :)

Boots No.7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream (This has been launched in the UK, hopefully it will come to Target in a few months)

Physician Formula Season-to-Season Bronzer

Stila Spring 2012 Blush

Tarte Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss for Spring 2012

Too Faced Beauty Balm

Jason Wu for Target Trench Coat

Michael Kors Small Madison Rose Gold Watch

2011 Most Loved Makeup

Sephora Waterproof Cream Eyeliner
This eyeliner is really smooth and pigmented, no dragging. It also last a long time, I have it for over 8 months now and it has not dry up. Therefore, for $10, I think it is worth trying out.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling
I have MAC Sheen Supreme in three different shades, Full Speed, Gotta Dash, and Ultra Darling. I find that the consistency and texture is different among the different shades. Some are drier and Gotta Dash applies unevenly. My favorite is Ultra Darling, not only is it a flattering, easy to wear cool berry tone for Fall or Spring, it also has the best formula, moisturizing and glide on easily and evenly.

NYX Cream Blushes
One of the best drugstore (or drugstore price) blushes I have ever used.  It's pigmented and long lasting.  I love shade "natural" on me, it does look natural, add warmth and brighten my face.  You can check out my past review for swatches.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hours Blush
In general, I prefer cream blush over powder, I think they blend better and longer lasting.  However, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush have longer lasting power that most powder blush and it applies evenly as well.

Kevin Beautymaker Mineral BB Cream Concealer
Very pigmented, you only need very little.  It is creamy, easy to blend, long lasting, and does not cake.

Kevin Beautymaker Aqua Eye Concealer
Technically I reviewed this in 2010 but I wanted to add it with the other KB concealer because it is one of the best undereye concealer I have tried, HG for me.  I also use this on the side of my nose where the skin is dry and flaky to hide redness because this concealer is really smooth and easy to blend, it never cakes.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
Since I have dry skin, it is generally easier to work with when using a tinted moisturizer.  What I love about LMTM is that it provides enough hydration without being greasy.  In addition, it also have enough coverage to even out my red spots.  Expensive?  Yes, but you don't have to use a lot so I think it's not too bad.

Jordane Easyshine Glossy Lip Color Review and Swatches

With a baby on the way, I have to be more conscious with my spending (at least I am trying to). I was happy to find cheap thrill like Jordane Easyliner Retractable Eyeliner. Let’s see if these lippies are also as great.

L to R: Watermelon, Strawberry

Price: $1.99 each at Walgreens.

Pros: Jordane Easyshine Glossy Lip Color is tinted lip balm that live up to its claim and maybe even more. These has the hydration of a lip balm; the shine of a lip gloss, and the pigmentation of a sheer lipstick. They are comfortable to wear, without any stickiness and pretty long lasting power.

Cons: Watermelon has a very strong scent when I first opened it; it takes some getting used to. I however did not have any problem with the Strawberry shade.

Overall: I recommend giving these a try, not just because they are cheap but because I really like the formula. I like the convenience of a tinted lip balm; I can use one instead of two products. Also, for something that is so lightweight, it is hydrating, pigmented, and long lasting.

Rating: 4.5/5

Top: Strawberry, Bottom: Watermelon

 

Lip swatch in Strawberry

 

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Support Breast Cancer Research Through 100% Pure Lip Gloss

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in support, all month long, 100% of sales from the 100% Pure Sugar Plum Sheer Twist Pen Lip Gloss will be donated to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is a non-profit breast cancer organization, working on conducting groundbreaking breast cancer research, and is the leading resource for information about breast cancer and women's health.

Learn more at www.DSLRF.org.

In addition, 100% Pure is also currently having a 48-hour special! Get 20% off the Coffee Cherry Sun Damage Corrective Cream with code CAFFEINE.

Coffee Cherry Sun Damage Corrective Cream is a super nourishing facial moisturizer that contains extracts of Coffee Cherry and Green Coffee to provide your skin with instant hydration and anti-aging nutrients to address aging and sun damage. The ingredients list is impressive with Green and White Tea being the main ingredient along with other nourishing oil such as rosehip and pomegranate.

Offer expires Thursday Oct. 13th at 12:00PM PST.

Sephora Collection Color Palette

Allow me to introduce you to Sephora Collection Color Palette, currently retail for $24.  It contains an array of gorgeous color for your eyes, lips, and cheek.

This palette includes:
- 32 must-have eyeshadows
- 16 beautiful lip colors
- 3 blushes
- 1 shimmery bronzer

I didn't get a chance to use these shadows extensively.  I swatch and also wore them for a few days.  I think this palette is a a mixed bag.  Some color are so lovely in both pigmentation and texture, very smooth and creamy.  Some of the lighter shades tend to be chalky and of the shades have chunky glitter.  The ones that are chalky have a bit of fall out and doesn't last as long.

I would recommend this palette for beginner or someone who just want some extra fun bright colors.  For $24, you get so many options and some wonderful color payoff.

(Sorry I don't have swatch for the bottom two rows.  Somehow it got deleted from my camera and I already returned this to my friend, she lends it to me)