Tag: Spring

Highlights from Youngblood Cosmetics Spring 2013

I applaud Youngblood for their truly distinctive and fresh Spring collection. From a daring eyeliner to a real God-send for those with oily skin, each addition fills a product need elegantly. I’ve been trying out three products: gel eyeliner, new lipstick and anti-mattifier. Here’s the roundup.

I can’t stop hearing about blue for the spring and I was hesitant at first. Well, I’ve come around to embrace this trend whole-heartedly – whether you go for subtle navy mascara or bold turquiose eyeliner, this look is ultimately wearable. The New Incredible Wear Gel Liner in Lagoon is for a look with more impact. I am a huge fan of gel liners as they are easy to apply and last ages. This one is no different and with safe natural ingredients, limiting irritation. The finish has a golden sheen and the iron oxide makes for a deep, rich pigment.

The new lipstick in Debalicious is a petal/bubblegum pink shade – could you get more Spring? I think not. The formula is packed with natural oils and Candelilla wax to soften and hydrate lips. While the finish is on the matte side, the formula glides on creamy. The shade will really pop on those with deeper skin tones, but is totally wearable on my light-medium complexion as well.

Attention those with shine issues: Anti-shine Mattifier is a unique and effective solution for oil control. The formula absorbs surface oil while Nigella and Pumpkin Seed oils purify and balance the skin. So your skin will be oil free throughout the day. I don’t mind the included sponge for application, but I think it is best applied with fingers to spots prone to oiliness.

All these goodies are now available on www.ybskin.com.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Spring Nail Trends on Fox23

This morning, I’ll be over on Fox 23′s Great Day Green Country to talk beauty again – this time it is all about Spring Nail Trends. Can you believe it is already March and we are so close to Spring? If you are in the Tulsa area, tune in. If not, I’ll post a link to my segment later today. Enjoy!

images here, here, here, here and here.

Latest and Greatest from Xen-Tan

Here’s another little idea for your Neiman Marcus Beauty Event shopping bag. In anticipation of spring, I’ve been test driving the newest Xen-Tan products. I was frankly already hooked (see here and here), but these guys made me fall even harder. What’s best, is you can really get a formula that best suits you with these two very different approaches to self-tanner.

First up, the Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan is most like a traditional self-tanner in that the formula is pigmented. I mean really really pigmented. It comes out of the tube in a deep, rich chocolate. The consistency is thin and silky. While it takes some time to evenly apply the pigment, the immediate result is a beautiful bronze. The upside to the coloring is you can tell where you’ve applied the tanner.

After eight hours, I get a brown-based, rich but still medium color on my light skin. While it did dry quickly, I’d be very hesitant to wear light clothing until you shower just due to the coloring. As with all Xen-Tan products, the smell is completely pleasant with a tropical touch. Bonus points for the collagen building peptides to improve the look of skin.

Secondly (and probably my favorite) is Luminous Gold Gel Sparkle Weekly Medium Self-Tan. This totally clear, thin gel is a breeze to apply. While you don’t have the advantage of seeing where you’ve already applied product, I feel a little more carefree using the gel. It seems to work its way onto the skin a little easier. And you can absolutely put on any white or light clothing worry-free.

While you don’t get that immediate bronze glow, there is an iridescent gold shimmer that gives a dewy, glam look. This might be ideal for maintaining a tan – the gold accents existing bronze and you don’t need that immediate golden effect. Or you can add this to Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan for a both shimmer and bronze look. Like Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan, the final result was a brown-based, rich but still medium color.

Disclaimer: weird leg photo ahead (I do this for you, dear readers). On the left, Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan and the right Luminous Gold Gel Sparkle Weekly Medium Self-Tan immediately after applying. After eight hours, they look exactly the same (same pigment as left). Second disclaimer, I am so so so so pale.

Pale Legs on Xen-Tan // Belle Belle Beauty

La Prairie Cellular Mineral Body Exfoliator

I’ve got the perfect thing to pick up during Neiman Marcus Beauty Event… I just tried out the new La Prairie Cellular Mineral Body Exfoliator. Not only is it precisely what the doctor ordered to pre-game before summer, but it is just enough to score the gift with purchase tote full of samples!

Off the bat, this gel is truly incandescent – a little surreal beauty for your shower. The exfoliating beads are accompanied by Pure Diamond Powder, Amethyst Powder and Smithsonite Mineral Extract. Because it is so densely packed, the exfoliating action is even. Beyond exfoliating, the formula also is enriched with Olivine Oil, Rose Hips Oil and Camelia Oil to cleanse and soften while the The La Prairie Cellular Complex works against aging.

While the granuals don’t initially melt away, the exfoliation action is very gentle. The scent is very subtle. But the effect is not. My skin was unusually soft, hydrated but not greasy. It was the perfect canvas for a little self tanner. The formula is gentle enough to use a couple times a week, but I’d shy away from every day.

Also, don’t forget to snap some Instagrams of your Neiman Marcus Beauty Event haul. Tag your shot with #NMBeauty for your chance to with a NM Beauty Bundle valued at $2,500.

La Prairie Cellular Mineral Body Exfoliator is also available at shoplaprairie.com.

Chantecaille Spring 2013 Lips

I’m one of those odd souls who loves winter. I love the cozy holidays, exciting weather and layered fashion. So, I am grudgingly accepting the quickly approaching hot weather. One thing that makes this so much easier is the stunning new lip products from Chantecaille to celebrate Spring. These shades are right up my alley – wearable, fresh neutrals that you can just swipe on. And of course, with it being Valentine’s Day, can’t think of a better topic than our pout. Pucker up!

I’m was already hooked on the Chantecaille Lip Chics – think buttery soft lipsticks that hydrate but are still packed with color. The lightweight texture has plumping effects of a gloss but coverage of a lipstick. I’ve treasured Heirloom but the new spring colors are so cheerful and feminine. Daphne is a nude pink with a sheer finish – perfect easy neutral lip. Rose Délice is a stronger, cooler pink but still relatively sheer. The pigment looks very blue and pigmented in the swatch above, but it is decidedly wearable.

Unlike the Lip Chics, I was totally new to the Luminous Gloss Long-Wear Lip Shine. Wow… are these good. These rich and pigmented lip glosses have great lasting powder and such a smooth finish. There is no settling into lines or stickiness. Extra shiny polymers give a wet, glasslike shine and superior adherence. There is no scent to these formulas. Pink Melon is a cool, relatively opaque pink that settles into a light nude. Framboise is a true raspberry that gives just a wash of color.

I can honestly say these will be my go-to spring shades. There are tremendously easy wear and use on the go. They hydrate and heal my dry lips. The fresh, girly shades are sure to cheer me up as my beloved winter comes to an end.

NARS Eyeshadows and Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NARS has a decadent selection of eyeshadows that I have come to love. But there are so many shades! Both singles and duos that are all so tempting. So I’ve narrowed down the collection to my current favorites – all of which are newer colors except one.

First, a bit about the formula if you haven’t tried NARS eyeshadows. I love the duos for their easy, fashion-forward and always complimentary pairings. They are well-pigmented but not hard to handle. And are great for blending. In fact, InStyle awarded the formula “Best Overall Eyeshadow” 2011 InStyle “Best Beauty Buys”. For the duos, I simply put the lighter color to my brows and the darker on the outer part of my lid.

Kalahari – bronze pearl/ milk chocolate. This is an easy basic with great shimmer.
Paramaribo (new) – metallic brass / metallic bronze. My current obsession. Not near as yellow or green as it appears in the pan.
Mandchourie (new) – bluish grey / denim. I love a wash of the lighter color on my lid and the darker blue as an alternative to black eyeliner. Great for a blue, smokey eye.
Lhasa – (new) A lavender, grey that is perfect all over the lid. A great neutral.

And I can’t mention NARS eyeshadow without mentioning their Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, literally the best shadow primer out there. There is zero creasing and the shadows apply like a dream. Special deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract keeps the lid smooth. Plus, the color stays vibrant all day long using a polymer and mineral-powder blend to grip the pigment.

(images of product and swatches from http://www.narscosmetics.com)