SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Creme Lipstick in Tangerine Tango Review and Swatches

SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Creme Lipstick
Tangerine Tango

It's Tangerine Tango time!  I have come to really adore bold lips, and SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Creme Lipstick in Tangerine Tango ($18) is a bright, fun and affordable choice to add some spice to your summer look.

The color is bright ORANGE with a hint of red.  A reviewer on Sephora.com said that the color reminded her of Cheetos, and I think she might have a point!

SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Creme Lipstick
Tangerine Tango Swatched on arm

The formula is moist and glossy, so it glides smoothly onto lips. The lipstick also has a fairly strong perfumey scent that I personally could have done without.  

Drugstore Dupe?

When I first tried on SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Creme Lipstick in Tangerine Tango, I thought it looked a bit similar to Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Purty Persimmon. Once I swatched them side-by-side, I saw that they were fairly different.  Purty Persimmon is darker, brighter, and has more red in it. Purty Persimmon is also matte while Tangerine Tango has a glossy formula.  So not an exact dupe, but Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Purty Persimmon is still an ULTRA-affordable way to get in on the Tangerine Tango Color of the Year trend.

Bottom Line:  If you want to rock orange lips for summer, pick up SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Creme Lipstick in Tangerine Tango. It's not too pricey and flattering on a wide range of skin tones.  I think that this collection is tons of fun!

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Lancome Rouge in Love Lipstick in Miss Coquelicot 146B Review and Swatches

Lancome Rouge in Love in Miss Coquelicot 146B

The makeup world has been buzzing about Lancome's recently released Rouge in Love lipsticks ($25), with beauty editors and bloggers alike praising their bright colors, light texture, and long wear time.  I ordered shade 146B, Miss Coquelicot, to see if the product lived up to the hype.

I really like Miss Coquelicot's bright, pink-coral shade. The formula is quite glossy and the lipstick goes on smooth, moist, and shiny. Just because it is glossy does not mean it is sheer though - Miss Coquelicot is PIGMENTED. Two coats left me with almost highlighter-bright coral lips.

Lancome claims that the Rouge in Love lip colors have a 6 hour wear time, but that was not true for me. Glossy lipsticks just do not last as long as more matte formulas, in my opinion. I was not surprised when some lipstick slid off while I was drinking Diet Coke. But what is unique about Rouge in Love is the stain that it leaves behind. It took forever for me to wash the swatch off of my arm!  And when I ate while wearing Miss Coquelicot, I left the house without reapplying because the stain was enough.

Bottom Line: I am very happy with the vibrant color and pigmentation of Lancome's Rouge in Love in Miss Coquelicot.  It did not last six hours on me, but the strong stain it left behind redeemed the otherwise unremarkable wear time.

Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer Review

As I mentioned in my review of Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, Too Faced Primed and Poreless is my HG for making skin smooth, matte and prepped for foundation.  However, this pretty pink bottle fills in my pores and blurs imperfections so well that sometimes I skip the foundation step and go straight to powder or blush!

Too Faced Primed and Poreless ($30) is a silicone-based primer. Silicones create a breathable barrier on your face that minimizes pores and leaves your skin looking and feeling silky-smooth.  As opposed to silicones on your hair, facial skin care products containing silicone can be washed off with a good cleanser without causing any problems with dryness.  Some people do choose to avoid silicones in skin care due to concerns about acne, but I have not had any issues with that.

Too Faced Primed and Poreless is a light beige color that blends clear. You only need to use a small amount for each section of your face because the silicone allows it to spread extremely easily.  It fills in pores, neutralizes some redness, and evens out dark patches on your skin for somewhat of an airbrushed look.

Of great importance to people with oily skin like me, Too Faced Primed and Poreless also does a great job of keeping your skin matte.  When I layer it below a matte finish foundation or powder, I don't have to worry about blotting all day.  When I layer it below a satin or dewy finish product, I still get oily after awhile, but it is reasonable and nothing compared to going without primer (I don't even bother wearing those products without Primed and Poreless - the greasiness is astounding!).

If all of that weren't enough, Primed and Poreless contains some skin-beneficial ingredients as well, such as retinol to combat wrinkles and acne, and Vitamins A & C to brighten and repair skin.

Bottom Line:  I cannot recommend this primer enough!  Primed and Poreless effectively preps the canvas for smooth and beautiful foundation application, all while keeping skin matte and nourished with healthy ingredients.

SEPHORA+PANTONE Chic Week Order Preview

Here's a preview of the SEPHORA + PANTONE items I ordered during Sephora Chic Week:

SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Lipstick
in Tangerine Tango

I got the SEPHORA + PANTONE Color of the Year Creme Lipstick in Tangerine Tango, the Color of the Year Lipgloss Set, and Sephora Collection Be You Lip Stain in Peach Gelee, inspired by the Color of the Year.

The non-Pantone items that I got are Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener, Sephora Collection Classic Retractable Lip Brush #60, and Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion.

Sephora Chic Week is still going on!  Use your 15% off discount code through tomorrow, April 6th at 11:59 PM.

Too Faced Order

Here's what I got with my 20% discount code from Too Faced's last vintage sale!  I bought the Lust Haves Eye Collection, which includes an Eyeshadow Single in Label Whore, Eyeshadow Duo in Teddy Bear/Heaven, Eyeshadow Single in Dirtbag, Eyeshadow Duo in Totally Toasted, and a full-size Shadow Insurance Primer. I also got the Full Bloom Creme Color in Prim and Poppy. 

So excited to try the new goods :)

Sephora and Too Faced Deliveries

Two in one day?  Yes!

Just chilling on my porch

The Sephora order was 15% off for Sephora Beauty Insider Chic Week, and the Too Faced order was 20% off from a discount code I got after purchasing during their last Vintage Sale.

That makes it okay, right?

Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss in Light Pink Review and Swatches

Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss in Light Pink

If you love light, pearly lip glosses, check out Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss in Light Pink. Retailing for $17 at Sephora, this all-natural, vegan lip product includes moisturizing cherry oil and antioxidants in the form of Vitamins E and C. You can really smell the cherry oil. Yum....

The opalescent quality of Korres Cherry Gloss in Light Pink is best visible in the center of my bottom lip.  It reflects light purple and white.

I prefer to have more color on my lips, so I tried layering Korres Cherry Gloss in Light Pink over NARS Lipstick in Niagara, which is a pinkish coral.

Korres Cherry Gloss in Light Pink over Nars Niagara

Pretty!

Korres Cherry Gloss in Light Pink swatched on hand:

Korres Cherry Gloss - Light Pink on hand

Korres Cherry Gloss - Light Pink

The color's not my favorite, so I won't be rebuying this particular shade.  I do like the formula of this gloss and the fact that it is vegan (like me!), so I might try it in Naked Rose instead.

Nails of the Day: MAC Nail Lacquer in Tipover Swatch

MAC Nail Lacquer in Tipover

MAC Nail Lacquer in Tipover is a gorgeous salmon pink with gold shimmer. It goes on pretty sheer, so I'm wearing 3 coats in this photo.

What polish are you sporting today?

Drugstore Curly Girl Hits: L'Oreal EverSleek Reparative Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner Review

L'Oreal EverSleek Reparative Shampoo and Conditioner

Low-poo fans, no-poo die hards, and all other shampoo rebels are buzzing over L'Oreal's new sulfate and silicone-free hair care line!

Curl experts consider sulfates, a main component of traditional shampoos, to be the enemy of frizz-free spirals. Sulfates are foam-creating detergents that strip your hair's natural oils. Without that moisture, hair can end up frizzy and brittle, particularly if it is curly.

Silicones are extremely common ingredients in shampoo, conditioner, and styling products. They feel great because they form a protective film that leaves hair shiny, smooth and manageable, but many of them are not water-soluble. This creates build-up that can only be removed with harsh sulfates, leading to a cycle of:

1. Clean with frizz-creating sulfates 
2. Smooth stripped hair with silicones 
3. Remove silicone build up with sulfates

To avoid this damaging process, many have switched to "low-poo" and "no-poo" methods that are sulfate and silicone-free. Unfortunately, products without these ingredients are often hard to find and typically cost more than drugstore offerings. 

L'Oreal's new line is the first foray into sulfate and silicone-free products by a major brand. I was thrilled when I heard about the new line and couldn't wait for CVS to get it in stock.  The line is broken into four subcategories that focus on different hair care needs: EverCreme for moisture, EverPure to preserve color, EverSleek for frizz control, and EverStrong to prevent breakage. L'Oreal has also released EverStyle, a subcategory of alcohol-free styling products.  I recently permed my naturally wavy hair, so I decided to try the EverSleek Reparative Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner ($6.99 each) first because they are designed to soothe damaged hair and control frizz.  Instead of silicones, the active ingredients are argan, sunflower, and olive oils. I also picked up the EverStyle Curl Defining Gel ($6.99).

L'Oreal EverSleek Reparative Smoothing Shampoo has a great, fruity scent.  Although it has no foam-forming sulfates, the shampoo still has some lather. The lather doesn't actually do anything, but it helps you distribute the shampoo evenly and just makes you feel like your hair is more clean than lather-free shampoos.

The Reparative Smoothing Conditioner has the same yummy scent, although it is perhaps a bit more mild. It has a very creamy texture that coats your hair quickly and thoroughly. I left it in for a couple minutes, and I could immediately feel how the conditioner had made my hair more supple when I rinsed it out.

These products have fabulous results. To style my hair, I add a curl creme & gel, let it air dry for awhile, and finish off with the diffuser.  Blow drying with the diffuser usually creates quite a bit of frizz no matter how careful I am, but not with EverSleek.  Although not 100% frizz-free, my curls are much more defined and bouncy.  My hair even stays somewhat smooth when I brush it out at the end of the night, which is a rare experience for curly girls!

I am so happy to be using affordable products that will promote my hair health. I expect to see improvements over time the longer I am sulfate and silicone-free.

Bottom line: If you are currently using traditional shampoo and conditioner, L'Oreal's new products are an excellent choice for you to experiment with sulfate and silicone-free hair care. And if you are already sulfate and silicone-free, L'Oreal's line is an affordable alternative to pricey specialty hair care that makes no compromises on quality.

     

Too Faced Insurance Policy High Impact Eye Shadow Collection Review and Swatches

I've become a bit of a Too Faced addict lately - I use their Primed and Poreless Primer, Shadow Insurance, and Tinted Beauty Balm daily.  I also adore their eye shadows and I believe that Too Faced makes some of the very best around. The formulas are the most pigmented that I have used, and they apply smoothly and blend well.

Because I'm always on the hunt for more Too Faced eye shadow, I couldn't resist snatching up the Insurance Policy High Impact Eye Shadow Collection during Too Faced's last vintage sale.  It cost $34.20 and includes a full-size Shadow Insurance eye shadow primer. Considering that the primer alone costs $18, I only paid $16.20 for 6 high-quality eye shadows.  That's less than $3 each!

These shadows are very vibrant and intense. Full Frontal is a chocolate bronze, Glamazon is light beige with silver glitter, Socialite is a pink copper shimmer, Boy Toy is a cotton candy pink shimmer, Skinny Dip is medium blue with purple duochrome, and Lucky Charms is medium green with gold duochrome.  I wish that Skinny Dip's true color showed up better in my photos; it is actually quite pretty in person.  It is a very complex shade that shines purple or blue depending on the light.

Here are all of the shadows swatched lightly without primer:

Swatched heavily without primer:

Full Frontal, Glamazon, Socialite, and Boy Toy swatched lightly without primer:

Full Frontal, Glamazon, and Socialite watched heavily without primer:

Boy Toy, Skinny Dip, and Lucky Charms swatched lightly without primer:

Boy Toy, Skinny Dip, and Lucky Charms swatched heavily without primer:

Prepping with Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer beforehand would definitely make these shades POP.

Unfortunately for me, bright colors do not look good on my eyes.  As much as I love Too Faced's eyeshadow formulas, this palette was not the best fit for my coloring and willingness to take bold eyeshadow risks :) I think Too Faced's new Summer Eye palette might be a better match for me.

For someone who wants to experiment with a mix of bronzes and brights, on the other hand, Too Faced's Insurance Policy Collection would be a great choice for pigmentation, blendability and reasonable pricing.

What's your favorite Too Faced palette?  What do you think about bright eyeshadow?

Latisse: Before and After Review

I love Latisse!  It works quickly and I have not had any adverse effects beyond some eye irritation from misapplication. I plan to keep using it until my lashes are extra long. 

Before Latisse

After One Month of Latisse
I should have run a lash comb through that clumpy mascara!

As you can see, my lashes were never much to write home about.  One of my classmates recommended Latisse, saying that it made her lashes so long and thick that she didn't even bother with mascara anymore.

I'll never give up mascara, but the idea of extra long, flirty fringe was so compelling that I was willing to cough up the hundred bucks to give it a shot.

The first night, I applied it with an eyeliner brush right on top of the lash line. This was a mistake, and I woke up with bloodshot eyes the next morning. Turns out you are supposed to apply it a tiny bit above the lash line instead of in between the lashes. I corrected my application technique and have had no problems since.

I noticed a difference in my lash length in about a week. After one month, my lashes have grown substantially. Additionally, you really don't need to get a new bottle every month. I only need one drop to liberally cover both eyes so most of the bottle is still full.  I've even started to run the eyeliner brush over my eyebrows when I'm finished to fill out my brows.

Other Side Effects

A major fear that people have concerning Latisse is that it will turn blue eyes brown. I have not experienced this, and it is highly unlikely that you will. The fear stems from a study that found a very small percentage of glaucoma patients experienced eye discoloration when applying Latisse directly into the center of their eye in high amounts. No other studies have found any instances of eye discoloration. So as long as you don't pour the product into your iris, you will probably be okay.

A much more common side effect is eyelid discoloration. Some people report that their lids turn somewhat purple along the lash line. I have not experienced this side effect either, but it is something to take into account when considering Latisse. If I did experience eyelid discoloration, I believe that I would continue to use Latisse and either cover up the discoloration or hope that it blended with eyeliner.

Sorry for the creepy eye pictures!

Bottom Line: I am very satisfied with Latisse. The side effects have been extremely minimal, and the products works effectively. I definitely recommend Latisse if you are interested in prescription lash growth.