Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl Review and Swatches

Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl

Did you know that all-natural nail polish brand Zoya makes lip gloss, too? Available in a whopping 30 different shades at the affordable price of $6, Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm was too tempting for me to resist.

Given my penchant for coral lip colors, I tried Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl, which is a bright reddish pink coral. While it's referred to as a "glossy lip balm," I consider this product a lip gloss. It does leave your lips feeling soft and smooth like a lip balm though!

The texture of Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl is non-sticky and has tons of vinyl-like shine. This lip gloss has a pretty strong candy scent that I can't quite place -- Laffy Taffy, perhaps?

Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl Swatch

Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl looks super bright when swatched heavily, but a single coat on your lips gives a more subtle pop of color. The shade is so versatile and flattering that I've found myself reaching for this gloss all the time since I received it.

Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl

While I love the look of Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl, there are a few things that bother me about this product. First of all, I find the rounded applicator very difficult to use. It makes it nearly impossible to apply the gloss evenly. If you must package lip gloss in a squeeze tube, at least give it a slanted tip!

Second, the wear time is not that great. I only go about 2-3 hours before the color and shine fade significantly enough that I need to reapply.

Still, those issues haven't stopped me from wearing Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Brody's Girl almost every day. I have plenty of coral lip products but this shade fills its own gorgeous, distinctive niche. And for $6, I can say that I am very happy overall with my purchase.

With 30 shades to choose from, which Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm do you find most tempting?

Sneak Peek at the Urban Decay Vice Palette: Coming September 15th

Urban Decay Vice Palette

Eyeshadow masters Urban Decay are releasing a new, limited edition collection: the Vice Palette. Featuring 20 exclusive shades, the Vice Palette contains a wide range of never-before-seen brights, neutrals, mattes, satins and shimmers. The $59 palette also includes a double-ended Good Karma Shadow and Crease Brush.

New York residents have a chance to get the first look at the Urban Decay Vice Palette. Urban Decay is holding a special one day launch at the Times Square Sephora tomorrow, September 14th, 2012 from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Everyone else can access the palette on Urban Decay's website starting September 15th, and the Vice Palette is expected to be in Sephora, ULTA and select Macy's stores starting September 27th.

Do you think you will be picking up the Urban Decay Vice Palette? I love that it has such a wide variety of shades, but I think I want to test it out in person before I buy. I am particularly excited to try Jagged, a metallic black gold shimmer, and Noise, a hot fuchsia.

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush Review and Swatches

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush

I can't believe how long it's taken me to review this baby! Frat Boy Blush is one of TheBalm's most popular products and, given my love for corals, it seems like I would have been all over it awhile ago. Thanks to a gift from Ali at Daughter-In-Law Diaries, I now have it in my hot little hands to share with you.

I must say, while I see many good qualities in TheBalm Frat Boy Blush ($21), there are a few others that just don't work for me. Still, I can understand why this blush has achieved "cult product" status.

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush

TheBalm products always have adorable packaging, and Frat Boy Blush is a standout among standouts. I can't get over how cute the little football field mirror is! Although I'm not sure how fitting it is for the name "Frat Boy" considering that a frat boy isn't the same thing as a football player. However, I guess blush packaging centered around keg parties and questionable gender relations wouldn't be as cute...

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush is a reddish-pink coral that is muted with beige undertones. The pigmentation is amazing so you only need to dab a tiny bit of product onto the apples of your cheeks and blend it out to get a nice flush that lasts for 6-7 hours. I imagine I will go a very long time before hitting pan on this product so I think it's a pretty good value.

My favorite way to wear blush is to apply a small amount of a very bright shade and sheer it out for a subtle pop of color. TheBalm Frat Boy Blush is pretty bright, but the beige undertones make it look a little flat on my skin. 

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush

Color aside, the texture of TheBalm Frat Boy Blush is super soft and silky which makes for smooth, even application. However, I notice quite a bit of fallout when I touch my brush to the pan so it can be a little messy. 

Bottom Line: Due to its intense pigmentation and silky texture, I think that TheBalm Frat Boy Blush is a very high-quality blush. Unfortunately, the color just doesn't look quite right on my skin. I still encourage you to try out this blush in stores if you think it might work better for your complexion. The quality is great and the packaging is adorable!

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer Giveaway!

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach

We may be moving swiftly toward fall, but you can still hold onto your summer glow with Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer. 

One lucky reader will receive: 1) Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in the shade of their choice ($16) and 2) Mia Kabuki Brush No. 30 ($30) for a combined value of $46!

You can check out my original review of Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach, which is a subtle rosy bronze shade that's perfect for pale skin:

http://www.nicolereviewsbeauty.com/2012/08/mia-mariu-mineral-powder-bronzer-in.html

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer is also available in Copa Cabana and Playa Coral. Pick the shade that works best for you!

The giveaway is open until September 20th, 2012 at 12:01 AM EST. I'm sorry, but only U.S. residents may enter. Good luck!

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Strike a Pose: Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear Review and Swatches

Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear

With its trio of silky neutral shades accompanied by an icy shot of periwinkle, Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear ($6.25) is dirt-cheap runway chic.

I can't say it enough: if you've got six bucks and some change, there's no better way to spend it than on some of the most superb eyeshadow the drugstore has to offer. 

Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear includes four smooth, extremely pigmented shades. The color payoff is so fantastic that you get near full coverage in a single swipe. Check out these fab swatches; I love it when I don't have to layer and layer to get a shadow to show up in photographs:

Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear Swatches

Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear includes a pearly cream shimmer, a pearlized periwinkle, a cool-toned pearlized medium brown, and a matte black with silver glitter. Each shade has a silky texture that applies well and blends easily without fallout. My favorite color in the quad is the periwinkle. It's a beautiful cool-toned shade that looks blue or purple depending on the light.

Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear 

For this eye look, I applied the periwinkle blue/purple to my lid and blended it into the crease. I used the cool brown to contour in the outer corner. I highlighted the inner corner of my eye and browbone with the cream shade. I also applied the periwinkle below my lower lashline, which you can see peeking out toward to bottom of the picture. 

I don't wear much cool-toned eyeshadow, so I don't think I'll find myself reaching for Prestige Eyeshadow Palette in Ready to Wear every day. However, I'm so impressed with the quality that I won't be surprised if I find myself in the possession of Earthling or Surrey soon :)

Several readers have mentioned that they can't find Prestige Cosmetics at drugstores near them. If that's the case for you, I definitely recommend checking out Prestige's website if you're interested in trying their products. The quality is great and the product line is quite extensive, but the prices are so low that you don't have to worry about doing too much damage while shopping.  Don't you love it when your bank account and makeup bag can get along?

Disclaimer: I received a sample of this product from the company for consideration. My review is based on an honest assessment of the product and was not preapproved by PR or brand representatives.

Fight That Fatigue: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage Review

Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

It may only be Monday, but I know I can make it through the week thanks to Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage ($28).

Whether it be due to work, kids, or in my case, grad school, exhaustion can leave us with tired, puffy eyes on top of all of our other stresses. With Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage, I can finally cross swollen eyes off my list of things to deal with during the week.

Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

I have a mini version of Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage, which comes in a convenient roller ball tube that dispenses a thin, clear serum. The product has a refreshing cooling sensation when you touch it to your skin. Within moments, my undereye bags are reduced significantly thanks to the inclusion of caffeine, which is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that reduces swelling when applied topically. I guess caffeine is good for everything in the morning!

In addition to caffeine, Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage includes some great antioxidants and ingredients like glycerin and panthenol that will keep the skin around your eyes looking healthy and beautiful. Please note that this product does NOT include ingredients to combat dark circles or permanent puffiness related to aging. This baby's only here to help with swollen eyes after late nights or way-too-early mornings.

The de-puffing effects only last a few hours, but this product feels so good to apply that I am happy to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and soothe my skin with the cooling touch of Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage every few hours. Ahhhh...