drugstore beauty: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray

i love shine sprays over the type of serums that have to be poured into my hand. this fabulous one, Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray from Garnier Fructis, has become my must-have, not only because it give s my hair serious luster, but because it also nourishes my tresses with 3 highly moisturizing oils-- avocado, shea and olive.

this dual formula is activated after being shaken and can then be sprayed on anytime your hair needs some pampering (wet or dry). it leaves it looking (and feeling) silky soft and has a yummy smell.



this is my second bottle, and as you can see, i am almost out! time to head to Target...

visit garnier.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

Revlon ColorStay Sophisticated Grays Eye Collection

happy monday, beauties! hope you enjoyed a fabulous holiday weekend. did you get any yummy makeup and beauty goodies?

i received a few gems, but the one shadow palette i have been using a lot these days comes by way of a trip to Target i took a few weeks ago.



this Revlon ColorStay Eyeshadow Quad in Sterling Rose came with a ColorStay Eyeliner and was packaged as the Sophisticated Grays Collection. i was drawn to the classic shades because they're perfect for this season and beyond. three of the shades are pretty light, and all of the shades have a sheen to them, but i love mixing and matching the colors-- day to night looks are effortless!



i'm a huge fan of Revlon ColorStay eyeshadows and these didn't disappoint. the pigments of each shadow are good with fab blendability and wear. each color is classic and will easily transition into spring. the liner is mechanical (perfect for waterline application), and stays put all day!

Revlon is available at your favorite drug and mass retailers. be sure to visit revlon.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

Suqqu Eyeliner Creamy in Black (02)

Suqqu's eyeliner creamy, or rather creamy eyeliner, has one of the nicest eyeliner-in-a-pot consistency I have ever come across so far. It is not too hard and not too soft - just creamy effortless eyeliner perfection. I also like that these type of eyeliners give the option of creating a much softer line than their liquid counterparts. One can gently glide the eyeliner across the eyelid without any tugging or dragging. Suqqu's eyeliner is also waterproof and lasts well with literally no fading or smudging of the corners which, in my experience, typically wear away first. However those with extremely oily eyelids like mine may find some feathering of a crisp line after a long day.

The overall packaging is, as Suqqu always is, absolutely fantastic. The whole thing is presented in a deceptively large black box with a black plastic mold that snugly holds the frosted glass screw top jar and accompanying retractable brush. The brush is phenomenal, and, in my opinion, justifies the otherwise high retail price of the whole ensemble.

Price: £22/3.3g

Ingredients: Isododecane, Trifluoropropyldimethyl/Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cyclomethicone, Polyethene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Barium Sulfate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica, Phenoxyethanol [+/- May Contain: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499]

Accessorize With Love Golden Sand Baked Bronzer

Judging by the reviews I have stumbled across online, it is safe to say that the general consensus of the baked products by Accessorize have been positive. I bought one of their bronzers (even though I am not normally interested in bronzing products) because I thought Golden Sand would make an excellent highlighter. So far I have been loving it: the texture is excellent, the payoff is excellent, and each compact contains 12.5g of product. There are a lot of excellent highlighters available nowadays, but speaking as someone with large pores and oily skin, I am extremely fussy about what kinds of shimmer I use on my face. Even infamous highlighters like Christian Dior Shimmer Powder and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter - both of which I like and would absolutely recommend - are a little bit on the sparkly side if I am being really picky. Golden Sand gives more of a peachy shimmery sheen to the skin - I can barely detect individual particles of shimmer even after vigorous blending. Golden Sand is a fantastic highlighter shade for medium to possibly darker skin tones, but it may be too peachy for those with pale complexions.

Price: £6/12.5g

Ingredients: Mica, Talc, Nylon 12, Parafinum Liquidum, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77491/2/9, CI 77499, CI 77491/2/9

RMK Christmas Brush Set 2010

This is my first venture into brush sets, and supposedly RMK's first limited edition make-up brush set made in collaboration with artist Keith Haring. I have always been tempted by brush sets because of their cute miniature size - they also allow me to stand much closer to a mirror when applying make-up as I am very short sighted - but I have never taken the plunge prior to this purchase. Nearly all of them have always included at least two brushes I have no use for (lip and foundation brushes are the most common culprits) and the quality usually weren't very good.

At £39, the brush set is much cheaper here in the UK compared to the Japanese retail price of 7140 yen. I emailed RMK specifically to ask, and they confirmed that all the brushes except for the eyeshadow tip is made from natural bristles. Though I don't own any full sized RMK brushes, my overall impression of the quality of these travel sized brushes have been positive: there has no major shedding of hairs, nor bleeding of dye (so far). They all feel very soft, not decadently so perhaps, but certainly on par with some of my full sized brushes. The 15cmx11cm accompanying case doesn't appeal to me aesthetically (which is why I haven't bothered to photograph it in detail) but it is well made, and fulfills its purpose housing the travel sized brushes.



The bigger eyeshadow brush is roughly 10.5cm long made from horse hair. It has a similar shape to the infamous MAC 217 brush (on the right with the silver ferrule) but not quite as rounded. Excellent for applying an all over wash of shadow to the lid, but perhaps not quite so adept at blending as the 217.


The smaller eyeshadow brush measures a little over 10cm long and is also made from horse hair. It is great as a blending brush for those with smaller eyelid area and/or applying colour into the socket.


The eyeshadow tip a sponge applicator which, like the full sized version, is detachable from the handle. The handle itself is 8.5cm, and the replaceable tip is 3.7cm long. The overall length of the brush can be adjusted from 11.5cm to 10.5cm long. I know a lot of people loathe sponge tips, but I personally find them quite useful - especially for packing on colour with sheerer eye shadows.



The eyebrow brush is roughly 10cm long, with a shallow slant, and made from water badger hair. I compared it with the MAC 266 (on the right with the silver ferrule) to show the chunkiness. I don't use brow brushes personally, but I tried it and it is extremely efficient. I wouldn't recommend using this as an eyeliner brush as it feels a little too stiff and coarse for the eye area.


The cheek brush is roughly 12cm long supposedly made from a blend of goat and horse hair. The brush head is reasonably dense, but incredibly small. It allows for a much more precise application of colour which I personally like, but those who are used to large brushes for blush application may feel like this is an insubstantial size.

All in all, I am very happy with my purchase and I have been incorporating these brushes into my daily routine. I don't have much experience with brush sets, and so I can't say whether this set is superior to the offerings by other brands, but I think it would make a good Christmas present.

what i'm loving now: 100% Pure Tinted Moisturizer

it's not hard to believe that 100% Pure's Tinted Moisturizer is made with such nourishing ingredients-- the name of the brand tells it all. what is hard for me to believe is that all of the ingredients come from fruits and nature's most fabulous sources!

this tinted spf 20 skin protectant uses fruits including peach, carrot, cocoa beans, and pomegranate (just to name a few) to add pigment, and treats skin with white tea, aloe juice, acai oil and vitamin C. the formula offers sheer coverage that can be built up to be a medium coverage, but don't rely on this hide anything major.

i have been using this in Toffee both under, and sometimes over, my regular foundation. i love the smooth texture it gives my skin! it's just the right color for me right now, but i figure come summer, that might not be the case. it's a dewy finish, but never greasy-- perfect for my oily skin.

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer is 100% natural, 100 % vegetarian and gluten free. visit 100percentpure.com for more info.

xo

product featured sent to me for review consideration

Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil

Along side the Suqqu Liquid Brow Pen (review here), the Shu Uemura Hard 9 pencil is another brow product I absolutely adore. The pencil itself isn't particularly special or unique in my opinion - it is a brow pencil like any other - but their shades, though limited, are wonderfully versatile and will work for a wide range of people. Stone Gray is perfect for those with black hair like myself, and I love that I can create very full brows that never looks overwhelming or unnatural. I still rely on my Suqqu Brow Pen for smudge free brows in hot humid days - not that there are many in the UK - but this is an absolutely staple for the rest of the year.

Price: £15.50/4g

Ingredients: Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearic Acid, Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax, Candelilla Cera / Candelilla Wax, Carnauba / Carnauba Wax , Rhus Succedanea / Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax , Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil [+/- May Contain: Mica, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide]

hair therapy: Pantene Curl Enhancing Spray Gel

during the summer, i was given the opportunity to try Pantene's Curl Enhancing Spray Gel. i decided it was the perfect time to do something i hadn't done in some time: wear my hair curly!


Pantene Spray Gel + air dry time = my naturally curly-haired self. :)

while i have no issue heat-styling my hair during the summer months, i thought that going back to my method of giving my hair a break-- like i used to do as a teen-- wouldn't hurt me (it always helped my hair stay healthier!).



i love that this comes in spray form, making application so easy. the formula also smells good and never left my hair feeling "crunchy".


i look like i'm 15 again (well, ok, not really), LOL!

give your curls a treat and try find Pantene's Curl Enhancing Spray Gel. you can find it at your favorite drug and mass retailer. visit pantene.com for more info.

xo
product featured sent to me by the brand's PR for review consideration.

Suqqu Eyebrow Liquid Pen in 01 Green

My biggest beauty dilemma has always been figuring out what to use on my eyebrows, but there are so many brow products available nowadays that it is not too difficult to find one or two that would be suitable. I have black hair and so colour wise I find Asian brands make brow products that suit me best. My all time favourite is the Eyebrow Liquid Pen by Suqqu, and my love for this product stems from the fact that it doesn't easily rub off like most pencils and powders. My mother who - thanks to an eye lift - is missing the tail of her brows is also an avid user of this pen. There are only two colours available: 01 Green which is ideal for those with cool toned hair (ie black), and 02 Brown which will be perfect for pretty much everyone else. Initially the colour payoff is super sheer, almost worryingly so, but with enough patience the intensity can be built, and most importantly it always looks natural. My only complaint, which my mother also shares, is that it can take a little too long to build up the opacity to suit our tastes. Most pencils requires a few strokes to get the job done, but this needs a lot more to give a similar effect. Not exactly the sort of thing one has patience for at six in the morning, but short of tattooing them on, this is the next best thing in terms of durability.

Price: £18/0.7ml

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Soluble Collagen, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Proplyparaben [May Contain +/-: CI 42090, CI 17200, CI 19140]


My eyebrows in their virgin state... after a pair of tweezers of course. They are not as neat as they could be perhaps, but sculpted eyebrows require way too much maintenance for me.


My eyeglasses partially obstruct my eyebrows anyway so I can get away with a lot but this is how dark I typically go


... and just to show it can be built up more heavily for Jennifer Connelly in Labyrinth-esque eyebrows.

H&M Give Me That Special Glow Eye Shadow Palette

After my underwhelming experience with two of these eye shadow quads by H&M (here) I wanted to experiment with a more colourful palette before I write them off completely. Honestly speaking I think the quality of the shadows in Give Me That Special Glow were even poorer than the ones in the two neutral palettes I reviewed before - such a shame really because I love the colour combination (a shimmery off white, a warm golden orange, a bright aqua blue, a deep gunmetal brown). I absolutely adore the darkest shade, and it reminded me of Urban Decay's Darkhorse shadow from the Naked palette (review here) but when I actually swatched the two side by side, this was much lighter and almost looked like a taupe in comparison. It is so stunning, and I am currently on a mission to find a better quality dupe for it.

Price: £2.99/6g

Ingredients: Mica, Talc, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, Magnesium Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Bis-diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract [+/- May Contain: CI 77891, CI 77742, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007)




...and here is photographic proof of me testing all the shades. I had no intention of leaving the house so I amateurishly whacked all four shades together, but I wouldn't usually wear this much colour many shadows at the same time. Primed my eyelids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion first and applied all the shadows using a sponge tip. Some of you may now be recoiling in horror but trust me when I say that a normal eye shadow brush would not pick up pigment.

Shu Uemura Face Powder Sheer in 7YR Light

Some beauty products are much harder to review than others, and, for me, one of the hardest of all is loose powders. I suffer from an oily T zone so the ideal powder product will instantly mattify whilst offering some sort of long lasting oil control over that area. Realistically speaking however, it would be naive of me to assume this can be achieved with merely one product, and because the results powders give - whether loose or pressed - depend so highly on which other base products they are used in conjunction with (primer, foundation or even moisturiser) I find it can be extremely difficult to judge some areas of its performance (ie oil control). Having said all that, I do rate Shu Uemura's Face Powder Sheer very highly, and, for what it's worth, I would absolutely recommend it to others. 7YR Light has a wonderfully smooth finely milled texture, doesn't cake up regardless of how much one applies, feels incredibly light on the skin and is genuinely translucent. Most importantly of all it doesn't make me look flat - which some powders are guilty of - and yet still manages to give a natural matte glow to my skin. A powder puff is also provided with the powder, and the overall packaging of the product is unoffensive and well thought out out; I much prefer the use of netting to holes in a plastic sifter. Price per gram wise, it is on the more expensive side, but I find a jar will last for more or less two years with daily use (not to mention the puff alone costs £5).

Price: £25.50/20g

Ingredients: Talc, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimthicone, Boron Nitride, Zinc Laurate, Alumina, Diphenyl Dimethicone / Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone / Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone / Methicone Copolymer, Mineral Oil, Aluminum Dimyristate, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben [+/- May Contain: CI 77891, CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491]