New York Color Limited Edition Bronze Bliss Summer Blushable Cream Sticks~ Swatches and Review

Radiant Bronze and Gold Radiance

This summer New York Color (NYC) released a golden-goddess-esque collection named Bronze Bliss. In the collection was two Blushable Cream Sticks which was really exciting for me as I love their regular line Blushable Cream Sticks (you can read my review on Big Apple Blush here). The two shades in the collection were Radiant Bronze and Radiant Gold. Here is an unblended swatch of each.

T-B (Shade): One light swipe of Radiant Bronze, Three swipes of Radiant Gold

T-B (Sun): One light swipe of Radiant Bronze, Three swipes of Radiant Gold

I'm going to start with Radiant Bronze. This shade is perfection. Super pigmented and creamy this applies almost in excess. You'll need a light hand otherwise you'll overdo it. The colour itself is warm and rich with a very very fine gold shimmer throughout. When blended the shimmer is barely noticeable giving a lit from within look. It's lasting power is decent about three hours depending on how heavily you blend the product out. Plus as with all the Blushable Cream Sticks it dries to a powder finish. Unfortunetly the good ends here however. I gave mine to my friend because on me this just ended up looking like a bruise, the beginnings of a rash, or dirt. I've never had any luck with bronzers though so I don't blame the product itself. My friend has quite a yellow undertone to her skin and it really looks awesome on her. Perfect exotic beach dweller effect.

Shade- Radiant Bronze Blended (on N10 skin)

Next is Gold Radiance a white to light gold sparkle highlighter shade. This was the one I was most excited about, but to be honest it kind of let me down. In the tube it looks like it has a white-gold base with fine gold shimmer bits throughout but on the skin it ends up being clear (or near clear) with the gold bits instead. It's still pretty and I like using it along my cheek bones, but due to the translucent base it requires multiple layers to show up adequately (as seen below in the blended swatch). Another slight issue is that this one has a hint of a greasy feel to it not really drying down as quickly or fully to the lovely powder finish the other Blushable Cream Sticks have. It also doesn't have great staying power lasting around 4 hours maximum. I still like the product, the fine gold bits are really subtle and pretty but I was hoping for more.

I got these from Rite Aid for $4.99 USD each (I'm visiting the USA at the moment). They are also quite large holding a huge 8 grams of product. They are limited edition for this summer and can be found in a display.

Gold Radiance in the tube

Radiant Bronze in the tube partially spun up

Sprite Rating: Gold- 5/10, Bronze 7/10

Would I buy these again? If I had a darker and/or warmer skin-tone that actually cooperated with bronzers I would buy the Radiant Bronze one again. The Radiant Gold I probably wouldn't purchase a second time though. I like it and I'll use it but I was hoping for more and it doesn't last all that long for a very subtle gold glinty effect.

Lorac TANtalEYES Palette~ Swatches & Impressions

Out for Summer, Lorac has released a eyeshadow quad called TANtalEYES. I think the name is really cute, if a bit corny. The palette itself however is lovely!

All four shades are generous in size and highly pigmented. The four colours- white gold, copper, olive green and burgundy are all shimmery almost metallic finish.

All four shades were beautiful! I really wanted the palette myself but I already own shades that are near identical for the two darker shades. Plus the palette comes with a bronzer illuminator that I wouldn't use so it would have been a waste.

The real kicker about this palette and bronzer though is the price for us Canadians. The set costs $47 CND or (for you lucky americans) $36 USD.

So what do you think a great summer palette or just more of the same?

More new Make-up items for Spring! (Marcelle and Physician's Formula)

Marcelle (another Canadian brand) has also released there new Spring Collection, Paradisia. Like Annabelle, Marcelle has released two lipglosses one orange and the other hot pink. There is also an all over face powder (shimmery) and two eyeshadows. I love the patterning on the powders and they are solid colours all the way through. 

Laguna eyeshadow

Face Shimmery Powder

Next up is the new Cashmere Bronzers from Physician's Formula.

Though there were no testers and therefore I couldn't tell if the non-bronzer colour went all the way through the powder or not, the patterning and the packaging is beautiful. It's a faux suede with a tassel and it's just so gosh darn pretty! If I was a bronzer girl I'd totally be after this one. It costs $19.99 CND.

What do you think of these things? Digging it or not so much?

Cargo Holiday Collection: Lights Of The World

(Image from Temptalia)

Cargo has already released their lovely offering for the holiday season this year. In the same style as last years holiday palette Hands of Hope this year's offering is called Lights of the World. 

It's a black flip-top palette that contains eight eyeshadows and one blush/bronzer duo thats shaped like a medallion. The back of the cover has glossy words for light in different languages on it. Despite the palette's name being about lights they chose snowflakes as the symbol to emboss into the shadows and blush/bronzer themselves and to decorate the cover. A strange association but they created a pretty outcome. I think the palette provides a nice variety of shadow shades both for the end of fall, through the winter and into spring. I also like the cover design but I can see this palette having traveling issues due to the fact it doesn't seal or close securely, but it would be lovely to look at on a table top.

Image from Musing of a Muse

Image from Temptalia

The shadow shades contained are a shimmery teal, sparkly bronze, matte warm grey, glittery gold, matte beige, shimmery deep Electric blue, shimmery lilac, and a shimmery medium brown. The cheek duo is composed of an outer ring of bronzer in Medium and Blush in the centre in Rome. It costs $29 USD.

Anyone up for some snow under the lights?

Too Faced Holiday Palettes and Kits

Photo From Musings of a Muse Blog

I figured since I did a winter release yesterday, I should do another one today! This time however, we've got eyes and cheeks as the focus. Too Faced has really outdone themselves with this release in my honest opinion as I'm adoring the fairy and pixie winter theme throughout. With four different kits I think there is something for every girly girl out there!

My favourite of the kits is this one, Pixie Pin-ups palette. It comes with six eyeshadows, a mini Too Faced Shadow Insurance, a mini Lava Gloss eyeliner pencil and a Lash Injection Pin Point tubing mascara.

Image from asos.com

Image from asos.com

The shadows in the kit are...
Row 1: Leading Lady (Cream with Gold Glitter), I Know What Boys Want (Shimmery Stawberry Milkshake Pink), Lucky Charms (Emerald Foil)
Row 2: Heaven (Matte Ivory), Like a Virgin (Matte Taupe) and Erotica (Soft Charcoal Shimmer)

Photo From Musings of a Muse Blog

The Pixie Pin-Ups palette is currently available in Sephora, and on ASOS, and on Urban Outfitters online. They cost $32 USD each.

Photo From Musings of a Muse Blog

Next up we have the huge Enchanted Glamourland Kit. I would be highly surprised if anyone could make it through this kit due to how much it includes. It's also an awesome deal at only $49 USD.

Enchanted Glamourland includes fifteen eyeshadows, a full size Shadow Insurance eye primer, a full size Glamour gloss in Pillow Talk (a mauve shimmer), La Vie En Rose blush, Snow Bunny bronzer and three look cards. The cost of the Shadow Insurance and the Gloss alone would cost  $37 USD.

The eyeshadows are...

Row 1: In The Buff (matte ivory), Exclusive Nude, George & Weezie (Icy Gold), Velvet Revolver (matte taupe), Honey Pot (gold shimmer); 

Row 2: Teddy Bear (matte taupe-brown), Exclusive Purple, Boy Toy (Frozen Rose Shimmer), Peach Fuzz (Golden Peach Shimmer), Exclusive Green;

Photo From Musings of a Muse Blog

Row 3: Label Whore (Metallic Brown with blue iridescent), Glamazon (Silver Fawn), Exclusive Plum, Ooh & Aah (Silver Pearl), and Stiletto (matte black). 

Photo From Musings of a Muse Blog

Next up, the smallest of the kits and the only one that comes with a mirror. It also handily fits in a purse easily. If you like the Glamour to go, this one is for you as this is the Glamour to go: Fairy Edition.

This one shows the colours differently, I'm not sure which is closer to actuality- sorry!
Picture from Sassisam blog

Despite it's small size this little palette packs a punch with eight eyeshadows, a blush, a bronzer and a lip gloss. There are colours for everyone too from soft pastels, to some neutrals, to a vibrant blue and copper. There is even a charcoal for a smokey eye. This little kit costs $19.50 USD.

Image from asos.com

 Last, but not least is the Pixie Perfect kit. This one comes in a cute little makeup bag with a miniature Shadow Insurance, Lash Injection mascara (black), full size Glamour gloss in Plush (Candied Coral), a bronzer/blush duo, and a neutrals eyeshadow quad.

Picture from Sassisam blog

For $45 USD from Sephora (or $42 USD from Urban Outfitters), this cute set has got you covered for everyday wear.

 I don't know about anyone else, but I'm loving everything! Anyone want to go fairy catching with me now? *brings bug net to Sephora*

Just Because It's Pretty

I'm lazily posting another one of these, because it's fun and I am working on another couple posts slowly while I work on my seminar project for my upcoming field course. Hope you enjoy!

Here's a recap: I've decided to start a new series of posts called "Just Because It's Pretty". These are products (from as usual, non-animal testing brands), that are especially lovely to gaze upon. Whether it's the pattern of the powder or the packaging! These are not reviews, but instead just products that are tempting due to looks alone. Tell me some of your favourite beauty items that you like to have out to decorate!

Today: Art Deco Bronzing Compact Art Design 10 (in Safari Sunset and Safari Sunrise)

From The Smell of Vanity Blog

Art Deco has made a beautifully designed intricate (both inside and out!) bronzing duo that comes in two shades. One shade is slightly cooler and the other warmer. I particularity adore how they combined two animal prints (giraffe and tiger) with some fern leaves to give a jungle sort of feel to it.
This was released this year (and this season if I'm not mistaken) and also has a SPF of 15. It has a light matte finish.
The powder also contains two special ingredients, the first "Inca oil" they describe as coming from nuts in the mountains of Peru (fancy dancy) which they state contain fatty acids that nourish the skin and also help it retain moisture.
The second spiffy ingredient is extract of peas (really? Peas? If you say so.) which they say helps restore collagen structure in the skin. Honestly, I had no idea peas even contained Vitamin C which is what collagen is made out of. This compact is available for 19 Euros from the Art Deco website (and hard to get a hold of in North America). It really does look chic though doesn't it? What do you think?

The Body Shop: Autumn Smoke and Fire Collection 2010

Is anyone else drooling? I just think this is gorgeous! Part of the new Body Shop Fall collection these Autumn Leaves compacts are limited edition and come in the two colours shown here, Berry and Chestnut. They are going to launch Tomorrow and will retail at $21 CND/USD. From what I can tell from descriptions, the leaves are not just overspray and the blush will have a shimmer to it. Personally, I think these are going to sell like hot-cakes, as to me they really embody all the things I love about fall, even with the shimmer reminding me of the slightest bit of frost on grass in the mornings. The compacts are said to contain marula oil and nut oil which is suppose to soften the skin.
The Smoke and Fire collection also includes three Kajal liners in Charcoal (black), Steel (blued silver), and Evergreen (dark green) which retail at $10 CND/USD.
What do you think?

I have a Review up now if you're interested!

Information and Photo from www.zinkmagazine.com and TheNotice: a Beauty Blog

NARS Code

Hey everyone!
I just wanted to tell people considering to place a NARS order online that there is a great extra code available for summer time! Type in LAGUNASUMMER at check out and receive a free mini Laguna Bronzer (in the suave NARS packaging!) with your order. Definitely worth it if you like bronzers to try this product which has received rave reviews!
Has anyone else got some great extras codes? Or if you're interested in other extra/freebie codes check out Retail Me Not an awesome website to see what things you can get from online orders!

Quo Summer Safari Collection

Quo has recently released their new summer collection in Shopper's Drug Marts across Canada. Safari themed it's an instant eye catcher with three animal print velvet smooth bronzers, three eyeshadow trios, a golden pink shimmer highlight and a lip gloss in a chic black with gold giraffe print squeeze tube.
What really caught my eye where the three bronzers in Tigeress a lovely rose brown when mixed together but 4 different colours across. Mystic Morocco a more pink with brown and white tints in a Jaguar printand finally Sultry Sudan a giraffe printed bronzer that is varying shades of brown. The nice thing about these bronzers is that there is one for fair (Mystic Morocco), medium (Tigeress) and dark skin tones (Sultry Sudan) and the silver packaging in the animal print with rhinestones is adorable. All three are definitely worth checking out as the colours are not overspray but solid to the bottom of the pan. They each retail at $20 CND.
The three eyeshadow trios each have a blush and gold with rhinestone packaging. They also come in cute names like Egyptian Princess (A light gold and Rose Bronze and dark brown trio with a light almost white highlighter/blush). The other two trios are a Dark blue, lavender, and peach with a pale pink blush; and lastly a light blue, a turquoise and a teal with a medium rose pink blush.
Another item I may go back for is the Body Glow. It's a stunning pink with gold shimmer that comes in a huge container with a pump. The pump is a good one, allowing ease to get just the right amount (something I didn't get with my gold Clinique one nor my Lorac silver illuminator pumps).Here's a swatch! In real life it looks a tad more pink. If you pile it on it will dry down really bright so be sure to blend it in right away! The Body Glow retails for $25 CND. Though I love Quo's normal lipgloss, this one had no indication of colour and I personally can barely stand squeeze tube lipglosses so I didn't test out the colour. Shopper's Drug Mart also doesn't have any kleenexes available to wipe swatches off, and the employees were eyeballing me so I didn't swatch it, but it was $12 CND.
Overall I think the collection is really nice for summer, with a great exotic flair. What are your thoughts?