MAC Viva Glam Nicki Minaj Lipstick Review with Photos & Comparisons!

MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick

When I got word that Nicki Minaj was coming out with another lipstick for MAC, I was really excited because I knew it was going to be something really bold and bright.

Ricky Martin teamed up with Nicki as well - which I thought was a pretty random collaboration from the get-go. Ricky, where have you been these past ten years?!

Anyways, when I saw the first swatches of Viva Glam Nicki early this month, I became incredibly excited and couldn't wait for it to launch. I added my name to the waiting list, and to my satisfaction, I was able to purchase Viva Glam Nicki online a day early.

(Image Credit)

Viva Glam Nicki is a bright yellow-toned pink. Finally a bright pink that isn't blue-toned, for us warm skinned ladies to wear without looking crazy!

Ricky launched a limited edition Viva Glam Lip Conditioner, which is a clear, emollient lip balm containing moisturizing oils, vitamin A & E, and my fav shea butter. It's a product that is around all year long, but the really awesome thing about this limited edition tube is that because it's "Viva Glam", every penny goes to a good cause. For more information, check out http://www.macaidsfund.org.

I only ended up purchasing Viva Glam Nicki, and I couldn't be happier with it. Even though I'm sure I'll never finish it, I'm already thinking about purchasing a back-up!

MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick

To my surprise, I really don't own anything too similar.

Here are a few swatches for color comparison:

Swatches from Left to Right: MAC Viva Glam Nicki, Milani Rosehip Lipstick, Illamasqua Fable Lipstick, Illamasqua Indulge Intense Lipgloss, Wet n' Wild 'Don't Blink Pink' Mega Last Matte Lipstick and Wet n' Wild Dollhouse Pink Mega Last Matte Lipstick.

You can see that Nicki is very yellow toned and how different it looks in comparison to a cool-toned bright pink (Wet n' Wild Dollhouse Pink).

It's definitely my definition of a hot pink, and is very flattering on my light to medium, warm skintone. Depending on your coloring and undertone, this color may appear differently on you. On some skintones it can appear like a bright coral pink and some the coral may not come out at all.

On my lips, it's a pretty true, bright pink.

I'll post a FOTD with it very soon!

Did any of you pick this lipstick up? What do you think of it??

Chanel Enigma Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos and Swatches!

Chanel Enigma Eyeshadow Quad

If you didn't know by now, one of my guilty pleasures is blog sales and makeup swaps. Some may cringe at the thought of purchasing or trading used makeup, but over the past few years I've become a pro at sanitizing most makeup products (it's really not that hard). Most of the products I've obtained have barely been used, for a fraction of the price! 

One of the recent gems I picked up through a blog sale was Chanel Enigma Eye Shadow Quad. I don't own any Chanel quads, and have been really interested in trying them , but it's the $58 price tag that's setting me back - ouch!

Enigma is a limited edition palette, that launched in Chanel's 2010 Fall Collection. Enigma contains four shades: a pale pink, olive-taupe, deep blackened plum with silver shimmer and a silvered-charcoal.

All of the shades go very well together, and can create a gorgeous smokey eye. I like using the pale pink shade all over my lid, and any of the darker shades (typically the olive-taupe - third from the left, swatched below) smudged into my lashline and blended up to my crease. I like taking the deep plum and lining my top and bottom lid with it, as the purple tones in it makes the green in my hazel eyes stand out more.
I rarely ever use a primer with my eyeshadows, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the lasting power of these shadows is very good.

(I apologize that I couldn't get a very good photo of my eyes. My camera doesn't pick up eye makeup too well)

The shadows are very smooth and blend effortlessly. I love that I can use them wet as well, without ruining the texture of the shadows. When used wet, the colors are much more pigmented, but they are nicely pigmented as is, and translate very well on the lids. The dark shades can be used wet with an angled brush as a liner.

Here are the colors swatched with a slightly damp sponge applicator:

I didn't swatch the colors completely dry, but here are some swatches from Karlasugar for reference.

Even though this awesome palette isn't around any longer, you may be able to get a hold of it through makeup community swaps/blog sales and eBay.

Do you have any Chanel quads? Love em? Leave em? 

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation Review!

Chanel Perfection Lumiere is Chanel's newest foundation, which I believe launched this past September of 2011. It claims to be a long wearing and comfortable, will make your skin look fresh and flawless, yet very natural. It is said to be suitable for all skin types.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere is available in 20 shades: 
12 Beige Rose, 22 Beige Rose, 32 Beige Rose, 42 Beige Rose, 52 Beige Rose, 10 Beige, 20 Beige, 20 Beige, 40 Beige, 60 Beige, 24 Beige Ambre, 34 Beige Ambre, 44 Beige Ambre, 54 Beige Ambre, 64 Beige Ambre, 94 Ambre, 104 Ambre, 114 Ambre, 134 Ambre, 154 Ambre.

I have samples of a few different shades - some were pretty random, but the sales associate just grabbed a bunch. Both B10 and Beige Rose 12 work fine on my (no tan) MAC NC15 skintone. B20 is great for NC25, and B30 is a good NC30-35 match. **Many reviewers mentioned that they noticed oxidation (once dry, it turns darker), so definitely try a sample before purchasing. I didn't notice any oxidation with BR12, and slight oxidation with B10.

With it's long-wearing claims, I was very interested in giving this foundation a try. I picked up several samples over the past few months and I feel that I can now properly evaluate it.

The consistency of this foundation is lovely. It's very thin and lightweight (in a way, it reminds me of Vita Aqua, but slightly more condensed and less "airy"). I actually like applying this foundation with my fingers - which is a method I rarely ever use with any of my foundations, but it seems to work the best for maximum coverage. It smooths on my face with ease, without feeling thick or dry. It contains several silicones, so it smooths very nicely across my face without having to go back and forth to add additional product.

It has a fragrance to it (I know there are some people out there that despise fragrance cosmetics) I personally love products that contain fragrance, and this foundation is no exception. I only smell it upon application, but it seems to fade away within a few minutes.

It gives a very nice medium coverage that is buildable to cover blemishes and imperfections, while impressively looks very natural - like a second skin.

I love the way it looks right away, but after a few minutes it dries matte. I'm not a big fan of a matte finish, so to add a little bit of luminosity to my skin, I like to apply a moisturizer prior, and an illuminator after (such as Benefit High Beam). I don't really think it makes my skin look "radiant" like the claims, but once I add my setting powder, bronzer and blush, my skin looks pretty flawless.

I've worn this foundation completely solo and wasn't very impressed with the overall foundation or wear-time (very average with a little shine on my chin after a few hours). But, when I wore it with moisturized skin and buffed in a setting powder with a dense kabuki brush, the results were so much better. After 10 hours, my foundation is still perfectly in tact and it didn't at all become oily.

Although this is a pretty good foundation, I don't think it's something I'll be purchasing. I love almost everything about it, but I just don't like the finish. I prefer something that's a little more radiant, with a satiny finish.

This may be a foundation worth trying for you if you're looking for a lightweight, medium coverage, long wearing foundation with a matte finish.

The search will continue for me, though! :)

The lipstick I'm wearing by the way is Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #006 Pink Blush. I've been wearing it a lot lately! It's just a really pretty bubblegum pink.

Earth Science Purfection Hand Cream Review!

Earth Science Purfection Hand Cream

I've never in my life suffered from dry hands, but this winter has been very hard on my hands, and since late October, I've actually developed eczema on my hands. With that said, my hands have been needing a lot of moisture throughout the day to keep them from cracking, and burning by the end of the day.

Since I'm busy throughout the day, I can't really put anything too thick and greasy on my hands, so I mostly have to rely on hand creams that absorb quickly, but don't always provide enough moisture.

Recently I was given the chance to try out Earth Science Purfection Hand Cream, and I was more than happy to give it a shot - especially since my hands have been so dry, I'd be a good candidate to see if this product performs well on dry skin.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Rich in vitamins C and E, aloe vera, shea butter and jojoba, this luxurious hydrating cream soothes and softens hands. Pure and effective, this is Earth Science�'s best skin remedy for dry, chapped hands. pH 5.5

Earth Science Purfection Hand Cream

Considering I've never heard or read about this product prior, I had pretty low expectations of the product before trying it out. I was very happy to see that this product delivers.

The consistency of the hand cream is very luxurious and creamy. It's a little on the thicker side, but not as thick as a "butter" type cream. It gives a cooling sensation to my hands as I rub it in, which feels incredibly nice on my skin, considering my hands get to the point where they are burning and I can't even bend my fingers.

The cream absorbs right away without leaving a greasy residue on my skin. There are some lotions that when you use them, your hands will drink it up without even leaving your hands feeling moisturized. This cream on the other-hand, really makes my skin feel "plump" and rejuvenated.

I've actually become a little bit addicted to this cream because of it's great moisturizing ability without any mess. I like applying a small amount to my hands throughout the day (whenever I remember) and I always make sure to carry a tube in my handbag.

Nivea Cream has always been my go-to cream, and it's an incredible hand cream (highly recommend) but I just prefer the squeeze tube packaging and it's a little less messy. I won't stop using Nivea, but I will continue using both products and I plan on purchasing a tube of the Purfection Hand Cream once mine is finished (I'm almost there! eek!)

I haven't gone hunting down this product yet in stores, but I'm hoping to find it easily. There are many online retailers (Drugstore.com, Vitacost, Amazon, etc) that stock this product as well as a full list of retailers on Earth Science's website. For a list of locations of where to purchase Earth Science products, click here.

Ingredients: Water (aqua), cetearyl alcohol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cetearyl olivate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), sorbitan olivate, glycerin, stearic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, tocopheryl linoleate, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, sodium hyaluronate, meadowfoam estolide, echinacea purpurea extract, avena sativa (oat) kernel extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, calendula officinalis flower extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, camellia oleifera (green tea) leaf extract, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root extract, panax ginseng root extract, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil,vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, potassium sorbate, cetearyl glucoside, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, fragrance (parfum).

PROS: Creamy texture, gives a cooling sensation to the hands, absorbs quickly, doesn't leave the hands greasy/oily, no obnoxious scent, paraben-free, no animal testing, pH balanced.

CONS: It's pretty rare not to find any cons, but I haven't found any in using this product.

PACKAGING: The packaging is very standard. It's available in 3 sizes: 2 and 4 oz squeeze tubes (convenient for travel) and a 16 oz pump dispenser bottle.

OVERALL: I would definitely recommend this hand cream and I could see it being beneficial for every skin type. Because it doesn't feel heavy, it will work well on those with mild to moderate dryness, yet just as well for those with severe dryness. It's slightly expensive - around $10 for a 4 oz tube (price varies) but it works very well for me, and I think it's worth every penny!

Do you suffer from dry hands? What are some of your favorite products? I know L'Occitane Hand Cream is very popular, but I haven't tried it!

Disclaimer: This post contains a product sample provided by the manufacturer for consideration. All opinions expressed in this post are my own, and reflect my honest opinion based on my personal experience with using this product. 

Jewelmint Persephone Pendant Review with Lots of Photos!

Jewelmint Persephone Pendant

Alright, Jewelmint time of the month y'all!

I wasn't too crazy about the February selection of Jewelmint jewelry. I was hoping for cuter items in spirit of Valentine's Day (even though I'm 23, I still love anything heart shaped). None of the items were really of my taste. I suppose that's better for my wallet, though!

There was one item that struck my interest, and that is the Persephone Pendant. I'm kind of a sucker for little trinkets, mini bottles - anything miniature, really, so this perfume bottle pendant was totally my taste. Although the shape of the bottle kind of resembles a flask, and I'm hoping I won't be mistaken for an alcoholic.

Wrapped around the pendant is an adorable flower design (daisies?) which is perfectly suited for Spring. The cap of the bottle has a little white stone (plastic), which is a nice little touch of detail. The silver coloring is oxidized like many of Jewelmint's pieces to give off an aged/vintage appearance. The chain is 30" in length, and lays right below my chest.

Jewelmint Persephone Pendant

I apologize in advance for the overflow of photos, but I took so many! I think it's a nice to see the fine details of an item before purchasing it, especially if you're limited to purchasing the item online.

 

The piece is dainty, but it does have a little bit of weight to it (which I like in any piece of jewelry). It definitely feels like a quality piece.

Left: Me wearing the Persephone Pendant, Right: Photo from the Jewelmint website

I think it's a really fun necklace, and doesn't require much thought when it comes to pairing it with the right outfit. It's one of those items you can just toss on and be out the door.

This piece, and every other piece of jewelry retails for $29.99 (with free shipping) at Jewelmint.com.

EXISTING CUSTOMERS: 
25% OFF YOUR PURCHASE ($7.50 off)
CODE: JMLIKE25

NEW CUSTOMERS:
60% OFF YOUR FIRST ITEM ($17.99 off)
CODE: JMLIKE60

Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday! Is it seriously one day away from being Friday? I swear, I felt like it was just Friday and everyone was posting their #FF's on Twitter. 

MAC Optimistic Orange Cremeblend Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Optimistic Orange Cremeblend Blush

MAC Optimistic Orange Cremeblend Blush ($20) is a re-promote in MAC's newest Cook M.A.C Collection (online now, and hits stores on the 9th in North America) from their previous Lillyland 2010 Collection. 

Optimistic Orange is a vibrant tangerine orange. It's actually a fairly cool toned orange, that lacks a strong yellow tone. On the cheeks it has a reddish-pink tint to it, so it looks more like a coral-orange, rather than just plain orange. When worn in a sheer layer, it's a lovely peach shade. 

A little goes a very long way with this blush, as it's very pigmented. My favorite way of applying this blush is with a duo-fiber brush, such as the MAC #131. I lightly dip the tips of the bristles in the product, then lightly dab the brush on a piece of paper (or the back of my hand) and then lightly dab it on my cheeks, and blend in  small circular motions. The reason I dab it off before applying it directly to my cheeks is to prevent applying too much color at once. If I've applied too much, I'll go back over the area with a kabuki brush and a little finishing powder to lighten it up.

If you aren't familiar with MAC Cremeblend blushes, they are very different than their older formula Blushcremes. They aren't sticky or oily and they have a rather matte finish opposed to a dewy finish. They don't leave your skin feeling tacky or heavy. They're light on the skin, comfortable, and easy to work with. I definitely recommend using a brush for application though, rather than your fingers. In my experience, it works so much better.

The lasting power is also very good. I still have color on my cheeks after 8 hours (I have very normal skin - this can differ for those with a different skin type).

Optimistic Orange is lovely when worn solo, but I also like layering a golden-yellow highlight over top to give the illusion of a warmer yellow-orange. To do this, I usually use a couple of my old favorites - Chanel Gold Fever Highlighter (very similar to Chanel Or Joues Contraste from their recent Byzance Collection), MAC New Vegas Mineralize Skinfinish or even Nars Albatross. To give it a more coral-pink appearance, a pink highlight or a light layer of a pink blush looks beautiful layered over top. This helps prolong the wear of the blush as well.

Swatches:

Here is what it looks like on my cheeks. Right now I don't have any self tanner on, so I'm very fair (around MAC NC15-20) and I'm not wearing any other cheek products. On my current skintone, it's a soft, pinked peach. When I'm tan (around MAC NC30-40) it's a more vibrant coral.

(Eek! You can see all of my sunspots through my foundation.. haha)

**All I have on my eyes is Maybelline Bold Gold Color Tattoo Eyeshadow, and I lined my eyes with Physician's Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner in Deep Brown.

I have seen this blush on a variety of skintones, and it looks flattering on every skin color! I had to include this photo I came across. I love the pink tones that come out when worn on deeper skintones.

If you already own a few peach colored blushes (MAC Peaches, Illamasqua Lover, Nars Gina, etc), this probably isn't a must-have for you. But if you're in the market for a peach blush and you're a fan of cream formulas, this may be a good one to look into!

Christian Dior Rosy Tan 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos and Swatches!

Christian Dior Rosy Tan 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette

I've quickly turned into a Dior junkie ever after trying my first quint (Crush Glow). Thankfully, Dior doesn't have a huge selection of colors in their permanent line that are tempting enough for me to go nuts over. I find warm toned palettes with shades of golds and browns to be hard to resist, which are more common in their seasonal palettes.

Some of the palettes are a hit or a miss pigmentation-wise, but I've had very positive experiences with Dior so far. I love their buttery soft texture, blendability and luminous finish.

Believe it or not, I've had my Urban Decay Naked Palette for quite some time now, and I barely ever reach for it. And honestly, I'm not even sure why. There is a decent selection of colors and all, but it's definitely a highly raved product that doesn't get much love from me on a weekly basis.

I'm very "pro" convenience/low-maintenance products, and I find the convenience of the Dior 5-color palettes very appealing. They are housed in a very sturdy mirrored compact and contain 5 shades of shadow that compliment each other for a variety of looks. They also contain two double-sided applicators, which believe it or not - I actually use each time I use my Dior palettes. One side of the sponge is large for applying color all over the lid, and the other side is smaller for lining the eyes and/or applying color through the crease. It's everything you need, in a small compact.

With a couple Sephora gift cards I had left over from Christmas, I treated myself to the Rosy Tan 5-Colour Eyeshadow palette.

Rosy Tan contains a warm brown with fine gold shimmer, a light pink pearl, a velvety taupe-brown, a silvered metallic brown and an icy champagne-pink pearl. All of the shades work very well together for a soft, neutral look. I'm especially loving the middle shade - it's probably the prettiest color I own for an inner-corner and brow bone highlight. My second favorite shade from the palette is probably the silvery brown on the bottom left. 

Christian Dior Rosy Tan 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette

I really do like this palette, but the only thing I'd probably change is to make the darkest brown a little deeper so I can create a more intense eye. I still feel the need to add an additional deep brown (such as Nars Mekong) or a black shadow to darken my crease. I doubt I'll get too much use out of the pink, but I'm sure I'll be using all of the other shades pretty often. I still have yet to play around with this palette though, as I've only worn it twice so far. I can definitely see this being one of my "go-to" palettes to create a quick look on the go.

Both times wearing this palette I didn't use a base, and the colors seemed to last well throughout the day with minimal fading after 6 hours.

Swatches:

Check out this gorgeous look Christine of Temptalia created using Rosy Tan!

(Image Credit: Temptalia)

What do you think about Dior shadows? Any likes or dislikes? Recommendations? Let me know in the comments!

On a side not, I'm currently crushed because Starbucks recently discontinued my favorite coffee blend - The breakfast blend. It's the perfect mild-medium that I've been drinking for the past year or so every morning and evening. They've replaced it with "Blonde", which is pretty good, but I still like my breakfast blend better. So, I'll be on the hunt for an alternative. For the coffee drinkers out there... let me know your favorite blend!

Hope you all have an amazing Tuesday!