Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara (Blackout) - Review

Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara - Blackout - (available here) - $22

An all-in-one mascara to lift, lengthen, volumize, and define!  Rev up your lashes with this high-intensity all-in-one mascara that lifts, lengthens, volumizes, and defines! Create full, lifted, clump-free lashes with the unique flexible dual brush and comb applicator. Use the brush side to build and thicken, then follow with the comb side to define and lengthen. Naturally derived peptides and antioxidants help to protect and repair lashes, while rich pigments create the deepest black shade for an ultra-dramatic look.  Formulated without parabens.

The Smashbox Hyperlash mascara in Blackout is definitely one of my favorite mascaras.  I love the formula - not too thick, yet richly pigmented to provide an appearance of thick, voluminous lashes without needing to goop on a ton of the mascara.  The wand with it's neatly arranged rows of bristles does a fabulous job at clump-free application and lash separation.  I didn't notice that bit about a comb side and a brush side until I started typing out write this review, though, so unsure how that works into making this wand any different, but yes, I do get a neat application with it.  I never apply more than one coat, and even with just that much Smashbox's Hyperlash gives pretty good results.  The version I have washes off easily with water, yet stays on without flaking all through the day.  Here's a peek at how it looks on my lashes:

While I quite like the "Oh I just have great lashes" look that I get with this, I think someone who likes to go a lot more dramatic with the lashes (or is a habitual 2-3 coats person) might find the thicker formula of this one a little difficult to work with.

Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara - Ingredients

Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara - Blackout - Ingredients List
Please cross-check on actual product for accuracy.

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser - Review

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser (available here) - $35

A cleanser that polishes away makeup, embedded impurities, and dead surface cells.  This gentle daily detox gets your skin spa-fresh in one timesaving step. Now that's refreshing! It sloughs-off the dead stuff to reveal fresh, radiant skin beneath—without disturbing your skin's natural moisture balance.  Orange extract softens, refreshes, and revives while providing a pleasant scent. This product's gentle silica microbeads give clogged pores a breather. The extract of moringa seed purifies and refines the skin. This product is ideal for all skin types.

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser
To use:  Apply on to damp face, massage gently with circular movements so the exfoliating beads do their job,
and wash off with warm water.  Avoid the eye area (might want to take off that eye makeup before you use this!).

I have a lot of products piled up in the to-be-reviewed section, and the Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser gets an express pass to the front of the line because having used up most of it by now, I want to finish up the review before tossing the tube.  The fabulous photo quality plus the fact that this is "just another face wash" means this is going to be a very short, snappy review :D

So, here's the good and the bad about the Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser:

• Pricey at $35, but a tube will last a long while.
• Has a pleasant citrusy smell to it that is fresh yet not overwhelming - perfect to use when I wake up all grumpy in the morning.
• Lathers well and rinses off just as easily.
• The tiny beads are quite gentle yet do an effective job in terms of mild, daily exfoliation.  I have read reviews, though, where people use this only about once or twice a week, probably skin more sensitive than mine.
• Leaves my oily-combination skin absolutely clean without any dry bits/flakiness/tightness.
• As for the bad - hmm...nothing really.  I got this as part of a kit, and I still haven't made up my mind if I would want to spend the money on repurchasing this or try something new.  Not really a fault, especially since the reason I started blogging is because I love trying out new things :D

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser - Ingredients

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser - Ingredients
List taken from the Sephora website.  Please check on actual product/box to
be sure since I cannot guarantee there aren't any typos or other errors in what I have typed.

MORE FROM CLARINS SKINCARE:
Clarins Alohol-Free Toning Lotion

Clinique Chubby Stick - Super Strawberry (07) - Swatches, FOTD, Review

Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry (available here): $16

A super-nourishing tinted lip balm and gorgeous lip color that treats lips to mouthwatering moisture and a hint of soft shine. It never needs sharpening — simply swivel up to reveal more of the balm.  Allergy Tested. 100% Fragrance free.  Apply directly to lips or for subtle definition, outline lips first and then fill in with natural-looking color.

Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry is the second one I am trying out from this line.  I got this as part of the Clinique Whole Lotta Love set, so it's almost the same as a regular size Chubby.  The color looks a darker berry pink in the tube/pencil but sheers to a beautiful berry pink tint on lips.  This is a twist-up pencil and because it is so sheer, it works even if it's a dull, rounded tip.

Clinique Chubby Sticks won't really be anyone's first pick for the dark, vampy look.  They promise sheer washes of color in a very lip friendly formula, and that is just what Super Strawberry does.  On swatches and on my lips, the color is a beautiful, sheer pink with a hint of berry.  The color would look lovely on clearer/less pigmented lips, and on my darker lips, the already sheer color does get a bit lost, but here's a look at the color - swatch and on me.

Clinique Chubby Stick - Super Strawberry (07) - Swatch

Clinique Chubby Stick Super Strawberry (07)
Also used:  Urban Decay Rockstar smudged along the upper lashline
Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara
NARS Seduction Blush

Clinique Chubby Stick Super Strawberry would be a perfect pick for anyone who likes subtle washes of colors and tints.  It's easy to wear and does provide a decent bit of moisture, though it won't be replacing my regular lip balms any time soon.  The downside - it doesn't last very long on my lips, but that teeny issue aside, I love having these around.

Clinique Chubby Stick - Ingredients

SIMILAR POST:
Clinique Chubby Stick in Richer Raisin

Sneak Peek Vol. 5: Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows

Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows (available here) - A flawless wash of color in sensual matte or iridescent shades.  New Diorshow Mono eyeshadows boast a unique wet/dry formula for a custom and professional finish.  Sweep shadow across the eyelid with a dry brush for a subtle, sophisticated look. For a bolder statement, wet your brush before application.

There are some much talked about Spring collections releasing (and already released) this time of the year, but there are also some quiet launches that don't really get as much attention, and one of them is the Dior Diorshow Collection.  As part of the collection, Dior has launched a whole range of single eyeshadows - the Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows.  I love collecting single eyeshadows since they give me the freedom to mix and match colors and pick only what I like rather than being stuck with what comes in a palette (even the best ones seem to have at least one useless shade in there).  I also find that with most brands, single eyeshadows, while expensive, do pack in much better quality.  The Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows are/will be available in 18 shades, and I bought 4 of the colors that I thought would work for me.  Here's a sneak peek.

Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows - Spring 2013

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows
Left:  Camouflage (top) and Velvet (bottom)
Right:  Choc Clair (top) and Panama (bottom)

The Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows come packaged in the typical, classy Dior packaging, a deep blue compact that holds the eyeshadow and a generously-sized mirror on one side.  I don't have any Dior quints to compare this to, in terms of size, but these don't seem too small for eyehsadow singles.  Included with each shadow are 2 sponge applicators, and they do look luxe - for sponges.

In the pic:  Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow Panama 566
I took the photos in natural lighting, and this was what what the color looked like.
A while later, though, with the lights turned on, the color looks a darker brown.
Love the pattern on the eyeshadows - too bad they go away with use :(

The Diorshow Mono eyeshadows can be used both wet and dry - similar to the YSL Pure Chromatics eye shadows - but personally, I prefer the texture on the Dior ones.  While the Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows cover a range of textures, the 4 that I picked out all have a satin texture (I bought online, going by the Nordstrom online photos which seemed more matte).  It's a very small sample size and too short a time - I just got them today - to pass judgment on the entire collection, but the Dior eyeshadows do seem beautiful and quite subtle on the shimmer/sheen department.  Here are the 4 shades I picked - Choc Clair, Panama, Velvet, and Camouflage.

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow Choc Clair 564 (beige with a hint of cocoa :P)

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow Camouflage 477 (greyish khaki)

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow - Panama 566 (golden deep warm brown)The color looks lighter because of the lighting - it's actually a deeper brown.

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow - Velvet 783 (cool dark taupe brown - leans a bit purplish in swatches)

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows - Panama, Camouflage, Velvet, Choc Clair - Swatches (Wet/Dry)

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows - Swatches (Dry)L to R:  Velvet, Choc Clair, Camouflage, Panama

Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows - Swatches (Dampened)
L to R:  Panama, Choc Clair, Velvet, Camouflage

The four shades that I picked all have a satin texture (Velvet looked shimmery in the pan but seems satin on swatching) and are quite pigmented and smooth even when swatched dry.  I did not really wet the shadows for the swatches in the second photo, rather just heavily moisturized my hand and swatched for a slightly dampened effect.  As of now, I do think these shadows can be used both wet and dry, but definitely go on smoother when a little wet.  I love that the colors (at least the ones I got) are all lovely neutrals, pigmented enough to show up on my darker skin, and I love the satin finish on them.  I do hope they stay equally amazing when I actually use them!  Reviews/better photos once I get to use them a bit.  I bought the Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows from Nordstrom online (only 8 shades available).

I found a couple of other blogs with reviews/swatches/photos on the Diorshow Mono Eye Shadows:
The Non-Blonde:  Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows Nude, Grege, Kohl (swatches/photos)
The Non-Blonde:  Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows (Overview/Photos)
Beautezine:  Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows Velvet and Nude (Swatches/Photos)
Fruity Lashes:  Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows Panama, Velvet, Nude, Ribbon, Camouflage (Swatches/Photos)

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment (available here) - $36

A self-heating oil for hair that delivers intense moisture and shine in 60 seconds.  This expert treatment repairs and restores hair in just one minute. Its gentle formula is infused with Argan Oil which contains a large amount of vitamin E to reverse damage caused by heat and over-styling, leaving hair smoother, shinier, and healthier. In the shower, the oil warms itself up to the ideal temperature for penetrating strands to effectively seal in moisture.  suitable for all hair types and for color treated hair.

A while back, the only thing I knew about Josie Maran was "Argan Oil" - the much raved about miracle cure for all things that plague your skin and hair, okay well almost all.  While I haven't gotten around to reviewing the original oil itself, I have gone on to try a couple of other Josie Maran argan oil based products.  The one I am reviewing today is the Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment.  For someone with crazy, frizz-prone hair like mine, anything that promises softer, smoother hair is a boon - well, so long as it delivers on those claims!

The Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment comes packaged in tubes, a pack of 5 interlinked tubes in each box.  Detach a tube for use and store the rest somewhere away from light so the oils don't get ruined.

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment

The quantity in each tube/ampule is sufficient for a very generous single use, though people with finer/shorter hair could get away with half an ampule or less.  The tubes come sealed with a twist-off cap.  The tubes are sort of nonspill - if you leave one lying flat after opening, like I have done in the photos, the oil is not going to leak out - but you can also flip the cap over and use it to keep the tube and any leftover oil sealed and safe.

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment - How to Use

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment - How to Use

I use the oil exactly as described, apply on to shampoo-conditioner'd hair and leave on for about 1 to 2 minutes.  I have used a full ampule/tube on my hair, just piled on the stuff until the tube was completely empty, as well as tried using only about half of the tube for a single use.  The oil itself is colorless and has a slight pleasant smell to it  The self-heating part of it - now I don't know enough chemistry to know which of the ingredients causes it, but what I do know is it reacts with water to cause that heat.  So, if your hands are wet - which they would be if you just washed and conditioned your hair - the warmth is felt in your hands and over by the time the oil reaches the hair.  Pretty pointless and gimmicky is what I felt, but of course I could be wrong.  I am a bit obsessed with getting it to work just right, so I have taken to wiping my hands dry and then getting the oil on to my hair - yes, I actually do that - and the heating effect on my hair lasts an equally short time.

Anyway, enough about the heating/nonheating - does the oil work?  Hmmm...it does sort of soften my hair and make it look a bit healthier, but I get better effects with a nice warm oil treatment before washing my hair.  What this does deliver is the convenience - I need to apply the oil and wait only about a minute or two to get softer hair.  It washes off really easily, and I don't feel any residue left behind on my hair.  That said, I am still unsure about whether or not the effects justify the cost, especially since for my very frizzy hair I find a full ampule works best.  If I had enough time to indulge in pre-wash oil treatments, I would probably skip this all together, but the fact is I don't and at least for now I will continue using the Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment.  If you are like me and are looking for quick fixes for your stressed locks, you might want to give this a try :)

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment - Ingredients

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment - Ingredients
I can't help but notice that the oils that the products claims to deliver are listed after
all the other emollients, conditioners, and delivery agents in the product.

Have you tried any hot-oil therapy for your hair? What's your secret haircare indulgence - or a not-so-secret one that does work wonders?  Do share!

Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum - Review

Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum (available here)

Balenciaga Paris is a lovely paradox, a fragrance full of light and balanced with dark apertures.  As the scent opens, an airy bouquet of violets is set against the antique charm of dried petals found between the pages of a book. Traces of past memories turn to the present as a peppery note swells over a calm trace of mossy wood. A scent that breathes in the secret hours of night, it is mysterious and fragile—yet leaves a lasting trail.  Its unique bottle references Balenciaga style with a dash of humor. Fashioned of blown glass and left without engraving or adornments, its angles and curves culminate with an ivory cap that appears like a surprise rising from a velvet cape. 

Balenciaga Eau de Parfum

Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum - Fragrance Notes

Notes:  Violet Leaf, Pepper, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vetiver.
Style:  Light.  Mysterious.  Antique.

My bottle of the Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum is one of the many Sephora GWPs I have managed to collect in the past year.  I remember smelling this soon as I got it out of my order package - and instant dislike.  It was just the sort of heady floral that I hate, and I promptly shoved into a dark corner somewhere, all the while grumbling about the mascara sample that I should have picked up instead.  A while into winter, though, I started noticing my new-found love for the stronger smelling perfumes, and I decided to give this one another try - needless to say, I am quite liking this now!  When I don't make the mistake of taking a whiff at this straight out of the bottle and apply it sparingly on my skin instead, I find Balenciaga Paris a charming floral.  It still stays on the stronger side, but the initial sweetness mixes in pretty soon with a powdery note and stops the perfume from being too cloying.  As the perfume settles down, the dry down brings out the woody notes, and just like that the Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum takes on a more rounded note with a warm, light sweetness to it.  I would categorize this as a definite winter/evening wear perfume - better suited perhaps for those who are looking for a more grownup alternative to their favorite celebrity perfume.

Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum - Ingredients Listing

Balenciaga Eau de Parfum - Ingredients

Beauty on A Budget: Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel-Off Mask

Gently peel away dead skin with our amazing Passion Peel Off deep cleansing masque. Our Pomegranate and Passion Flower formula cleans, purifies and protects leaving your skin feeling fresh and radiant.  Gluten Free.  Nut Derivative Free.  No Added Parabens.  Contains passion flower extracts rich in Vitamins C and A and potassium and pomegranate extracts, both of which have antibacterial and healing properties that leave skin clean, purified, and protected.

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel-Off Mask

Peel-off masks are a big weakness of mine - I haven't yet found one I don't like (okay, I did - an old orange peel off mask that left me looking like a wannabe Oompa Loompa) - and most of them do a pretty reasonable job at leaving skin looking fresh, probably because, sort of like scotch tape, they take off any loose dull skin from the surface.  So anyway on one of my rare trips to Walmart, I found a bunch of masks by Montagne Jeunesse, and since most of them were the peel-off variety and quite inexpensively priced at a little over $1 each, I came home with a few a lot of these to try out.  The one I have used so far - the Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel-Off Mask.

Montagne Jeunesse Passin Peel-Off Mask - How to Use

The Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel-Off Mask looks and smells like some sort of fruit jelly/jam.  Each packet contains a generous 1-time use sample.  The mask is easy to spread, doesn't irritate my skin, and dries off in about 10 to 15 minutes.  And yes, it does make my skin look at least a tiny bit fresher than what I started with.  It does dry my oily-combination skin a bit - nothing a moisturizer cannot sort out - but my skin is a bit drier with the winter, and things might be different once summer comes around.

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel-Off Mask - Ingredients

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel-Off Mask - Ingredients

 Overall, a fun mask to try out without hurting my wallet, and yes you are going to see these here quite regularly - I still have a whole stack of these to use up :D

NARS Matte Eye Shadow: Persia (Spring 2013 Makeup Collection) - Review, Swatches, FOTD

NARS Eyeshadow Persia (available here) - $24

"Persia eyeshadow looks amazing on the lid with warm brown shadow in the bridge of the eye. For an ultra soft look blend a small amount over Orgasm Multiple Stick focusing on the lid of the eye."
--Jake Broullard, National Makeup Stylist

NARS eyeshadows feature luminous, light-reflecting shades for shading, highlighting, and lining eyes.  Highly pigmented, longwearing, crease-resistant colors that can be applied sheer or layered for more dramatic effects.  Color glides on smoothly, evenly, and blends effortlessly.  True color application.  Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.  Multi-function use for shading, lining, and highlighting the eyes.  Available in sophisticated, luminous shades.

NARS Persia - Matte Eyeshadow - Spring 2013 Makeup Collection

Persia is the new matte paprika shade of eyeshadow from the NARS Spring 2013 Makeup Collection.  The packaging is the typical NARS matte black compact with an equally compact mirror on one side.

While it's described as paprika, Persia isn't a reddish orange (or orangish red) like the spice. This is more of a muted rust-orange.  NARS Persia is a very pigmented matte eyeshadow, and the color is true to what you see in the pan with no powdery chalkiness/ashiness to it.  I also find it quite easy to blend.  Because it has a bit of brown in it, I find Persia much more wearable than other orange/copper eye shadows I have tried.  Here's a look at the swatch:

NARS Persia - Matte Eyeshadow - Spring 2013 Makeup Collection - Swatches

Wearing Persia as an all-over-lid color doesn't work for me - it's just too bright/stark and not what I am comfortable with.  I love darker colors for my eye shadows, and the way I use Persia is along the crease, paired with a darker color on the lid.  I tried with another NARS matte eyeshadow - Thunderball - a blackish teal.  Here's a look at the colors and how it looks on me.

NARS Matte Eyeshadows - Persia (Spring 2013 Makeup Collection) and Thunderball

Wearing NARS eye shadow in Persia along the crease and inner corner of the eye,
Thunderball over the lid and lower lashline.  Also used Smashbox Onyx along waterline.
I have also used Persia lightly as a blush - I just had to try it!
Additional products used:  Poudre Signee de Chanel Highlighting Powder
L'Oreal Nature's Blush lipstick topped with Chanel Glossimer in Sweet Beige

I liked Persia from the moment I saw it in the NARS promo images, and I was just as happy when I opened the box and laid my eyes on the actual color.  I love the subtle effect that matte eye shadows give, and despite being a brighter (relatively) color, Persia is very, very wearable, at least for me.  Like all the NARS matte eye shadows I have tried so far, this too is pigmented, easy to blend, and pretty long lasting (never tried this without a primer, though).  This would be my pick for when I want a livelier but not too loud alternative to a brown, plus it also makes for a very nice blush!

NARS Matte Eyeshadow - Persia - Ingredients

NARS Persia - Matte Eyeshadow - Spring 2013 Makeup Collection - Ingredients

ALSO FROM NARS SPRING 2013 MAKEUP COLLECTION
NARS Blush: Seduction
NARS Lipstick: Dressed to Kill