Haul: Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate + Deluxe Samples + Swatches

A couple of weeks ago, I took advantage of the great Lancome sample deal up on the Lancome-USA site. I bought one thing, the Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate 0.67oz and ended up with 10 hot samples!
1. Teint Miracle (foundation) sample card
2. Creme Radiance clarifying cream-to-foam cleanser
3. Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate 0.25oz
4. Absolue Premium replenishing cream with SPF 15
5. Renergie volumetric lifting and reshaping cream with SPF 15
6. High Resolution Eye anti-wrinkle eye cream
7. Le Crayon Kohl in Raisin Noir
8. Color Design Sensational Effects Quad
9. Juicy Tubes Moulin Rose
10. Juicy Tubes Rose Quartz

Here is a size comparison between the 0.25oz, 0.67oz and 1oz bottles. There is also a 1.7oz size not shown here. I absolutely love this serum and am already onto my fourth bottle. I used other serums in between as I like to change up my skin care routine, but I find myself recommending this first to anyone who asks me about a good serum. It's light yet very effective and I can actually feel my skin "drinking up" the hydration. (One should note, however, that all skin types are different and what works for me may not work for everyone :)

Also, be sure to register with Lancome-usa.com if you plan to order from them since you can choose a deluxe sample with your purchase if you do. That's how I received Rose Quartz :)  

Voila, swatches. Rose Quartz is a sheer and shimmery terra cotta type shade (but it looks berry-ish in some lights) and smells like candy- although I can't really pinpoint what candy... Moulin Rose is a non-shimmery barbie pink, also sheer but still very pretty. This one smells like roses. Coral Rush is one I got with a previous purchase but I included it for comparison purposes: this one is a golden coral (golden because it has dense gold micro-shimmer in it) and smells like watermelons! yum....

Hope everyone is holding up in the intense summer heat we've been getting this week (or is it just the DC heat that's gone crazy?)! Also, is everyone excited about Nordstrom's 15 Year Anniversary Sale as I am? There's only a couple of things I have my heart set on (the Clarins Feed 15 Pouch- such a great cause- and the Jo Malone trio) so I don't know why I'm so excited but... I am... haha

Haul: Bed, Bath & Beyond and Bath & Body Works

Hey guys! So this is going to be a quick little drugstore haul-- from Bed, Bath & Beyond!! Am I late on this or did everyone know that some Bed, Bath & Beyonds actually have a drugstore section?! And not like those pseudo-beauty corners in grocery stores but an actual very much legit drugstore- the kind that derails you from your original purpose of bringing home a sturdy cutting board (preferably made of bamboo) and has you wandering through aisles of beauty gadgets and goodies with crazy lady eyes, unaware that the husband has left the store in search of some stronger coffee. Ahem...

... onto the haul.

Here's the shortlist of what I got:
Physicians Formula Eye Boosting Eyeliner + Serum
Maybelline Eyeshadow in Apricot Aura
Maybelline Volum' Express On by One Mascara in Blackest Black Waterproof
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

Here are the initial impressions of each:
1. Physician's Formula Eye Boosting Eyeliner & Serum- I use the Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For at night but this new item is an eyeliner and eyelash serum in one, so you can use it during the daytime too! Nifty.
2. Maybelline Eyeshadow in Apricot Aura (Limited Edition) - I swatched this already and found the pigmentation to be quite poor. All three shades are frosty and although the frost is not overpowering (you could even call it a sheen) it still manages to overshadow the actual colors. That being said I think it still has the potential of creating a pretty look- just don't expect that coral to show up on your eyelids.
3. Maybelline Volum' Express One by One Mascara in Blackest Black Waterproof - I almost bought the non-waterproof kind because I liked the green lettering of that one better (with the coral tube) than the blue letters on this one. Then I reminded myself that taking chances with undereye smudges was unwise especially when the reward at stake is simply cuter color-coordination.
4. Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black- I'm on my third Urban Decay Liquid Eyeliner but I think it's time to go back to gel eyeliner. My first instinct (and most obvious choice) is to go back to Bobbi Brown but I'm really interested in all the new alternatives that have surfaced recently, so I picked this one out on a whim :)

Next, I headed over to Bath & Body Works to pick up some three-wick candles and check out the Carried Away release (I've been hearing good things!) I picked out two candles: Pineapple Mango, and Pink Sangria. I also picked up the baby versions of the Carried Away shower gel, body lotion and fragrance mist. Argh the packaging is absolutely the cutest! The collection smells like plums- and I love plums.

I've already started burning Pineapple Mango and although it doesn't fill the room with an authentic pineapple (or mango) scent it's still a very agreeable fragrance. Fruity and slightly sweet- it's a great candle for spring. Pink Sangria I haven't burned yet but it smells so tangy and delightful I would stick a paper parasol in it and drink it if I could. Don't worry, I won't.
(*Update: I burned Pink Sangria yesterday and I seriously love it!)

On another note, I ordered some Hello Kitty items from Sephora weeks ago but I'm having trouble photographing them properly... if anyone's wondering and I never get the pictures up, I got the shower cap and the rollerball perfume and I'm pretty happy with both of them. Also, my Dermstore.com order should be arriving soon so I'll share that once it gets here.

So that's that! I hoped you're enjoying your week as I am mine :)

Review & Swatch: Sephora Color Diary

Normally, I'm a minimal-eyeshadow type of gal. But the Sephora Color Diary, a practical little sampler of thirty eyeshadows, five blushes and corresponding liglosses inspired me to try something new!

The palette comes divided into five sub-palettes; each can be popped out using the hole in the back and snapped into the to-go compact. The process is very simple, it really isn't a big deal. The mother palette can get a bit clunky even when it's just used on your vanity so this compact is super-nifty/ necessary.

It also comes with a plastic cover to prevent powder migration.

Now, what the name lacks in its entirety ("Color Diary" lacks luster, no?) it makes up for with the cute themes of its sub-parts- each an event that the eyeshadows are allegedly supposed to accompany, like...

"Hot Date at Eight"

"Relax and Unplug"

(This neutral palette is a little sheer.)

"Must Get New Shoes"

"Meditation Retreat"

(The combination of orange & green! Genius)

"Day at the Museum" 

(I love that bold red and sparkly yellow.)

Here's a swatch of Must Get New Shoes. I wouldn't say the pigmentation is the best ever (and there's a little fallout) but for its affordability ($25) I think the palette is beyond awesome. The shadows are pigmented enough, the fallout is minimal and I love the combinations and the colors. I've been complimented twice already for these shadows :) And I love all the blushes; they're packed with color. As for the lipgloss I've only tried the pink one in Must Get New Shoes and it was very sheer- which is fine as I like sheer lipgloss but if you don't, you may find the gloss lacking.

I guess the question boils down to this: Would I purchase again if I went back in time? To which I would answer, a resounding Yes!

New: Chantecaille Les Macarons Face Palette

From left to right: Cassis (e/s), Caramel (e/s), Raspberry (blush), Rose (highlight), Strawberry (l/g)

This isn't really new new as I have seen it being sold on the Chantecaille website at least a week before this post but I know it's a limited edition palette for the 2010 holidays so let's just call it new so I can post this picture of it and look longingly at the beautiful colors :)

photo from chantecaille.com

Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer in Riviera, Eye Gloss in Murmur

This one should be called: The Beauty Look Book made me do it. Not that I'm complaining! Her praise of Paul & Joe got me thinking why I hadn't attempted to get a hold of the products in this line sooner when I had always wanted to try them out. I assume its because I have to order Paul & Joe online and I wasn't sure where exactly.

I finally decided to take the plunge and ordered a Lip Lacquer in 05 Riviera and the Eye Gloss in 05 Murmur. If any of you are interested I purchased these @ Dermstore.com. It was my first time ordering from them but their free shipping policy rocks.

                       

And while it's premature for a review- I'm just gonna go ahead and say it- I love these already!

The Eye Gloss in particular reminds me of a beloved discontinued product from Fresh. See, once upon a time Fresh had something called the Eye Lusters. They were basically liquid-type eyeshadows that smoothed out and dried on your lids. They lasted all day and they did not smudge. In fact, the Eye Lusters were some of my very first eyeshadows and so I never understood the concept of 'creasing' or 'smudging' at all until I started trying powder eyeshadows. Much to my dismay (and horror!), the Eye Lusters were discontinued. Thereafter I tried to find something comparable to replace them but nothing was to compare to the smooth light yet lasting-all-day glory that were those Eye Lusters.

Hence, I was super-excited to find the Eye Gloss. 05 Murmur is basically a brown with a frosty sheen to it plus a tiny bit of purple (when seen in light). The frosty sheen is not obnoxious, in fact the frost becomes more of a shimmer on the lids. It just looks smooth and nice, but adds a bit of natural depth to your eyes. 

On the eyes- subtle but noticeable still

I am liking the Lip Lacquer too. It has a pleasant subtle fruity scent. The formula is on the sticky side but because it is so, it lasts a long time on the lips. I looked at THIS photo array before choosing which one to get. Riviera has sparse bits of glitter in it but for the most part is a creamy coral pink. I absolutely love this type of pink (like Stila Lip Glaze in Gumdrop, Candy, MAC Cremesheen Melt in Your Mouth, Benefit's PosieTint etc.) It's a bit more sheer than the swatch makes it look but that's the way I like it :)

I'm definitely glad I gave these a go- I see more Paul & Joe in my future!

Le swatches: The gloss has a bit more coral in real life. The eyeshadow looks less frosty in real life.

Pretty and detailed .. chrysanthemums- I think.