Haul: Sephora F&F/ VIB Sale

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend! We were excited to host our very first Thanksgiving this year and am happy to report that it ended up being a delightful night with some close friends and one very delicious turkey.

As pertaining to the haul, let me just say, the initial Sephora F&F sale didn't go so smoothly for me. Apparently, my order included an out of stock item and the entire order was cancelled. I was not a happy camper. Luckily, the VIB sale was around the corner and I could take advantage of it to pick up these beauties.

Click for a larger image

1. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Blissful: The photo makes it look a bit more intense than it actually is- it's supposed to be more of a peachy coral. A little goes a long way with this blush so a light hand is recommended. It turns red on my cheeks (more than I would like) so I may actually opt to return this or exchange it for a more flattering shade.

2. Dior Hydra Life Skin Energizer Pro-Youth Hydrating Serum: something to get me through the dry winter months. It's a light, watery (as opposed to some more creamy-type serums) formula that the skin seems to drink up. Friends have been recommending the Dior Capture Totale One Essential a lot lately so that's on my list to try next.

3. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: my favorite cleanser of all time. It removes my makeup in one step (like Purity Made Simple by Philosophy) but also leaves my skin feeling hydrated after wash. If you buy in store- look for the bundle pack with a deluxe sample of the Soy Face Cream attached, which is what I got.

4. YSL Touche Eclat in #1 Luminous Radiance: I've tried more concealers than I'd like to admit but my search for the perfect concealer/ highlighter ends with the Touche Eclat. It's a potent formula that brightens up my eye area like no one's business yet feels lightweight on my skin. It doesn't crease into fine lines or look caked on. It even looks natural over makeup should you want to touch up throughout the day. I could have gone with #2 Luminous Ivory since that's the one for fair to light complexions with yellow undertones but the pink in the #1 seemed to give my face a more livelier look (I had tried some samples beforehand) so I went with the #1 and am happy with my choice.

The rest are samples I got during the online order. So that was my haul. I hope you enjoyed!

Review: The Body Shop: Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner, Facial Wash

I've never had much luck with skincare products from The Body Shop so I was wary about these but I have been having some skin trouble lately (not acne) and I read that tea tree oil was a good remedy. I took advantage of a recent sale and ordered the Tea Tree Skin Essentials kit (comes with four travel-size tea tree items) online.

I've been using the toner and the facial wash on and off for a a couple of weeks and here are my thoughts on them!

First of all, I liked the toner but not as an everyday all-over-the-face type toner since it wasn't as refreshing as I expected it to be (especially with the minty scent it has!) I should've kept in mind that this is a tea tree "oil" product- meaning that it will leave a (very) slight oiliness to your skin. It didn't break me out or anything- this line is actually meant for blemished skin- but I prefer a more clean-feeling toner. I did, however, find that it was a nice toner to apply around my nose area right after I've used a Biore nose strip and my skin feels a little raw. The Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner soothes my skin without clogging my pores.

Second, I absolutely love the facial wash! I actually think I'm washing my face more often because I love it so much- the best part is the cooling sensation. I use this in the morning when I wake up or in the shower (the steam enhances the cooling sensation), and at the end of the day after I've removed my makeup (note, this is not a makeup remover). For some reason it takes a lot of washes to remove the soapy feeling but for me it's so worth it. I feel my skin has benefited more from the wash than the toner.

So those are my thoughts on The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Skin Clearing Toner and Facial Wash. Hope you enjoyed and/or helped some of you on your shopping decisions ; )

The set that I got: comes with actual tea tree oil and lotion as well.

Nordstrom Anniversary Exclusive: Clarins FEED 15 Pouch

One of the first things that I knew I would get from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale was the Clarins FEED 15 Pouch, purchase of which would provide 15 meals to school children through the United Nations World Food Programme. It was a meaningful collaboration and I was happy to support it!

The pouch contains three Clarins products; a Moisture-Rich Body Lotion (3.5 oz), Hand and Nail Treatment Cream (1.7 oz), and a Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in shade 01 (a light pink) and retails for 30USD. I love Clarins skincare but I haven't had a chance to try these body products yet so this will be my humble intro to the body lotion and hand cream. 

The quality of the canvas pouch itself is rather a nice surprise as it stands its own. Both the stitching and the zipper is sturdy and reliable unlike many run of the mill makeup pouches that accompany beauty purchases. It has the stenciled "FEED" on one side and "15" on the other accented with red. The FEED Projects website has a similar pouch for 25USD- which provides 10 meals. (pouch only no Clarins products)

Right now at Nordstrom, you can also choose a gift with purchase (there are four options) when you purchase two Clarins products. Normally, you have to purchase at least one skincare product to receive the GWP but the sales associate at my Clarins counter was nice enough to include the gift with my purchase of two FEED pouches which are technically, body care products.

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: Benefit: cha cha tint & b.right! skincare

I just got back from my mailbox and discovered my benefit haul had been delivered! It took a while to get here- but I'm just happy that it found me safe and sound, albeit slightly squashed.  

I open up the slightly squashed box and there's fab Gabbi looking back at me (or so I think- I can't tell exactly under her chic vintage sunglasses) and pretty coral on white tissue paper wrapped around my goodies. 

Inside were: A summer 2011 benefit catalog, a sample of Girl meets Pearl, a sample of Pore.fessional and the two things I had purchased:

1. the b.right! radiant skincare 6 piece intro kit

2. cha cha tint (benefit's new mango tinted lip cheek stain)

ah! I'm super excited to try everything!

From what I've seen this particular 6 piece b.right! intro kit is only available @benefitcosmetics.com which is why I ordered directly from them rather than from Sephora which I normally would have done. This kit comes in a convenient travel-size plastic pouch and contains 6 of the total 8 total b.right! skincare products currently available. (It doesn't have the mist and the makeup remover.) They're a little smaller than I anticipated but I appreciate how benefit didn't skimp on the packaging and kept them looking like perfect miniatures of the full-sized products (just minus the cork material). I've always been rather fond of benefit skincare products (eyecon, firmology, dear john etc.) even though they get less attention than their makeup counterparts (coralista, hoola, benetint etc.) so I'm super excited to try these out!

Next up: the much awaited cha-cha tint! Youngest sister to passionate Benetint and sweet PosieTint, cha-cha is sweet and passionate! Here are some swatches of cha-cha with PosieTint. The photo seems to have intensified cha-cha a bit more than the color in actuality- it's a bit softer in real life. I love that it doesn't have any shimmer and that it has the more milky consistency of PosieTint rather than the watery formula of Benetint. I'm confident cha-cha will help me glide through the heat and sweat of summer with perfectly tinted coral lips! 

Sephora Haul: L'Occitane, Clinique, Frederic Fekkai and more.

Is one of your New Year's resolutions to shop less? To practice some long-lost self-restraint when it comes to hoarding all things beauty? Good for you, you are off to a better start than I.

For as you can see, I have made no such resolution.

Say hello to my first (and second, since this is actually two orders) beauty haul of 2011!

Here are the samples, Skincare Challenge rewards, and promotional code offers I received.

- Kate Spade Twirl: Super excited even for this little trial vial since I've been really wanting to try this out. I love it! It's mostly floral which is usually not my cup of tea but there is a girly-ness to it that makes the scent more fun and lighter than regular florals. 

- YSL Parisienne: I like it, but I wish I could love it (as much as the chic design of the full-size bottle.)

- Prada L'eau Ambree: A pass for me. Musk attack.

- Dior J'adore

- Phyto Intense Hydrating Shampoo

- Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream: Smells like medication but it's good for the elbows.

- Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel & Green Apple Antioxident Moisturizer

- Kate Somerville CytoCell Dermal Energizing Treatment

- PeterThomasRoth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion

- Boscia Vital Daily Moisture SPF 15

Here are the things I actually purchased.

- L'Occitane Fabulous Serum

- Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Pressed Powder: I've used the loose powder version before and thought it was pretty effective against the minor redness in my forehead and nose area. So of course, I HAD to get this pressed powder compact version!

- Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo: My favorite shampoo ever! It gives my hair and scalp and clean feeling without stripping it of moisture. I know lots of shampoos that claim to do that but this is the only shampoo that actually delivered just that!

- Clarisonic Sensitive Brush x2: I'm currently using the Delicate brushhead with my Clarisonic but I went back to the Sensitive ones because the bristles feel softer on my face.

So that's that! I hope everyone's having a good start on 2011. Let's hope for an exciting and refreshing year in the beauty market as well. What are some things you're looking forward to this year?

(I, for one, am super-excited about the skin-colored Guerlain Meteorites compact.)

Are You Winter-Ready? You'll be needing: Hand Cream, a Hydrating Creme for the Face, and Tea

Ella, the snow dog was found on Flickr. Photo by jpctalbot.

A number of my posts lately seemed to be about me getting into winter hibernation mode; candles and mittens and other goodies that seem all the more wonderful because it's cold outside- so I thought I might as well make it into a "thing." I love winter immensely- yes it gets unbearably cold sometimes but I love the crisp air, the snow, the family get-togethers, the lights, the trees, the coziness that wraps around you when you cuddle under a wooly blanket, the fireplaces and of course the occasional snow day that lets you take unexpected time off any official obligations you may have.

A friend got me the snowman from Pier 1 Imports

Albeit all these great things about it, winter is not a season to go into unprepared. So, here are some of the things that I feel grateful for having in my loot to prepare me for the cold weather.

1. Hand Cream: My current hand cream of choice is the MAC Naked Honey Hand & Body Cream. I find myself reaching for this a lot because it's creamy and moisturizing without being gooey/sticky (and I absolutely hate sticky hand lotions). Sometimes, when you wash your hands and apply a heavy hand cream, your hands end up feeling worse than before you washed them. Well, there's none of that here.
Plus, it smells like honey! It's not a sweet honey scent but I still like it because there's something authentic about it. Scent-wise it's similar to the L'Occitane Honey & Lemon Hand Cream, although there's something more clean about L'Occitane's scent. Both are great hand creams.

Some tips with hand cream: One: Do not apply hand cream right before you cook. It will affect any ingredients you touch and anyone eating can taste the lotion. yuck. Two: If you handle a lot of paperwork (I do), it's a good idea to not apply hand cream on the palm side of your hands- since the cream could transfer to the paper and leave a oily mark.

2. A Hydrating Creme for the Face: Next up, one definitely needs a good hydrating creme for the winter. It's easy to brush off this step of your skincare as insignificant especially if you're already using a moisturizer, but your skin will drink up the extra hydration and reward you with glowing winter skin provided you find the right creme for you. For me, that's the Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Creme. I'll be realistic, it's not a miracle worker, this alone will not give you porcelain skin overnight but it boosts the effects of my regular skincare routine and relieves my cheek area of its, what seems like perpetual thirst for hydration.

I bought it as a set with the eye cream and serum.

Blue boxes always have the best goodies inside don't they?

3. Tea: Finally, I love drinking hot tea in the winter. I like tea in general but in warmer weather it's just so much easier to order a cool frappuccino as opposed to a steaming cup of tea. At home, I enjoy teas from Tazo (Passion is my favorite), Republic of Tea and Two Leaves and a Bud. Every once in a while I may get fancy with my tea ritual but I've been preoccupied with work lately so I can appreciate the convenience of these sachets.

I like the fact that these are visible loose leaves (and not powder) and that they come in a non-paper sachet. I've heard that the chemicals that end up on those paper tea bags can kill a small animal.

It's so important to hydrate yourself during the wintertime, not only by applying moisturizers on your skin but also by drinking lots of water! But drinking cup after cup of water can get a bit tedious and boring, so tea really helps make it a bit more fun (and more healthy while you're at it.)

I get these at Whole Foods. I'm unsure of where else they're available.

So that was my little Are You Winter Ready post :) Hope you got some inspiration as to what you'll prepare for the season. Stay healthy and hydrated!

Review: Biore Triple Action Astringent

So I was strolling down the magical aisles of Target the other day with the purpose of picking up some Biore nose strips (and checking out the Sonia Kashuk holiday stuff- which by the way I couldn't find), when this little light green concoction caught my eye.

I took it home with me, washed my face, dabbed a little of it on a cotton pad, swirled it around my t-zone and voila,

my life took a turn for the better.

See, I was at a point where I felt like I just couldn't win the battle against my badass blackheads (and whiteheads argh!) anymore. Even though I was fully armed with a boatload of facial scrubs, peels, pore strips and of course my Clarisonic, I was seriously getting beat up and down the block. And while I wish I could say that I coaxed and persuaded my pores to behave with love and understanding, in the end a badass foe calls for a badass ally.

Also known as salicylic acid.

I'm not a big fan of harsh chemicals (I can't use benzoyl peroxide at all- another infamous acne treatment ingredient) and I've never been very acne-prone so I never had to use any but what I love about the Biore Triple Action Astringent is that even though it has salicylic acid in it, it's not as drying or harsh as some other products I've tried. It also has a cooling sensation without any stinging usually a signature of most products with anti-acne ingredients. Most importantly, I've noticed a major difference in my nose area as to the amount of blackheads and the size of my pores. It's still a work in progress but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I would not however, recommend this to someone without blackheads or acne as I don't see the point, nor would I recommend to anyone with dry skin as it will probably dry out your skin even more. I have combination skin (t-zone is oily/ cheeks are dry) so I avoid applying this on the dry areas of face (but I kinda end up applying it anyway because I like the squeaky clean feeling..)

Happy Haul-oween: L'Occitane, Lush Treats

I hope everyone's having a wonderful weekend! I'm laying low and getting as much rest as I can as I'm anticipating a busy work week this week.

Although... that didn't stop me from doing a little bit of shopping :) First, I picked up the Ultra Rich Eye Balm ($32) from L'Occitane. I think I've used this before but I can't remember whether I liked it or not...
I'm kind of hoping that this will protect my eye area well through the upcoming winter!

I also had a pretty little postcard that got me a 4 pc gift set including L'Occitane's shampoo, milk soap (I love their Almond Apple soap but I haven't tried this one), Almond shower oil, and Whitening Cleanser.

Next up, I picked up three holiday Lush goodies and one non-holiday Lush soap. Now we all know no holiday is complete without holiday Lush stuff to plunk in our bath but this year, some of the stuff are even more cuter than ever. Take the Gingerbread House Bubble Bar for example! It looks good enough to eat, has sprinkles on its roof and a cinnamon stick for a chimney!! Need I say more?

Then the Lush girl that helped me told me that she likes mixing the Twilight Bath Bomb and a bit of the Christmas Eve Bubble Bar for bubbles and an unbelievable mix of soothing scents. I thought why not- let me in on that too.

Last, I picked up a slice of the ever-reliable (in that it can always get you in a good mood!) Honey I Washed the Kids Soap. Looks like my November morning showers will be sweet and caramel-y :)

Haul: LUSH Soap, Bathbombs and the Sacred Truth

It's been a while since I had stopped by Lush and it seems quite a few NEW items have been added to the products list between the interval!

Things I picked up from the bottom left corner (the big yellow one) clockwise:  Fizzbanger, Dragon's Egg (both bathbombs are supposed to change color in the bath), Token to the Forest Gods Toner Tab (the little green thing with the star on it), Think Pink (I think), The Sacred Truth fresh face mask, and Summer Pudding soap.

Lush's fresh face masks are some of my favorite skincare products (my favorite being Love Lettuce). Yes, they look kinda funky (I think the best facial formulas always are) but they make my skin feel so nice, soft and hydrated after usage!! The only one I can't use is Brazen Honey (it stings something incredible). However, I would highly recommend most of the others. Oh and if you didn't know already you can bring back 5 empty black pots for a face mask free of charge :)

I am soo looking forward to the Lush Halloween and Christmas stuff this year; there seems to be a lot of fantastical goodies in line. The Christmas products are already available online so go check it out. Personally, I'm gonna wait until we're a wee bit more closer to the holidays before purchasing anything just because there's so many awesome holiday collections pouring out right now and I wanna have a polished shoplist before I blindly jump in (results of which may be catastrophic!! haha)

* Update: I've used the Summer Pudding soap and it is marvelous! It smells fruity but with a sweetness to it (like a hint of baked goods type scent). It also has an exfoliating factor super effective on elbows :)

** Update: Dragon's Egg Review

Haul: Sephora: Shiseido, theBalm, DiorShow Maximizer

Nothing terribly fun I have to admit, but all basic things I couldn't do without!

Here's what I got (including samples)
-- Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream spf 55
-- theBalm Time Balm concealer in Lighter than Light
-- DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum
-- Clarisonic Sensitive Brushhead x2
-- Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare extra strength alpha-beta peel x10 packets (my skin feels so clean after using this)
-- boscia green tea blotting linens (25sheets) (I prefer shine control films but I got this with Beauty Insider points so not complaining! plus I like the subtle green tea scent)
-- Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea w/Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask (this looks disgusting on your face but I lurve it!)
-- Clinique Instant Solutions Redness Relief Mineral Powder (works wonders on my mild redness)
-- Dior HydraLife pro-youth sorbet eye creme (my current eye creme)
-- Kate Somerville Protect Sunscreen (I've been hearing good things about Kate Somerville so here goes)
-- Korres Yogurt Cooling Gel (I used this today and it really cools the skin- awesome!)

First of all, sunscreen is very very very important for me mainly because I don't wear any foundation. My sunscreen needs to not only protect me from the sun but it should even out and brighten up my skintone, work as a makeup primer, and last throughout the day without becoming oily (this is where most sunscreens fail). The Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream spf 55 is such a sunscreen. It works wonderfully with my Chanel loose powder to create just enough coverage without making me look like I painted my face.

I also needed to get some new brushes for my Clarisonic mia. I've been using the brush for normal skin (and it's fine) but decided to pick up the "delicate" brushheads this time just to see if it's softer. It feels softer on my hand but on the skin I can't say I feel much difference between the "delicate" one or the normal one (or the "sensitive" one for that matter) 

I guess this is somewhat fun? The DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum. It's supposed to be a lash primer and a nourishing lash serum at the same time. The bristles are nice and soft and I definitely feel a difference! I'm falling in love ... (However, be warned that it may necessitate a re-curling of your lashes after application.) It also requires mascara because it goes on white.

I've been hearing good things about this concealer. This is my first theBalm purchase and so far it's pretty good. The consistency is a bit thicker than what I'm used to (Lancome concealer) but that makes the coverage all the more reliable. I do have to be careful when I apply it under my eyes because it can look unnatural if not blended properly. But once blended it will stay there throughout the day!

So that's pretty much it! 

I hope you enjoyed... reading all that :) 

New: Fresh Holiday 2010 Sets

I am loving these Fresh sets out for the holidays!! I remember they had something similar to the set with the Sugar Rose lip treatment (Sugar Rose Get Away Set $28) last year but they were sold out rather quickly. I later ended up getting just Sugar Rose all by its lonely self and kicking myself for missing out on the set.

This year they've added a set with the Sugar Plum lip treatment (Sugar Plum Let it Glow Set $28) that comes with a deluxe sample of the Twilight Freshface Glow. Loving it already.

Or you could go with the more basic (but comes with a metallic plum colored pouch!) Sugar Rush Set $28 that comes with the lip treatment that started it all: the Sugar lip treatment. This comes with the Brown Sugar Body Cream (which I love to death) and a sample of the Brown Sugar eau de parfum.

Last but not least, the Soy Skincare Set $38 is out for those of you who want to take better care of your skin for the new year (and you know it'll be here sooner than you can say "I will lose 10lbs this year.") The Soy Face Cleanser is the best cleanser hands down. The Soy Face Cream is a bit rich for me but my skin definitely feels nicer the day after I've applied it. I am currently using the Soy Face Serum in my skincare routine and love it. The Soy Face Exfoliant is the only thing I haven't tried yet but I have a little sample packet ready to go so I'll be trying it out soon :)

Click on the links for more details. Hm... I think I have effectively used the word "love" in every single paragraph!


(Links current as of Sep. 24, 2010)

Haul: L'Occitane

Ahh.. nothing like a box of L'Occitane goodness to make a day feel whole (and wholesome!)

I'm excited to try out the Foaming Rice Cleanser (made with organic red rice) and happy to re-order the Exfoliating Rice Powder (also made with organic red rice) which I for some reason thought was discontinued.

I've already tried the Rice Cleanser and I like it. I usually avoid foaming cleansers because they dry out my skin- but I do like to use a light one for everyday use in the morning and this is light and nice. I highly recommend the Exfoliating Rice Powder if you haven't tried it out already- It polishes the skin nicely without being too abrasive. I love products with rice in it.

Other things I got: the limited edition Marie Riviere Peony lip gloss, a couple of things from the Almond collection, and a small hand lotion in Honey. (L'Occitane has some of the best hand lotions :)

I may or may not get to reviewing these separately so let me know if there is something you would like more details on :)


And It's almost Friday!