Chanel Spring 2011 Collection Swatches and Pêche Nacrée

Last last last week, (can you say "overdue post"?) I stopped by Nordstrom to take a look at the Chanel Spring 2011 pretties. btw, who is that girl Chanel's been using as their model lately? I think I'm in love with her.

I swatched a couple of the lip products I was interested in. Nakkar was more strawberry pink than I had anticipated. For some reason I was under the impression that it had more of a coral tinge to it even though Chanel distinctly describes it as being a raspberry color. I think it's because I saw various in-person photos of Nakkar showing off more of a coral pink. Oh well, maybe it was just the difference in lighting. It's the type of shade that can look different depending on the angle and the lighting; perhaps that's what makes it all the more pretty and alluring.

I ended up passing on Nakkar, but brought home Pêche Nacrée, a soft pearly peach nail polish. Even though Black Pearl has been getting more publicity, to me, Pêche Nacrée seemed a better representative of the collection as a whole. Additionally, I've been wearing dark colors on my nails nonstop this winter, so Pêche Nacrée felt like a breath of fresh spring air! The pinky-peach shade lightens up significantly once on the nails but its still very pretty. The slight pearl finish makes the hands look soft and feminine.

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.)

After-Christmas Haul: Lush, Bath & Body Works (and Georgetown Cupcakes)

Life is just better with cupcakes; especially limited edition holiday cupcakes!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/ holiday weekend! I watched the Grinch, drank too much eggnog (which later led to a tumultuous tummy-ache), attended church mass (twice) and slept to my heart's content. I also took this week off work so I'm in super slacker mode right now.

However, I did manage to stop by the mall to do some sweet after-Christmas deal-snatching :)

First off, I ran over to the much-loved LUSH after-Christmas sale (which is now buy-one-get-one-free as opposed to buy-one-get-two like previous years). Instead this year a lot of their regular non-holiday soaps were included in the sale as well, so I picked up slices of Honey I Washed the Kids and Rock Star, along with three chunks (one chunk I got before the sale) of my holiday staple: Snowcake. If you haven't tried this ivory-white almond goodness already, I strongly urge that you do!

I also got two Snow Fairy gift sets, which has a Snow Fairy shower gel, Shimmy Shimmy glitter bar, and a star-shaped Angel's Delight soap inside. And picked up two Lil Lush Pud bath bombs as well.

At Bath & Body Works, I picked up 4 oz Slatkin & Co. candles in Twisted Peppermint, Snow Apple Mint, and Homemade Cookies. The three wick Winter and and Mint Chocolate I had actually gotten earlier in the month. I have been burning Winter all through Christmas and am loving it like cRazy! Makes the home feel so cozy~

So that's that!

I hope everyone has a wonderful and productive end of the year and an awesome New Year!!!

Now Available: Chanel Spring 2011 Collection

I'm still struggling with my Christmas shopping (I'm in trouble I know) and Chanel has already released their Spring 2011 Les Perles Collection! Not that I'm complaining of course. I am loving this collection's beautiful hues of peach, ivory pearl, and gunmetal teal-gray. 

I'm seeing some beautiful photos of this collection popping up here and there on beauty blogs and can't wait to stop by my Bloomingdales and check it out for myself :)

* Currently available on Chanel.com and select Nordstrom and Bloomingdales