Caudalie Huile Divine (Divine Oil) / Review

Caudalie Huile Divine was on my most recent Beauty Envies list and finally I got a small size of this little wonder everyone seems to have talked and raved about recently.

As some of you may already know, my favorites so far have been Liérac's Huile Sensorielle aux Trois Fleurs Collection Blanche and Nuxe's Huile Prodigieuse, I've mentioned both recently, here. These days I go mostly for the latter, for Summer I just love it! Now what I enjoy most about these two is the fact that they replace perfume/eau de toilette. Their respective fragrances last way over 6 hours on me when I apply them on my arms and décolleté on dry skin. I also love them for my hair. I've tried several hair products recently to give it more texture and always come back to one of these.

Caudalie Divine Oil...

At the drugstore I was pleased to find the small size, 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) which is bigger than a sample. Perfect to keep in one's purse or for someone like me, who wants to give it a try before committing to a larger size. The bottle is sleek, pretty and what is most convenient about it is the fact that even if it's small it comes with a good quality spray just like it's larger sisters.

All purpose? This dry oil is advertised as such, for body, hair and face. As with all other fragranced oils, if you wish to use it on your face do patch test first, especially if you have a tendency to have allergic reactions to skin care or have sensitive skin.

How did I use it...

As with my other fragrant oils, my frugal side makes me use them on dry skin just before getting dressed. I do this because for me they replace perfume and on dry skin less is needed and their fragrances last longer. In the shower on wet skin I prefer to use either almond oil or when I need a bit more moisture, avocado oil which are way less expensive. Arms, décolleté and of course on my hair to give it texture and tame those little fly aways.

The texture... 

Caudalie Huile Divine is very light so this makes it a nice option for Summer after shower. If I compare it to Liérac and Nuxe I would say this is the lightest and least moisturizing, Liérac being the heaviest. When it's very hot this can be a welcomed option. It penetrates fast and doesn't leave any greasy feel on the skin.

The fragrance... 

At first, well the only word that comes to my mind is "caudalieish" where there's a nice hint of green grapes. This fades quickly and with the warmth of the skin is replaced by a nice bouquet of luscious flowers which includes hibiscus. One will take center stage, the rose, accompanied with a hint of grapefruit. I must say the progression is quite lovely but unfortunately on me, it doesn't last. While some have written that Caudalie Huile Divine replaces their perfume it's not the case for me for after three hours or so I can barely smell it anymore. This is where skin's chemistry comes into play. Some have said that Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse's fragrance fades quickly on them while on me it lasts almost an entire day. Here with Caudalie Huile Divine, the opposite occurs.

Do I recommend Caudalie Huile Divine? Yes

Surprised aren't you? So far one would have thought that I would pass on this one given my comments but even if the fragrance didn't last that long as I would have hoped, this oil provides nice light moisture and I must say, for my hair, it's fantastic! Since I purchased the small size which goes for $9.99, my bottle doesn't have the nice grape details or the wooden cap but, as I've mentioned, it comes with the spray with a tight fitting gold cap and this makes it a great option go keep in my purse which I will to tame my hair. Caudalie Huile Divine doesn't weigh it down and is perfect to use during the day to give it extra definition and oomf! The fact that the fragrance is light will not make it annoying to anyone. I used to work with a lady who would spray herself three times a day with her Ferragamo and, well, my nose had a hard time to cope with it and I'm sure I wasn't the only one...

Will I repurchase? Yes

Honestly I don't know if I will commit to the large size but I will keep a small one in my purse for sure since it unfortunately is not refillable. I don't mind reapplying oil to my hair during the day and I've done it often recently due to high humidity. In Winter, with the heating, it can get so dry indoors that this becomes almost a necessity and the small size is so easy to carry in a cosmetic bag. I also find that Caudalie Huile Divine is rather nice to use on the back of my hands. During the day my skin can get a little irritated due to washing and this oil is quite soothing. Now since it's light it doesn't leave a greasy feel and doesn't make my hands slimy if inadvertently I get them wet which can happen with hand cream.

The small size, give it a try. It may well become a favorite to you as is the case for so many.



Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 4.8 / 5 lippies for 14 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4.2 / 5 stars for 200 reviews


Ingredients (from Beauté-test)

Ingredients : vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil*, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil*, isoamyl cocoate*, coco-caprylate*, parfum (fragrance), ethylhexyl palmitate*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter extract*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, hibiscus sabdariffa seed oil*, argania spinosa kernel oil*, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone), tocopherol*, ethylhexyl salicylate(octisalate), palmitoyl grape seed extract*, solanum lycopersicum (tomato) fruit/leaf/stem extract*, citric acid*,benzyl salicylate, linalool, hydroxycitronellal, butylphenyl methylpropional, limonene, citronellol, alpha-isomethyl ionone, geraniol. (107/078) *Origine végétale

Givenchy Le Prisme Visage - Mat / Review

Sweet indulgence, pure and simple!

I was looking for an elegant compact, one to keep in my purse for discreet touch ups but mainly for quick last minute check ups. Just to make sure I don't have lipstick on my nose or a piece of food, spinach or parsley for example, stuck in my teeth!

These, along with sweaty hands can be quite embarrassing when meeting people for the first time.

I know this will sound a little silly, but for me, a nice compact is a bit of a security blanket and except for the past few years I've always carried one in my purse. The last one to date was from Clinique which I kept in my daughter's... Diaper bag! Since she'll be 14 in June, I guess a new compact wasn't a luxury... I could have gone back to the same old same old but hey, I needed a change!

I went to Sephora. Dior, they didn't have the color I wanted. YSL's was way too shiny and I figured I would always be wiping the surface, making sure no finger prints where showing. Guerlain, they didn't have the Météorites compact. Laura Mercier, Make Up Forever, Bobbi Brown, none looked "elegant", at least not the way I wanted and Sephora doesn't sell Chanel.

I kept coming back to Givenchy!

How could I have missed this one in my Beautiful Compacts post back in November? I have no idea!


A bit of history...

The House of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy, a young aristocrat who had previously worked alongside Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior before they became famous, as well as for Elsa Schiaparelli from 1947 to 1951. In 1953 the couturier met Audrey Hepburn who would become a close friend as well as an ambassador for the brand. Givenchy's first fragrance, L'Interdit was in fact, created in 1957 for the young actress.

Audrey Hepburn wearing one of cinema's iconic dresses, created by Hubert de Givenchy. 

Behind, La Victoire Samothrace which I've introduced here, inspiration for Icaria.

Since fashion and makeup walk hand in hand to complete a look, it's surprising to know that Givenchy Beauté, was created only in 1989 by Olivier Echaudemaison then artistic director of Parfums Givenchy.

The innovation of this new cosmetics line, the prisms, those 4 little compact pyramidal squares with which one can create different effects on the skin, depending on if you go with one or mix all. The idea is quite similar to Guerlain's Les Météorites which had been launched with great success two years earlier, in 1987. The difference here is that Givenchy has extended the idea of prisms to eye shadows and blushes.


Givenchy Le Prisme Visage, the compact...

Adorned with the Givenchy logo, the four G's, it reminds me of a little jewelery lacquered box. The ingenious "Clap & Slide" magnetic opening device definitely contribute to it's elegance. Refined and classic, I must admit I feel special every time I use it.

The quality of the powder is outstanding. So delicate, it barely has any fall out, that is if you use it with a good quality powder brush with soft bristles. Some say the one that comes with the compact is too small but personally I find it perfect for touch ups.

I've never been a fan of compacts that hide the applicator under the powder. It's always a struggle to get to it and the few I've had I've kept home for that reason. Givenchy has figured out a way give quick and easy access to the brush. The sliding mechanism is just brilliant!

The finish is matte but natural and since the powder is so fine, it doesn't create any white cast. It's invisible but yet it makes a difference on the skin. I chose 83 Peach Plumetis which is the lightest shade and so needless to say that swatches are practically impossible, well,with my camera they are. I'm glad to see that at least it was able to pick up on the subtlety of the four colors. A light pink, beige, coral and a lighter beige. All mixed together they give my skin a nice natural finish. It is matte but natural. On each square you can see the lightest hint of shimmer and this is what makes the difference. In fact I shouldn't use the word shimmer, satiny is much more appropriate. A satin finish, that's what I get with this powder.

This fabulous compact isn't cheap, it's $52.00 but given the fact that the powder is so delicate with hardly any fall out I say it's a good investment since I know it will last a long while. The only negative thing I have to say is I wish it came with a protective pouch. I'll be using one from another compact but still, it would have been nice to have one with the Givenchy name on it.

Here we go, a bit of my "snobism" just came out! :)


Some of the information gathered for this entry where taken from Wikipedia and the Musée de Grasse.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer / Review & Swatches

For a $5.98, this concealer is pretty amazing! It almost wears like iron, I kid you not!

I know I'm on a no buy but yesterday I had to get a few essentials at Walmart. Not my favorite place to shop but for some items they do have good deals. Of course I stopped by their cosmetics department! I picked up a concealer brush and started to look around, stumbled on the Hard Candy display, which by the way is almost always empty and came across this concealer.

I have heard a lot about it and at that price I figured, why not give it a try?

I chose Ultra Light 487 since I'm quite fair. In the plastic box you get, along with the tube, a little pencil. The pencil is also a concealer but the color is darker, more appropriate to hide blemishes. It's texture is quite dry and so it wouldn't do for the eye area in my opinion.

How did it perform?

Here goes for repeating myself, this stuff wears like iron! On me anyway. Before you go on trying it on your eye area do a few tests on your hand. Very little is needed, hardly a pin head, for real and it takes some getting used to since it's a rather thick formula. Much thicker than Rimmel London Match Perfection Concealer which I had been liking lately. For a product in a tube, it's almost as heavy as Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. Also if you apply too much, it will set into fine lines and will give you the dreaded white eye look, as if you've been skiing and wearing goggles. Not elegant!

Here is a swatch. Now of course the eye area is quite different than the hand but this is just to give you an idea. I know this is not the best picture but hey, I'm trying! :)

Here on top the crayon concealer. 

Below, the cream from thick to blended.

For the past few weeks I had been using Laura Mercier on my upper lid as an eyeshadow base and Rimmel to lighten the under eye area with fairly good results. Today I wore Glamoflauge on both areas. It stayed put for a good 8 hours and I've only had to lightly wipe into the fine lines once. I had set it with loose powder once my makeup was all done and I don't have a lot of wrinkles but if a concealer is too drying or too thick it makes the area look cakey. By applying a thin layer it dried to a powdery finish and stayed almost perfect all day.

Would I recommend Hard Candy Clamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer? Yes!

On the Hard Candy webside they do say that it's a heavy duty, highly pigmented, blendable concealer that provides the ultimate coverage. Creates a flawless surface by covering birth marks, freckles, dark circles and even tatoos! Given the texture of this product, I tend to believe them.

In a way, it was easier to work with than my other two. It didn't dry as fast as Rimmel and it made my upper lid look smoother than Laura Mercier. Hmm... Let's not forget that the latter is $30.00...

Here is the brush I purchased for my concealer. Super soft, it's very gentle and does an excellent job to make it nearly invisible. I still use my fingers since I find it's easier for initial application but the brush is quite useful for the inner corner of the eyes and for the finishing touches, like picking up product that has set into fine lines... argh! Oh well, that's the way it is. Even my 13 yrs old girl has some so no biggie, for now!

SPAresource Cream Shadow brush, $2.47

Soft, perfect for concealer.

Finally, for the price, this tube is huge and filled to the top with product. Not like Rimmel which also comes in a big tube but you have to press quite a bit to get any product out. In fact that was my only issue with it, that the container was too big for the quantity of concealer inside. In the case of Glamoflauge, given the amount needed to get good coverage, my guess is that it will last for quite a long time. You really do get your money's worth.

Remember? It's $5.98!!!

O.P.I Hands Off My Kielbasa, My NOTW / Review

Here I go with nails!

A word of warning, this is not my forte! 

I unfortunately do not have a picture of my nails due to the fact that the weather was cold and cloudy last week when I wore it and nothing decent was possible. For swatches, google has plenty of this color which you can see here.

Hands Off My Kielbasa is part of O.P.I  Euro Centrale Collection for Spring Summer 2013. I purchased this color a few weeks back and made it part of one of my recent purchases post. It's light and peachy with a bit of bronzy shimmer. Too light and too peachy for me but even if this was not my kind of shade I must say the formula applied like a dream and 2 coats made it streakless. I may try it again this summer but with all the beautiful cream shades out there I doubt it. I just can't get used to shimmer, for now anyway.

How did it perform?

Excellent! I have nothing negative to say about the formula. Like stated above, two coats made it streakless and smooth looking. On top I applied one coat of Seche Vite™ for extra shine and protection. The result, a good six days of perfect looking nails. No chips, I did have a bit of tip wear, to be expected but since this is a medium shade, I could hardly notice.

OPI Euro Centrale Collection

Nail polish drawing made for Icaria's by City Lights Painted Girls who I will properly introduce soon.

L'Oréal Color Riche Balm in Caring Coral 418 / Review

These have been out for a while now and for no particular reason, I wasn't drawn to them but I figured that I had to try at least one. I chose Caring Coral 418.

I'm feeling a coral period coming... I used to wear a lot of it years ago, got tired of it but this Spring I'm feeling myself drawn to it, again!

So, back to L'Oréal and this Color Riche Balm. What do I think about it? To be honest, there isn't much to think about. It's super sheer so you have to lay it on thick to have any hint of color showing. I've had to go over my lips at least six times and it still didn't show much. It ends up feeling almost like a gloss. The taste? Chemical and unpleasant. The only good thing it's got going is the SPF15.

Do I recommend L'Oréal Color Riche Balm in Caring Coral? No.

From what I've read, they are all pretty sheer so if you have pigmented lips to begin with, these will be a disapointment. On naturally light colored lips they may fair better but for me, the sheerness and especially the chemical taste make of Caring Coral a no go. After about 30 minutes of having it on, I've had to completely wipe it off because the taste was really getting to me. I will definitely not try any of the other shades.  :(

Biotherm Biosource Micellar Water / Review

Micellar water is probably one of the best cosmetic innovation of recent years. I just love these fast and effective cleansers and since I don't wear a lot of makeup, they are just perfect for little old lazy me. If you want to learn more about what they are and see others I've previously reviewed like Bioderma, Nuxe, Caudalie, click here.

Of the different brands I've tried so far, Biotherm's Biosource Micellar Water is a front runner!

Biotherm is a brand I've stopped using a while back. The reason? They used to be quite affordable but for some reason, at one point their prices skyrocketed and so I lost interest. The only product that I've repurchased over the years has been their Anti-drying Body Milk, a long time favorite of mine.

When I saw this new Micellar Water I was expecting it to be in the high $20.00 but to my surprise it's only $19.00.

How did it perform?

Mild, effective, non irritating and fast. It has a mild fragrance that doesn't linger and it does a great job in the eye area. I would even say it's more effective than Caudalie which I thought was becoming a favorite.

Would I recommend Biotherm Biosource Micellar Water? Yes!

Fairly priced and good for all skin types, it's definitely worth a try. If you have issues with fragrance, try to get a sample first or make sure you can return it in case of irritation.


Reviews:

Beauté-test: 3.5 / 5 stars for 7 reviews
Makeup Alley:  There are no reviews of this product yet.

Ingredients (from UniversPara):
Aqua/water, PEG-7 caprylic/capric glycerides, poloxamer 124, poloxamer 184, PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, polysorbate 80, magnesium PCA, potassium PCA, zinc PCA, sodium PCA, copper PCA, manganese gluconate, vitreoscilla ferment, sodium hydroxide, disodium EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA, sodium benzoate, polyaminopropyl biguanide, parfum/fragrance, benzyl salicylate, linalool, butylphenyl methylpropional, alpha-isomethyl ionone, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, citronellol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, (F.I.L. B12910/1).

Make Up For Ever Eye Shadow no 34 Soft Ioden Green / Review

Now I swear I'm not obsessed... I think! 

Recently there was a bit of drama on Makeup Alley's makeup board. A member posted about her deception or should I say her desperation, over a M.A.C. lipstick that had been discontinued. This made me smile and brought back memories of when I used to work in cosmetics. How many times have I had to try to find a duplicate for a specific shade of lipstick for a customer? Often outdated and unflattering colors, whatever the suggestion, you could simply not convince them to go for something more current. Stuck in their ways they where. To give you an idea, some of them where still wearing that horrible creme bright blue eyeshadow right out of the 60's!

These days pretty much anything goes so it's not a big deal anymore and cosmetics companies like Makeup For Ever, M.A.C. and Inglot offer pretty much any color you can imagine.

Or do they?

My obsession with M.A.C. Putty isn't misplaced or at least that's what I want to believe. It's just that wearing in on the moving part of my lid helps tone down the redness and looks better on me than any other neutral does. It's a subtle shade, just the right hint of green which on my green eyes makes it quite flattering.

Green on green eyes? I know, I know, to make eyes pop you have to go towards opposite colors. For green, purple is more appropriate. I just can't do purple everyday, as an accent once in a while but everyday? No way!

This basic gives me the perfect "no makeup" makeup with a light, fresh twist. It's just perfect!

My quest to replace my beloved M.A.C. Putty eyeshadow may be over!

After the deception of the GOSH duo in 005 Green Zone, I continued my search for the perfect matte, light green eyeshadow. At Sephora, right after swatching all the beautiful NARS pink offerings, I turned around and stumbled upon the Make Up Forever single eyeshadows display. I don't know if all Sephoras are set up in the same fashion but here, both brands are next to one another.

Looking at the colors...  One caught my attention...  Could this be it?

Please don't let it be shiny!

Make Up For Ever no34, Soft Ioden Green is the closest to M.A.C. Putty I could find to this day! Not matte, it has a satin finish and it's also a little more bright, a little more minty than Putty. Still, it's pretty darn close. To tone it down, I reapply a little loose powder over my lids just before going for my eyeliner. The result, I get an almost perfect match!

MUFE no34, $24.00 at Sephora

How did it perform?

Honorably! This is my first Make Up For Ever eyeshadow and it fared much better than GOSH (not hard to do) but maybe not quite as well as M.A.C. Still, I get close to 6 hours of color on my lids and that's good enough for me considering the lack of choices out there for this type of shade. With it, no need to use a primer. I use the light Rimmel concealer and it's perfect as a base. I've also had good results with Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer which makes it a bit less bright.

*Happy Dance*

I will keep looking for the perfect match but for now I'm pretty happy with this one.

Here is what it looks like next to M.A.C. Putty.

Yes, as you can see, my Putty is OLD, you might even say VINTAGE! 

Le Sigh 

I do have to say for my defence that I've only been wearing it regularly for a little over a year. Before that it was tucked away in a drawer. For how long? I have no idea. Can you believe I'm a hoarder and keep my stuff? :D

Caudalie Vinexpert Riche Radiance Day Cream SPF10 / Review

After reading Mostly Sunny's review of Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid, which you can read it here, I figured I should write a review of the one I've been using recently.

Caudalie Vinexpert Riche Radiance Day Cream SPF 10

This moisturizer is indeed rich but not as much as I was expecting. Recently we've had some frigid temperatures recently and I needed a little more protection than the one provided by Avène Anti-redness, the tube I usually go to in the morning. As with all Caudalie moisturizers, the tube is on the small side. The good thing is, you don't need a lot since it's quite concentrated and so a little goes a long way.

Nivea Lip Butter Vanilla & Macadamia / Review

These new Nivea Lip Butters aren't even on the Canadian website yet but can be seen on the American one. For a little over a week now other beauty bloggers have been reviewing them and I was quite anxious to try one myself. Ok anxious may not be the correct word here so let's just say I wanted to try one.

Revlon Colorstay Cream Eyeliner in Charcoal / Review

Sadly another disappointing liner. Looking through my makeup bag yesterday I found this for I had completely forgotten about it. I think I must have purchased it back in August or September and probably used it only a few times.

The color, charcoal, has a little shimmer to it. This makes it appear lighter than it should. The texture, on the dryish side. Hard to apply, if you take too much time it starts flaking. Long wear, not on me. After a few hours some of it was on my upper lid. Not a good look.

Herbacin Kamille Lip Balm / Review

Like me you've probably seen the hand cream from this brand but not the lip balm since I do believe this is new. I purchased it the other day out of curiosity.

The texture reminds of Caudalie's lip balm which is one of my favorites for daytime. It has a light vanilla scent upon application but this fades after a minute or so. Although I sometimes use Caudalie under my lipstick, this one I found a little too greasy to use in the same way. It does an honest job at moisturizing my lips, in fact I'm inclined to compare it to RoC's lip balm only Herbacin is much less expensive.

Marcelle Rouge Xpression in Jezebel / Review

As you will see, I've taken full advantage of this first Marcelle purchase. Sorry, I just couldn't resist...

Remember Colette Valois the French airline stewardess from the short lived ABC television series Pan Am? I was so disappointed when it was taken off the air but at the same time not surprised. If a show doesn't break records in it's first weeks, this network gives up. This was a smart program that didn't include murders and police chases so I guess this was part of it's downfall.

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer / Review

Isn't it frustrating when you've used a product for so long and then all of a sudden you find it doesn't work for you anymore? Sadly this has happened to me too many times to count.

For me, one of the most boring makeup items to get is concealer and I believe when you find a good one you stick with it through thick and thin. Repurchasing automatically when needed. You can try others here and there but somehow always come back to the one that looks best on you, the one that looks natural.

Last Spring the one I've been going back to for years no longer looked good on me. This was Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer. Not moisturizing enough, it was starting to make my eye area look creepy. I then tried M.A.C. Select Moisturecover Concealer in a lighter shade. This one did make my eye area look better but it's staying power was more than poor. Since I don't like to throw anything away I did use it for several months, not liking it but at least not wasting my money.

After this disappointment I was contemplating going back to Clinique, another concealer I liked. In fact I kind of alternated between Estée Lauder and Clinique for years since their respective formulas gave me similar results. Looking at their website I was surprised to see the many options they now offer. I guess the one I was using was the Line Smoothing Concealer but I started to wonder if it was the same formula. Not wanting to risk it I decided to forget about this one.

Browsing the Sephora website, looking at all the different brands I finally thought I would go for Bobbi Brown Corrector, especially after reading Beautiful With Brains' positive review of it. You can read it here. With that final push I went to Sephora with the intention to buy it.

I hit a wall! Even if it's available it 12 different shades, I wasn't able to find one I felt comfortable with. The two lightest, Porcelain Bisque and Porcelain Peach would not have given me the natural look I was looking for. I do have to say that the formula seemed more than nice.

Leaving empty handed was not an option so I after having a look at other brands I opted to try Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in shade 1 for light complexions. It's actually the lightest they make, with slightly pink undertones.

It was weird for me to go for a cream after years of more "liquidy" formulas. The last time I did was with Dior when they used to have one in a little round compact.

How I use it?

I find it easier to apply with my fingers than a concealer brush. It's even better if you warm it up a little. For this, simply do so by "rubbing" a little of it between your two pinkie fingers and then go gently on the eye area. You'll notice that this way it will glide more easily. I also use it as an eye shadow base. I finish off with my concealer brush, to make sure the application is smooth and doesn't set in fine lines. A light dusting of loose powder with my fan brush and it's set.

Would I recommend it? Yes!

The formula is excellent and buildable. One big plus, it's non drying. If you apply it with a concealer brush you will have a more opaque finish but this will involve a little more pulling of the eye area. I've been using it for about a month now and can honestly say that I'm pleased with this purchase.

The only 2 things I don't like about it are, first the screw top. I would have preferred a flip top like Bobbi Brown. Second, the price. At $30.00  it's a little expensive for 2.2 g even it you do get a little more for the same price than Bobbi Brown Corrector which contains 1.7 g.

Available in six shades:

Reviews:

MakeupAlley: 3.8 / 5 lippies for 411 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4.2 / 5 stars for 19 reviews.


Screen captures from Laura Mercier and Sephora's respective websites.

Fruits & Passion Body Butters / Review

Fruits & Passion have boutiques in probably every single mall across Canada. Colorful and inviting, they offer a great selection of products not only to pamper oneself but for the home as well. It's a great place to go to when you have a hostess gift to make, especially when looking at their Cucina collection.

Last time I went there I was looking for a body butter, I was all out and figured why not give Fruits & Passion a go. I had used some of their products in the past and had enjoyed them quite a bit, also, at around $20.00 for a 250 ml jar, they are reasonably priced. My choice, the Olive Body Soufflé... Unscented.

I know, I know, one does not go to Fruits & Passion to get something unscented, but, on that particular day, I was overwelmed by all the different fragrances and figured since this was for evening, any of their other offerings would be too much for me to fall asleep. This was to be used in the evening after all.

Sadly I was very disapointed. It balled up on my skin!

The first night I thought I had used too much, the second night I used less and the third night I applied barely enough cream to cover my legs. Whatever quantity I used, it balled up.

Off it went to the disappointment shelf at the bottom of my night stand!

At least that trip to Fruits & Passion wasn't a total waste. My daughter was with me and in my attempts to get her to like girly things, I bought her an Orange-Cantaloup Eau de fruits and a small size of the Quenching Butter for the body.


She loves them and since the body butter is so highly fragranced, she often dabs just a bit on it on her arms and neck and it's almost as long lasting as the Eau de fruits.

Would I recommend their body butters for moisture? No

Very unpleasant to have a cream ball up on ones skin, I don't understand why they wouldn't modify their formula since I'm certain I'm not the only one with this issue. I have stopped by their shops and sampled others and they all did the same on my arm.

Would I recommend their body butters for fragrance layering? Yes

They have fun fragrances and layering them over their respective body lotion or butter will help make them last all day. For this you may want to get a sample/promotional size since you would use it on arms and neck.

Oh I almost forgot, the Body Butters (the regular sizes) come with a cute little spatula so you don't have to dip your fingers in the jar. Of course I kept it! A little expensive for a spatula but at least my purchase wasn't a total loss! :D

Screen capture of Orange-Cantaloup Eau de fruits from Fruits & Passion website

All excited for a... Comb???

This is truly one of the greatest invention since sliced bread!

Ok maybe I'm exaggerating a little but this comb is amazing!

I first read about it on Daily Beauty and was more than intrigued. I have long super thick hair and the drying process is such a bore. After reading Jane's entry describing her experience with Goody Quick Style Comb, I wrote it down on my list of things to try and mentioned it on my Notable Reads of the Week vol. 3. A few days later I found it at my local drugstore. I don't remember how much I payed for it but I'm quite sure it was under $10.00

Does it work? A big resounding YES!

Usually after I wash my hair I let it air dry as much as possible so that I waste less energy, both electrical and physical. If I don't do this, it takes in average of 25 minutes to dry my hair with both the blow dryer and the brush to straighten it. I was blessed with not only super thick hair but also super frizzy hair. I'm so lucky!

Today, instead of waiting a good hour and a half before going into the torture chamber that is my bathroom to finish off with the blow dryer, I was able to start exercising my arms 30 minutes after my shower. Not only that but it did cut down on the time it took. A little over 10 minutes and I was done.

Wow!

Do go have a look at Daily Beauty's review.

Thank you Jane for a great find!

The Body Shop's Brow & Liner Kit / Review

For years I'd been using M.A.C. Brun eye shadow as an eye liner, applying it with a slanted brush lightly dipped in water to make the color deeper. No, the water did not alter the powder and the reason I did this was not only to make the color deeper but also to give it more staying power. You can do this with almost any eye shadow. Water on the brush, not the powder.

M.A.C. Brun eye shadow

Why did I stop using it? Simply because I figured that I should be able to find a "ready made" eye liner that wouldn't budge. I must admit that I was also a little tired of dark brown at the time.

Enters The Body Shop's Brow & Liner Kit, a great find! Although I'd been going there for years I'd never purchased any makeup. When I saw this little compact in 03 Brown & Black, I was quite intrigued and the dark shade, a very dark grey looked perfect. At about $18.00 I wasn't breaking the bank with it and so decided to give it a try.

I've been using this eye liner for close to a year now and since it's so easy to apply I couldn't be more pleased. I only use the dark grey. The brown is kind of so so for me as an eye liner and much too dark to consider using on my brows. In a way I am loosing half of my money but considering how little I use every time it's still a good buy.

The Body Shop's Brow & Liner Kit in 03 Brown & Black

How I use it!

The color is buildable and depending on the amount of water I put on my brush, can go from light to very dark. I simply dip my brush lightly in a drop of water and pinch off the excess between two fingers. Do note that the little folding brush that comes with this kit is, for eyeliner purposes, pretty useless. It's so thin that it would take half an hour to have a good looking line. The slanted side is stiff and aimed at eye brows. 

Would I recommend it? Yes!

That is if you're looking for an eye liner that will give you a more natural, less harsh look. The bonus is that when you apply it you don't have to pull on your lids like you would sometimes have to do with a pencil or even a gel eye liner. It's got an honest staying power. Not water or sweat proof but for me, less messy than others I've tried on my deep set eyes. It does transfer to the upper lid but it can be easily wiped off. On me it fades but not in a messy kind of way like other eye liners tend to do. 

This is not the "ready made" eye liner that won't budge that I was looking for but I am still pleased with it.

Next I do have to try it using Laura Mercier' Tightline Activator (made especially for cake eye liners). I've heard that M.A.C. also makes a product with which you can transform any eye shadow into an eye liner but couldn't find it on their website. I've tried using Personnelle's Magic Potion (a Canadian brand) but this product was pretty bad.

I would not recommend if...

You are looking for a deep bold line. If you are used to gel, liquid or dark pencil liners, this will disappoint you. It's really for days when you want a more natural look and only want to define your lash line lightly.

Reviews:

MakeupAlley: 4.3 / 5 lippies for 71 reviews. Most reviews are about it's use on brows.

Beauté-test: the compact shown is different and the one reviewed here is not listed.

Screen shots from M.A.C. & The Body Shop's respective websites.

Avon's Smooth Minerals Pressed Foundation / Review

For a little while there I sold Avon. I did it for close to 2 years as a past-time. What I find sad about this company is that they have such a huge turnover that it's hard to keep track. Every year they bring out truck loads of new products and discontinue the same amount. This means that if you "fall in love" with one of their offerings, it doesn't mean you'll be able to repurchase it. This is the main reason why I've almost given up on the brand. Almost.

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm / Review

Bran new display, the drugstore where I went today had just received these yesterday. I can't remember the last time I bought something from Cover Girl. In fact I think it was a foundation way back when they where promoting "clean makeup". I purchased this in the shade Mauve Twist 275. I'm not much of a fan of big crayons but at $7.49 I figured why not give it a try.

I'm so sorry I haven't swatched anything for you yet but I can't figure out where to do it other than outside and these days it's pretty cold. I tried with the brightest light I have in the house but it truly doesn't give a clear picture. I'll do a bit of research in the new year to figure out a set up for this.

So, about this color Mauve Twist. First if you're expecting a lilac'ish or mauv'ish kind of color you'll be disappointed. It's much warmer than the picture shows. Actually I can hardly see any cool undertones in it. Second, if you're expecting good color payoff, you'll be disappointed. It's sheer, very sheer. You really must go over and over and over again to get any color on your lips. Finally, if you're expecting a glossy color, again, you'll be disappointed. It is not glossy at all.

It's got "Balm" in the name. Huh? No balm feel at all. It's actually almost kind of dry. Not at all what I was expecting. The feel is almost sticky and the color disappears rather quickly. No color payoff with this shade.

If you want to try this product, go for bolder shades like Scarlet Twist 250 or Ruby Twist 245 you may get better results. Still, I'm doubtful about the staying power. I think you'd be better off with a tinted lip balm like Burt's Bees or even better, Clinique's Almost Lipstick.

Sorry Cover Girl but it's a no no for me. :(

Update (2013-01-06)

As I was thinking, bolder colors give better results. Have a look at Michelle's review for the color 250, a beautiful sheer red. Plus, it looks smashing on her. See it on her blog, Lipstick Rules.

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm no 250

From Lipstick Rules

Screen capture of no 275 from drugstore.com

M.A.C. Fluidline Eyeliner Gel in Dipdown / Review

After reading so much about M.A.C.'s Fluidline Eyeliner Gel I just had to try one. According to the reviews the creamy texture makes it easy to apply and most importantly, it has staying power.

I was hopeful!

Maybelline - Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Charcoal / Review

I keep looking for the perfect eye liner...

A gel eyeliner for $12.99, I just had to try it! After all it could have been the ONE!

The color, Charcoal 954. As you can see it comes in a little jar and you get a rather surprisingly good little eyeliner brush with it. I tried using it but didn't have the adequate dexterity for it. I prefer a thin slanted brush for this.

It goes on rather smoothly so application is pretty easy without any lid pulling. The color, well it has a bit of a shine to it's thumbs down for me. I want matte! Seems cosmetics companies have a hard time with this. As soon as you get away from black, shimmer has to be added. To most of them anyways and almost all greys have a it.

Available in 4 colors. They are in reality, darker than shown here.

It comes in 4 shades: Blackest Black 950, Brown 952, Charcoal 954 and Eggplant 956 

How did it perform?

Not good, not good at all! Forget 24 hours as advertised, it barely lasted one hour intact. It started to transfer to my upper lids in no time.

Smudge-proof and Water-proof? I don't think so.

Would I recommend it? Only is you have perfect eye lids. No deep set eyes and no droopiness.

Considering the rave reviews it gets you may be more than safe trying it. It does have a lovely texture and is easy to work with. Again for me, not good due to my deep set eyes and let's be frank, slightly droopy eye lids. If you have these issues you better skip but for everyone else, you may be very pleased with this product. To make it stay on longer you can set it with a dark grey eye shadow. For me this would not be an option due the reasons mentioned above.

One major selling point, it's super affordable!

Reviews:

MakeupAlley: 4 / 5 lippies for 1123 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4.2 / 5 stars for 11 reviews.


Pictures: Canadian Beauty and Maybelline