Sunday, June 16, 2013

May/June 2013 Favorites + Reviews

 
Hello there! Today I have some favorites from the past 6-7 weeks to share with you, one of which is a candle- yes, I believe this means that I am now a full-on beauty blogger. Anyway, without further ado, here are my May/June favorites, complete with swatches, links, and reviews: 
 

 
1.) Tarte emphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener


I bought this pencil a couple of weeks ago as a replacement for my Pixi Eye Bright liner. Although I could have saved $2 and bought the Pixi liner, I was interested to check out the Tarte equivalent since everyone and her dog seems to be raving about it. Obviously, the raving is well deserved since this pencil has made it into my favorites, and will probably stay there for a long time!
So you can see this liner's brightening effect for yourself, below are some pictures that I took of my makeup-free eyeball with and without emphasEYES.
 

Top image: my eye without liner, bottom image: my eye after lining the waterline with Tarte emphasEYES.
 
As far as texture and lasting power are concerned, this liner is smooth, easy to apply, and lasts on me for 5 hours without fading (however, it doesn't all come off until I take it off). In my experience, the Pixi liner tends to fade faster and awkwardly migrate closer to the lash line. Bottom line: I'm still a fan of the Pixi liner, but Tarte has won me over with excellent staying power.
 
 2.) NYX blush in Peach

 
Normally I'm a cream blush type of person, but this month I've really been enjoying NYX's blush in Peach. Contrary to the name, this blush is actually a lovely fresh pink color. On my fair skin, it instantly makes my face look a bit livelier and more awake. The texture of this blush is very finely milled and velvety, which makes it super-blendable- definitely high end quality for a five dollar product! Lastly, if you do decide to follow the link to cherryculture.com, don't trust their images of products- do a Google search for more accurate swatches.
 
 
3.) Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow



After hearing a ton of hype about this being the perfect contour shade for fair skin, I finally caved and shelled out for Illasmasqua's Hollow. I've been a big fan of Illamasqua nail polishes for awhile, and I expected the same quality from their makeup. Needless to say, I was not disappointed- the cool but not muddy color of this pigment really is ideal for contouring on paler skin tones. Additionally, Hollow is nearly undetectable because its cream texture sits very naturally on the skin- definitely worth the $26! However, I wouldn't use this as a cream eyeshadow if I were you, as it creases pretty badly.


4.) Essie nail polish in Pilates Hottie
Approximately $8 USD at drugstores, Target, Ulta, etc.
 




Essie's Pilates Hottie has been in my collection for awhile, but I've recently been wearing it a lot throughout the Spring and into the Summer. I would describe this polish as a light, subdued pink-y lilac shade with a crème finish. Additionally, Pilates Hottie is opaque in 2 coats and versatile enough to wear to the office (well, most offices).
 
5.) Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
$6 USD at drugstores, grocery stores, etc.
 
 
If I had to choose a #1 favorite for May/June, this cuticle cream would have to be it. Honestly, I can't think of one drawback- it's inexpensive, lasts a long time, smells delicious, and really moisturizes the cuticles. I've been applying this twice a day to my nail beds, and within 2 weeks noticed that my cuticles were smoother and that my nails were beginning to get stronger. As far as the scent goes, it smells like pure, freshly squeezed lemon juice- no artificial tinge to the scent at all. Definitely give it a try!
 
6.) Niven Morgan Floral Amber Velveting Body Lotion
 
 
I received this body lotion as a gift a few weeks ago and quickly fell in love. It. Smells. Wonderful. I would describe the scent as sophisticated, with floral notes balanced with sandalwood and musk (I hate that word... musk... it sounds rather unattractive, doesn't it?). Anyway, I love how warm and luxurious the scent is. As far as the lotion itself, I am a very happy camper- as the name suggests, the texture is very velvety and light, but still moisturizes nicely. Lastly, my favorite part about this lotion is that the scent lingers for quite awhile- even after the lotion has absorbed into the skin, the scent remains, so lately I've been using this as a moisturizing perfume.
 
7.) Paddywax Lavender + Thyme Artisan Soy Wax Candle
 


 
I picked this candle up on a whim at Urban Outfitters last month, even though I have never been much of a candle fan (I'm extremely picky about scents). However, once I got it home and lit the wick, I was pleasantly surprised by the subtleness of its aroma. The lavender and thyme scent is very relaxing, and is perfect to have burning on lazy afternoons. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that the aroma traveled very well, and would recommend this candle only for use inside smaller rooms. According to online reviews, many people complained that the scent wasn't strong enough, which is interesting because I actually really enjoy its subtlety. Bottom line: if you enjoy strong scents, skip it; if you have a sensitive nose and prefer lighter scents, give this candle a try!
 
 
Welp, that concludes my May/June 2013 favorites! I hope you've found these recommendations helpful, and have a lovely day!



1 comment:

  1. I like NYX product and yes I agree is a pretty pink looks great for any skin color. Essie also a great product one of my favorite nail polish brand. Thanks for sharing enjoy reading your blog.
    http://tifi11@blogspot.com

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