Wei East China Herbal Intensive Eye Treatment ($36.00) are moistened pads that you place on your eyes for ten minutes to help rejuvenate them by helping to alleviate dark cirles and puffiness. I didn’t really notice too much of a scent other than a bit of an herbal aroma with a little bit of floral in the background–but really subtle. These actually did a good job relieving some of the allergy-related puffiness I have been having with my eyes lately as spring is finally [officially] upon us. You get sixteen packs (each has two pads - one for each eye), and I personally feel like I’d only use these once a week (maybe twice if it was a particularly stressful week), so the price does stretch out. Nonetheless, if you break it down, it is $2.25 per pack, which is not much at all. For me, the hardest part is just laying around for ten minutes, so I definitely need to use these when I’m very tired and all I want to do is close my eyes! I’m too much of a multi-tasker otherwise.

Find these at www.weieast.com or www.hsn.com.

Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips in Hazel ($9.95)

Enhance your natural eye color with three blendable trios that color, contour and line your eyes for illuminating, high impact.  Available in 4 shades. Hypoallergenic. Dermatologist Approved. Fragrance Free. Safe for Sensitive Etes and Contact Lense Wearers. Shade:  Brown Eyes Blue Eyes Green Eyes Hazel Eyes *  

What I liked:  I found the eyeshadow strips to have pretty good pay off, with the browns giving the best intensity out of the bunch.  The whites are quite shimmery for the most part, making them not the best highlighters (an overly white highlight with intense frost finish can look off on some).  I think the lighter pink may work better as a more natural highlighter than the whites.  I do like the variation in shades, and I do feel like you could get a few looks out of this - and definitely lighter/darker versions of the looks you do come up with.

What I didn’t like:  Having them directly next to each other can make it easy to blend them together–which may or may not be something you like–but I hate having different color dust accumulate on my other shadows.  It drives me bonkers!  I also feel like there is a frost overload in this palette; I know they’re called Shimmer Strips, so that’s a definite tip-off, but it could have been a lower level shimmer.  For instance, the browns have a pleasant shimmer finish, without being frosty, and I think this kind of finish would complement the skin of most people, especially in the lighter shades of pink/white.

Top row, left to right (eye shadows):  Naked, Bare, Nude, and Buff; Bottom row, left to right (lip color):  Bare, Beige, Brownie, and Cocoa

Bobbi Brown Nude Lip & Eye Palette ($60.00):  As pretty as this pre-made palette looks in promo images, and even in person, the eyeshadows left me unsatisfied.  I enjoy a nice neutral/nude look from time to time, so I thought that this palette would make a great addition to my travel bag or for occasions where minimal makeup is necessary.  There are four eyeshadows, but three of the four look virtually the same on me (I’m medium toned), even with a white-beige base (MAC Soft Ochre paint pot). 

Naked and Bare are so similar and seem to differ mostly in texture, where Naked seems a little more shimmery and Bare more matte.  Nude is a warmer version of Naked/Bear with more peach/rose undertones.  Buff would be my favorite, because it is darker and distinguishable from the others.  I also didn’t find any of these to be a great highlight color, though I suppose Nude is the one you might assume to use.  When looking at pre-made palettes, I do expect that there will be several looks that I can using the palette exclusively–not having to grab additional colors.  From the promotional image, it did look like there was a little more color differentiation than you get in real life. 

Aside from my issues with the colors/color pay off, the textures are typical BB:  smooth and soft.  I didn’t bother using the brush that comes with the palette because the bristles were just too coarse against the delicate shadows–it cause them to flake more than I liked.  Full-size Bobbi Brown brushes are much better than the baby versions put into palettes (which is no different than other brands’ palettes, including MAC), so in a pinch, they’re great, but if you can, take your regular brushes with you.

The lip colors were much more exciting than the shadows, because they all had good pigmentation and the color variation was there.  Bare lip color makes an excellent subdued rosey shade with soft undertones of plum, while Beige is a shimmery bronze-tan that adds a nice layer of iridescence to lips.  Brownie is a great sheer soft tan color that should work with most skintones.  Cocoa was my least favorite, just because it doesn’t suit me well; it is a nice shade of brown with red undertones with low-level shimmer.  The lip brush is cute and compact, but I never have the patience for lip brushes.  I opted to use a larger, flat firm brush (meant for eyes) to apply it, just because it was faster.

Overall, it dismays me to say that I don’t feel like this palette is worth it in the end, since the shadows did not offer me a variety of potential looks to create - three look about the same, and one is dark enough to add depth to the crease/outer lid.  I’ve liked previous Bobbi Brown palettes much more, especially the Metallic trios.  I also thought the lip palette for the Heart’s Truth was gorgeous, but this one just falls short for me!

Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows ($12.50) is an automatic, self-sharpening precision pencil to fill in brows (pictured on the bottom).  I actually found that the shade Deep Brown was quite perfect for my brow color/fill-in color.  I used to use Spike/Stud brow pencil by MAC for awhile, but then I moved onto using a shadow to fill in brows because it looks more natural and last longer.  With Superfine Liner for Brows, I feel that I still need to use an angled brush to make it more natural, but only a little bit.  Basically, using a clean mascara wand to brush brows (which I do anyway, since mine are ridiculously unruly) does the same thing to ensure neat brows without any harsh lines.  Pencils are great for getting precision down to a fine art–you can really define the brow and its shape with this product.  The wearing time for Superfine Liner for Brows is incredible — lasted ten hours on me!

Clinique Brow Keeper ($14.50) in Warm Brown is a kind of brow pencil I like, because it comes with a shaping end (like a mascara wand) to keep brows in place and determine how exactly they should be groomed (pictured on top).  However, unlike Superfine Liner for Brows, this only comes in two shades–Honey or Warm Brown–which means less people can use it.  I found Warm Brown too warm for me, too red-brown versus black-brown (which is more my shade), and Honey is too cool-toned and ashy.  I also can appreciate a self-sharpening pencil, so while I love the brush end of the Brow Keeper, I prefer the Superfine Liner for Brows instead!

Both are available at www.clinique.com, and Clinique counters/locations.

DR. BRANDT’S DISCOVERY KIT ($85.00)

This convenient instant gratification kit contains everything you need to replenish and retexturize your skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and maintain skin’s natural firmness.  Includes:
- mini microdermabrasion instantly polishes away dead skin cells leaving skin smooth and radiant - 0.5 oz
- mini r3p- anti-aging formulation of three intense polypeptides, and potent antioxidants to refinish, replenish and retexturize your skin 0.5 oz
- mini laser tight- tighten and tone, leaving skin firm and improving elasticity. 0.5 oz
- deluxe size crease release targeted formula to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles 0.25 oz

What makes it worth it:  First, I love skincare kits that give you an opportunity to try before you buy [in full-size], because then you save a bit of money and get a chance to test out products you might not have on its own.  I followed the instructions that come with the kit, which means you start with Crease Release.  I have to say, even though I don’t suffer too many fine lines yet (thank god, but I know they’re coming, boo!), I did notice that my eyes looked a bit brighter, and my smile lines (sigh) were less apparent.  Next to use was Laser Tight, which comes in a pump-bottle (yay!) and is meant to tighten and tone.  I think this was one of my favorites out of the kit, because my skin just felt so much healthier and great after using this for a few days.  I liked that it was an unscented moisturizer, because sometimes it’s refreshing to have little to no fragrance in a facial product.  R3p is an anti-aging ultra thick cream - I wouldn’t quite call it a luxe cream, because it’s a bit different from that in that it has a thick texture, but it is not really heavy cream.  It takes a few minutes to absorb, and you really do need to let everything dry before you continue with the steps.  Since I know I tend to dry out when I use anti-aging products (just so long as I never go through Retin-A results again, I’ll be OK!), I only used this once a day (PM) and enjoyed the results.  For my microdermabrasion treatment, I went with the once-a-week-regimen, because I have fairly normal skin that only reacts oddly around the mouth area.  This scrub doesn’t require much product to get total coverage of the face, and it doesn’t feel too rough or harsh against the skin.  In fact, I definitely think this would be a good idea for sensitive skinned readers who would like to try a facial scrub.  Overall, my skin thanked me for its healthy glow and incredibly soft texture.  Even my boyfriend mentioned I had been looking more awake and refreshed!

Why you might pass on it:  The price tag is steep, at least to plunk down all at once, but it really is an incredible value.  The products should last you a good while before you need to replace them, and of course, you get to test-drive four products in one kit.  Although, if you do love these as much as I did, your wallet may cringe at the thought of buying everything full-sized, so best ask friends and family to stuff your holiday bin with Discovery Kits!

Available at www.drbrandtskincare.com.

Find out how to use this great kit with step-by-step instructions straight from the Doctor… Read the rest of this entry »

It is not often that I am so powerfully swayed by a product that isn’t MAC right from the get go.  I tend to need a bit of coaxing, a bit more temptation to defect from my brand loyalty.  Of course, I have several beauty products that I consider staples that are outside of MAC’s scope, so it is not an impossible task, but only the best are up to the challenge.  NARS is finding a way back into my heart with their Holiday 2007 collection Siren Song, which features this stunning eyeshadow duo in Balthazar (along with Cheyenne and Violetta).  I was immediately drawn to the vibrancy of the duo, especially of the tarnished gold.  One swipe, and I was in heaven!  I am not as in love with the brown (it is more easily duplicated), but it is an excellent partner for the gold shadow.  This is just such an awesome combination for the upcoming holiday season, where golds and bronzes often reign supreme.

To hear me gush more about one of my favorite holiday collections out this year, you’ll have to Read the rest of this entry »

YOUR SWEETHEART IS ONE-OF-A-KIND. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, HER GIFT SHOULD BE TOO. GIVE HER A CUSTOM “BEAUTY IN A BOX” FROM FACE TIME COSMETICS.

Face Time Cosmetics is founded by makeup artist Linsey Snyder, and for the holiday season, they have developed “Beauty In a Box,” which is a product specifically designed for the gift recipient. Linsey and her team of experts work with the customer using photos, hair color, skin tone, and personal tastes to create the ultimate customized beauty box. They even provide a “Face Card” with detailed instructions for application! It takes less than a week to have it customized and shipped to you! The custom beauty in a box is $150, but if you want to go another route, check out already selected items in Romantic, Stunning, and Sultry ($90).

I recently had the pleasure of trying four of Face Time’s Well-to-Hue eyeshadows in Camilla’s Class (muted purple with subtle silver shimmer), Jamie’s Gem (rich medium-green with gold shimmer), Lauren’s Loyalty (white beige with gold undertones), and Virginia’s Vitality (matte medium pink). All of Face Time’s eyeshadows have been named after women who have influenced the company along with their “most valuable attributes.” Each shadow gave me great color pay off, felt like butter, and I liked that they come in a variety of shades to serve every woman’s needs. Of course, I fell in love with the green (who doesn’t love a green with a touch of gold in it?), and I tend to gravitate towards any white-gold colors, like Lauren’s Loyalty. At $12 a pop, they are hard to resist! Head over to www.facetimecosmetics.com to see the other shadows or make a purchase.

Check out a photo of the shadows I tried!

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What?  Napoleon Perdis’ Boudoir Palette.  This is one of the most compact holiday palettes I’ve seen, but it’s utterly adorable with its tortoise packaging.  You open up the compact to reveal three eyshadows on the first tier, with two lip glosses on the bottom tier.  You’ll also find two mini-brushes for on-the-go application.  On the bottom of the eyeshadow tier, there is a mirror, as well.

For who?  For every girl who adores darling compacts.  For your Mom, who’ll swoon over the vintage print, and the simplicity of the colors. 

Why and how much?  I really like the shades they give you; they seem relatively unique as a combination (gold, grape, and silver.  The gold-yellow color is so gorgeous and makes a great wash or a highlight.  The smokey purple is awesome for that subtle smoked look, great for lining or pumping any daytime look into evening.  I love that the silver kind of surprises you in the combination, but it’s a great cooler hue for the holiday season.  Plus, you’ll love the price — $25.00!  As far as Napoleon Perdis products go, this is definitely a bargain (and not to worry, you don’t lose out on quality!).

Available at www.napoleonperdis.com, www.sephora.com, and select retailers this holiday season.

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What to give?  Sephora’s 2007 Blockbuster Palette contains 64 eyeshadows, 23 lip glosses, 9 lip shines, 6 blushes, and 2 compact powders.  One of last year’s most desired holiday palettes was Sephora’s Blockbuster Palette.  It appears that this year is no exception! 

For who?  This gift is perfect for every girl in your life that should be a beauty addict, is slowly on their way to full-blown addict status, or steals from your stash everything your back is turned.  Give the gift of a whole lot of loot with this jam-packed holiday palette.  It’s guaranteed to keep one busy for many, many weeks playing with various eyeshadow combinations, textures, and products found within it. 

Why and how much?  The Blockbuster palette is nothing like the cheap kits you might find at various locations like a discount store - these are high-end, quality makeup products.  You also get an amazing mixture of colors from neutrals to blues to greens to purples.  The packaging is sleek, and the palette itself is a touch hefty (but hey, this sort of makes you feel like you’re really getting a boatload of products!), and it’s just such an optimal palette for all sorts of beauty addicts who are need of a traveling solution that still offers them a wide variety of choices to those with only the hint of interest on beauty.  And really, it’s not easy to pass this one by, because it’s only $48.00.  It’s a steal!

Find it at Sephora locations near you, and www.sephora.com.

Keep reading for more photos of this exclusive holiday palette!

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Lola products always grab at my heart, because I just love the name of the brand and their packaging is so sultry with their signature red compacts and coloring. Here’s a little peek at their holiday offerings…

Spellbound Color Clutch

Spellbound Color Clutch:  This comes in an elegant vintage clutch, black on black, with subtle floral detailing on the outside.  You’ll find three lipgloss shades with a hint of mint, two creme blushes, and eighteen shadow shades grouped into complementary trios.  Three of these trios are exclusive to this holiday palette.  I love how light weight the palette is in its entirety, which makes it a great option for travel.  I find that the eyeshadow shades are tame enough to work for most buyers, but there are a few colors there to give others a way to kick it up.  I also liked that there was a good variance, and it’s nice to have a group of colors you could use in one look right there for you–less thinking for those early am applications.  $38.00

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