LUSH Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser ($9.95 for 3.5 oz.) has been my go-to morning cleanser lately, because it’s a mild exfoliating cleanser that’s perfect for both sensitive skin and everyday use. If you’re new to Lush, this might be a little more adventurous product type than other products they offer, just because it feels very natural/organic.
It’s sort of a gummy roll of product, which you take a pea or two peas-sized dollops out of. You add a little water, then rub it between your hands until it starts to break down into almost a paste consistency. Then you apply it like your usual cleanser–gentle, circular motions. Rinse, then pat your face dry, and you’re all done. Of course, you can choose to follow up with toner and/or moisturizer if you so desire.
Angels on Bare Skin includes the following ingredients: Ground Almonds (Prunus dulcis), Glycerine, Kaolin, Water (Aqua), Lavender Oil (Lavandula hybrida), Rose Absolute (Rosa centifolia), Lavender Flowers (Lavendula hybrida), *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume. The Rose Absolute is supposed to tone, while the Lavender Oil soothes your skin. I list the ingredient list so you can see what’s in the product, but also so you can have an idea as to why this product has a shelf life of a mere three months. This is not a product to stock up on! That huge chunk of product in the photo will surely last me at least three months!
The scent of Angels on Bare Skin reminds me of going out in the woods or a field–it’s not that compost heap “natural” smell or anything, but more like the invigorating scent of nature. I don’t mind it, though I know a few are put off by the scent of this. I don’t feel this removes makeup 100% (especially not eye makeup–hello, it does have ground almonds in it, aka not going near my eyes), so I prefer to use something else in the PM or else I’ll use something else to remove makeup, then follow-up with this cleanser in the PM.
Overall, I recommend trying this product, because it’s worked well in recuperating from my silicone-based break out. It hasn’t caused any additional acne, and I believe it has helped in reducing inflammation of those stubborn pimples (thus, making them appear less red and making me feel less self-conscious!). I’ll be posting more about my favorite Lush skincare products soon!
Zoya’s 2008 Winter Collection is called Flourish and contains six excellent shades of polish perfect for the season. Zoya’s formula is one of my favorites, because I always find their colors are rich and pigmented and two coats is always enough. Their Color Lock System is my go-to for keeping my nail color long-lasting, durable, and chip-free. I’m so happy to say that Flourish doesn’t disappoint in the least. In fact, Zara stands out so much amongst the pack that it is almost back-up status worthy. (If I didn’t have seventy some-odd polishes and did my nails more often…) Mieko is this delightful strawberry red color–there’s just something about it that really draws me in. I anticipate wearing it beyond winter–probably summer–as well. You can get their sampler platter featuring all six polishes for $36 at zoya.com.
What’s your favorite?
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Essie’s Winter 2008 Collection features six stunning shades of rich jewel-toned polishes. Each polish goes for $8, but you can snag all six as a set for $45. My favorites were Sexy Divide, a gorgeous, deep dark royal purple; and It’s Genius for its softer, lighter magenta-purple tone. Essie polishes have always worked well for me, and this set is no different overall. All of the polishes are pigmented and go on smoothly with the exception of Shifting Power, which I’d probably do three coats of. Because Shifting Power has a more metallic finish, it’s easier to see the stroke lines, too.
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Green by Nature Banana Shea Body Butter ($11.99) is a tropical treat for your skin. It’s 97.6% natural and 100% paraben free (you can see that right on the jar itself). Green by Nature is a brand where every product is 100% free of Parabens, Sulfates, DEA, petroleum, Propylene glycol, Sacchrine, Dioxin, and Phthalate. No product is less than 95% natural, and they deal primarily in body products (lotions, scrubs, etc.). There are three main scents: Almond Cocoa, Banana Shea, and Mint Green Tea.
I’ve only tried and sniffed the Banana Shea scent, which smells exactly like a perfectly ripened banana (not too sweet, not too sour!). The body butter itself is rich and thick, just like a body butter should be, and the moisturization properties keep my legs scale-free all day long. I find the drying time isn’t quick, but I haven’t found that body butters sink in particularly fast. I’d say you just need to stand around doing your hair or makeup for five minutes or so before slipping on your pants/skirt/shorts/what-have-you. Besides, the best time to soften up your bod is immediately after you’ve toweled off!
You can browse Green by Nature products at www.greenbynaturebeauty.com or at Target (psst! this product is on sale for $9.99 right now!).
NARS The Multiple Duo Maldives/ Riviera
($45.00) is part of the new Multiple Duos NARS recently launched. The palette is actually pretty large–much larger than the eyeshadows, eyeshadow duos, or blushes. I see the Multiple Duos as one way to reach a larger audience, because you get two for $45 rather than one for $37. Admittedly, the Multiple itself has plenty of product to stretch out your dollar–it isn’t like you’ll run out in a week.
Maldives is described as “pink champagne with shimmer,” and the description is right on. Same with the description of Riviera as a “sheer pink.” Both of these shades are available in Multiple form, so if you love one but not the other, you don’t have to pick them up as a duo. Both colors are fairly sheer, and on my skin tone (NC30), I really couldn’t get much color to show. Riviera showed up better than Maldives, but it required a lot of building to get there.
Unlike the original Multiple, which comes in a stick form, you pretty much have to use a brush with these (the drawback is it may be harder to transfer color onto the skin and you may waste more product that gets caught in the bristles). I know some will say to use your fingers, which is fine, but I just prefer not to use my fingers to apply makeup. It kind of grosses me out, especially the idea of my finger oils getting all into the compact. Perhaps a sponge would be better, but I’ve always found sponges to be so wasteful. Sigh!
What struck me the most was that the duo format didn’t feel as creamy as the original version. I think that factor contributed to why I found it difficult to get enough pigmentation for these colors to show up on me. I tried several brushes (187, 188, 190) with all mixed results. Next time I’m at Nordstrom’s or Sephora, I definitely want to see how both these shades compare when in Multiple form, just to see if the formulations really are different–especially in pigmentation. I do wonder if it’s like some other creamy products where the surface is firm, but once you’ve used it a few times, the product softens.
I also want to check out Maui/Palm Beach and Orgasm/South Beach duos, too. I think those may be better for my skin tone!
Have you tried the new Multiple Duos? What do you think? Which ones have you tried?
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MUD CARES PALETTE ($25.00) is a quad of eyeshadows developed and created by Makeup Designory (you know, the school!). Not only that, but this palette donates 100% of the proceeds towards building homes for children in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS.
Palette colors:
Spanish Gold Warm, amber brown
Dulce de Leche Soft brown-based pink
Cashmere Medium beige with coffee warmth
Moss Golden olive green with gold flecks
What really impressed me about the palette was how utterly pigmented each of the colors were. They really are true-to-color and go on like a dream. Soft and finely milled with just a touch of shimmer/sheen. It’s more a sheen than true shimmer, but they’re definitely not matte shadows. I can really see this palette working for most skin tones and complexions; it just has a good mix of colors that have enough depth to really have fun with.
Plus, MUD offers these tips on using it (how awesome is that?):
Great on all skin tones
Mix Spanish Gold with Moss to create a rich liner
Use a sheer swipe of Cashmere for a touch of warmth
Use Dulce de Leche as a highlight for a dimensional effect
Use with Black Eye Pencil and Black Cream Mascara for a dramatic evening look
Use #330 Shadow Fluff Brush for a brilliant sweep of color on the entire lid
Use #330, #350 or #800 Brush to blend and define the crease
Use the fine sharp angle of #210 Angle Liner Brush to apply along upper and lower lash lines as a liner or to achieve natural hair strokes on eyebrows
Use #810 Smudger Brush to smudge or smoke out eye liner or crease color
Use #320 Shadow Brush to apply to the center of the lid
Use #300 or #350 Brush to blend and highlight the brow bone
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