Jouer Cosmetics recently did a relaunch this year, and I was excited to try their revamped line-up. Admittedly, I hadn’t tried their originaly products before, but I’m always curious about higher end cosmetic lines. The first thing I noticed when I received my Jouer products was that all of the products can be made to interlock. Yes, INTERLOCK! Like Legos… for makeup addicts. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen, and yet totally creative and different. Each palette is also labeled (blush, face, eye, etc.) on the side, in case you store them that way. All of the sleek compacts included mirrors, even the eyeshadows, which was interesting.
Jouer Rose Blush ($24.00) is a mineral powder blush described as a “soft dusty rose.” I’d buy that description; it’s fairly accurate. The color goes on softly; a very subtle dusting of subdued rose. It’s a buildable color, rather than one that you have to worry about diffusing later.
Jouer Amaretto Eyeshadow ($20.00) is a chocolate brown-bronze kind of color; not overly dark but not too light. The color has warm undertones, but not enough to classify it as a warm color–more neutral. All of Jouer’s powder eyeshadows can be used as a wet or dry, and they aren’t supposed to crease. When I used them (look to be posted next week), I used them over Too Faced Shadow Insurance, so I can’t attest to their power sans a base (but really, why wouldn’t you use a base?!).
Jouer Pink Champagne Eyeshadow ($20.00) is a soft, shimmery pink-neutral color. I see this being used mostly as an all-over lid color or to highlight the brow or inner tearduct. In the look I did using Jouer shadows, I used it as a lid and a highlighter, actually! The texture is very soft and satiny; it blends easily and applies smoothly.
You can find Jouer at www.jouercosmetics.com! Also, on the website, they “show” you what each product looks like on four different skin tones, which is kind of cool!
See product photos and swatches! Continue reading →
Japonesque’s Artisan Tweezers ($20.00) are perfect for getting every last stubborn stray brow hair out. Japonesque tweezers come with a lifetime reconditioning guarantee, which is always worth noting, as tweezers do tend to dull after awhile. These feel natural when I grip them in my hand, and I don’t have to press very hard to pluck out messy brow hairs. I also like how many different colors/patterns they come in, because who doesn’t like having tools that are functional and adorable? But don’t easily dismiss the classic, because it’s sleek and chic, too! (And no, you can never have too many tweezers — I have them everywhere!)
NP Set by Napoleon Perdis is a line designed for and carried by Target. I’ve used a few Napoleon Perdis products in the past (China Doll foundation being one of them–which was fab, though pricey), and I haven’t been disappointed. I was interested to see how NP Set would meet my expectations. This post is only about the lipsticks (not the primer pictured above). The lipsticks in Rio and Boston Cream Ginger ($15.00) were the ones that I ended up giving a try.
Rio is described as a brick red, but it’s too subdued to be a real brick red. I’d say it is a pinked brick red if anything. It’s a nice color, though, nonetheless; it’s perfect for fall and winter. It’s not pastel or pink or springy in the least bit, but it’s also not overly vampy or dark. It should work with most skin tones. The lipstick formula itself is matte in finish, but it is not at all drying–very moisturizing for a matte. In the lip swatch, you’ll notice despite being advertised as a matte, there is still some noticeable sheen.
Boston Cream Ginger is an incredibly creamy coral-melon color. It’s definitely one of those colors I’m drawn to, because corals are my favorites! The creaminess factor is a huge plus, because a lipstick should be moisturizing and hydrating. It should never dry your lips out! Since I can’t reapply balm throughout the day when I have lipstick on, I only bother wearing lipsticks that keep my lips soft and pouty. This one also has a lot of glossiness in its finish, which makes it incredibly wearable without adding any gloss whatsoever–something I rarely feel comfortable doing!
I’m very impressed by these lipsticks, and I wouldn’t mind checking out the other shades the next time I’m at Target (but I avoid going at all costs–I always end up with a cart filled with 99% of things I didn’t intend to buy!).
Check out skin and lip swatches… Continue reading →
Ojon Tawaka “The White Ball” has launched just in time for the winter season (only available at Sephora)–that’s right, it’s white. Be sure to read my original review of The Ball here for insight on what I thought about the original (so you have a point of comparison). ”The White Ball” produces a creamy lather designed to help moisturize skin, often prone to dryness during the winter time. Unlike “The Ball,” this version has no real scent. I would say you might notice a starchy, rice-like scent if anything–but that’s really only if you’re trying to find a scent.
“The Ball” has Ojon’s signature cocoa-rich scent while “The White Ball” lacks any identifying scent. “The Ball” is designed to be more of a body buffing product, while “The White Ball” adds moisture and leaves skin feeling clean and smooth. Both the consistency and color of the product while being used is milky. It’s easy to get confused between the two, but they are distinctly different products that do different things. They might have the same shape and come with the same wooden bowl, but otherwise, don’t lump them together!
Like the original, I find this to be an indulgence. It’s a product you splurge on, something to use when you want to prolong your shower by pampering and rolling away every stressful thought. The ball shape is meant to be rolled over the skin, which simultaneously gives you a little massage while you clean! Bonus points for this one not leaving any residue on your shower!
Find yours at Sephora
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CLEAN’s latest addition to their scent line-up is Winter ($48.95). Clean always has scents that remind you of exactly that–cleanliness. Whether it be fresh laundry or reminiscent of soap-lathered skin…it’s clean. This scent does seem grittier, deeper than the traditional Clean scents, but it is still a soft, crisp scent. It does live up to its name Winter. It reminds me exactly of cool winter days when the wind blows harshly and the air is crisp and fresh. I notice a touch of floral, a little spice, and a taste of the outdoors in the fragrance. I find this lasts on me several hours, and it never is overpowering. The way it lays down after about thirty minutes is very similar to how it smells initially. I really wish I could describe the scent better–I couldn’t even find a list of notes for this scent, which makes it even harder. I’ll just say this: if you love opening your door to a fresh powder of snow, taking a deep breath and inhaling the cool air… this scent is for you.
Clean Winter eau de parfum is currently available on HSN!
Tarte’s Purse Your Lips Lipgloss Clutch ($39.00) features nine stunning shades of lip glosses. Each brand new, limited edition shade features Tarte’s “t5 super fruit complex” (which kind of makes me giggle–let’s be honest). The clutch that holds the lipglasses is large enough that it should fit all of the lipglosses, and then perhaps another twenty more. It’s quite roomy, so you can definitely utilize it as a holiday clutch, and not just a makeup holder, during the winter. The color of the clutch is a faux snakeskin pattern with a dark purple base with golden-greenish sheen/shimmer.
What I liked most about this holiday set is you get a lot of fun colors to play with. I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest value (you get nine 0.02oz glosses for $39, while one 0.2 oz gloss runs you $21), though it would depend on whether you consider the clutch something you’d use. But anyway, half of the time I go for a holiday set is because I can try several products out at once for less than just one. This holds true here. The shades range of peach-nude to creamy red. You’re bound to find a few favorites, and even ones that you’ll use, but hold off for that special occasion.
A downside to this set of glosses is that they are all limited edition. They were intended to be sold in this clutch only; you won’t even find names listed on them (how annoying, by the way!). So if you fall in love with one, don’t expect it to hold you over for very long, and you will have to be on the hunt for a similar shade, since no full-size exists.
See the clutch, plus photos of each gloss and swatches! Continue reading →
