Achieve Rosy Radiance With L’Oreal Paris White Perfect

This is another one of those times that I wish I was in Asia–we miss out on so much over here! Although I was pretty horrified by the L’Oreal prices in Korea–much more than we pay in the good ol’ US.

Business Cards On the Brain…

After finally having acquired some business cards at work (yes I’ve been businesscard-less for this long!) I’m thinking it may be time for me to print up a couple of business cards for the blog. I don’t know how much use I’d get out of them, but it does seem to be common practice and there are instances every now and again when I do wish that I had them. Problem is, I have no idea where to get them! Any suggestions? I want something simple and chic, and of course uniquely ABS.

Cle de Peau Beaute Lip Gloss N (Brillant a Levres N) in 2 Review & Swatches

Cle de Peau Beaute Brillant a Levres N in #2 ($47)

Cle de Peau’s luxurious lip gloss formulation combines the drama and vibrance of gloss with enduring deep color. It contains the exclusive Cle de Peau Beaute advanced moisutirizing ingredient, Hydro-Wrap Complex, along with Argan Tree Oil for smooth application and wear.

Nicole sent me Cle de Peau’s Gloss N 2 as part of my wonderful birthday package (see the rest of it HERE). I’m quite the lucky girl as she also gifted me Cle de Peau’s absolutely gorgeous Touche de Rouge on a previous occasion (review and swatches HERE)–Nicole’s the best!

Shade 2 is a stunner; it’s everything I’d wished Laura Mercier’s Lip Glace in Bellini would be but wasn’t. It’s a peachy shade that reflects pink in certain angles (just barely) and it contains a heavy heavy dose of super fine gold shimmer throughout that makes for a dazzling effect.

Close Up of Applicator

The gloss is a little on the sticky side, but it’s only sticky enough to make it extreme long-wearing and doesn’t leave your lips feeling at all gummy or tacky–thanks in part to the uniquely angled applicator of the gloss. This applicator is longer and more angled than your conventional applicator, and it’s actually ideally shaped for slicking just a thin layer of gloss over your lips so that you end up with the perfect layer of gloss each and every time. And a sheer layer is all you need thanks to the beautiful vibrancy of the golden shimmer–any more would be overkill.

Swatch of Cle de Peau Beauty Gloss in 2
(Check out additional swatches HERE)

I’ve fallen asleep with this gloss on my lips and woken up after a good 6 hours of tossing and turning to still find remnants of gloss on my lips ~ gross I know, but a testament to the lasting power of Cle de Peau’s glosses. As an added bonus, the gloss is beautifully moisturizing and leaves my lips feeling soft and supple.

Lip Swatches of Shade 2:

Super close-up of the shimmer on lips.

While I’m not so in love with the $47 price tag on these, I think that I can live with it as I really don’t use much gloss each time I apply since with Cle de Peau’s glosses I never feel the need to apply layer after layer to build shimmer and shine–one thin coat is always more than enough. This Gloss N has become a warm-weather favorite for me and it’ll definitely be going into heavy rotation com Summer 2009!

Revlon Fantasy Lengths in Lush and a Beaded Konadicure

I was headed out to an engagement party this past Memorial Day Weekend, and I didn’t really feel like wearing any mascara or curling my lashes, so I whipped out my trusty false lashes which did the trick. I only used two little clumps of lashes from Revlon’s Fantasy Lashes in Lush on the outer corners of each eye, and I was set. Instant lush, thick lashes that give a little drama without looking unnatural.

What do you think?

While I have a bunch of Revlon’s Fantasy Length Lashes (see my collection HERE), Lush is one of my faves because I can customize the look that I want to achieve and don’t have to bother with a full strip of lashes if I’m not so inclined.

And I’m terrible with the nailpolish photos for some reason (with flash there’s just so much glare!) but here’s one of my latest Konadicure using plate # 62 (which I purchased solely for this stamp). The base color is Revlon’s Fruitful Temptations Fruit-Scented Nailpolish in Not So Blue-berry (review HERE–and the color looks much better with flash) topped with Konad’s special polish in purple. I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on this one–loving it!

Take A Peek Inside Sephora’s Sun Safety Kit

Sephora Sun Safety Kit ($110 value for $22.50)

Sephora Sun Safety Kit brings you a bevy of summer skincare must-haves! Sun exposure is the #1 cause of wrinkles and skin damage. Try out this array of products and find your perfect match. Do something good for your skin and feel good knowing that 100% of the net profits from the sales of this set will be donated to The Skin Cancer Foundation. Stay safe this summer!

Unbeknownst to me, my boyfriend ordered this cute Sephora Sun Safety Kit for me while I was away in Korea–I guess he got bored without me! =D And of course I love it since he’s usually anti buying my anything cosmetics related.

I’m all about year round sun-protection (see my reviews of my favorite SPF products HERE), but of course it’s especially important come spring/summer with the hot sun beating down on your delicate complexions for hours on end. I’m always loathe to experiment with full-sized SPF’s since many of them irritate my skin and cause burning/itching, so I love having all these minis to play around with before having to commit to a full-size.

Check out what the set includes below!

The fun expandable yellow bag (made out of recycled plastic) that all the goodies come in. It’s such a nice bright shade, and even better is that it expands into a really cute backpack (photos below)!

– 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15
– 0.4 oz Philosophy Hope in a Jar SPF 20
– 0.14 oz Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15
– 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion SPF 30
– 0.5 oz Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20
– 1.0 oz Anthony Logistics Facial Moisturizer SPF 15

– 0.23 oz DDF Protect and Correct UV Moisturizer SPF 15
– 0.33 oz Cosmedicine Medi-matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20
– 0.34 oz Korres Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30
– 0.08 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++
– 0.1 oz Clarins UV Plus Day Screen High Protection SPF 40

– 0.25 oz Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Cream SPF 15
– 0.01 oz Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Well-Rested for Eyes SPF 30

The backpack fully expanded!

I think this kit is a really fun way to try out a million different SPF products without having to commit to any one of them. Yes the samples are tiny, but they’re big enough that you can get a decent idea of whether or not a product works for you before you’re out of it.

I do wish that the set didn’t include men’s products (the Jack Black and Anthony Logistics), but it’s not a huge deal as I can just give them to the SO. And I also found myself wishing that some of the products had higher SPF’s–I usually go for at least SPF 40, so some of these are on the low end of the spectrum for me.

All in all this is a great product in some fun-for-the-beach packaging that I definitely recommend. especially since all the net proceeds go to The Skin Foundation!

Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint Review & Swatches

Etude House Fresh Cherry Tints in #1 Red and #2 Pink
(6,000 won each = approximately $4.75)

Tint promotes moist & shiny cherry lips with a creamy, smooth texture.

[Directions] Use tip to father and apply tint. Apply extra layer for added coverage.

Etude House’s Fresh Cherry Lip Tints are easily my favorite purchase from Korea–and probably amongst my cheapest too! While I am enjoying playing around with the Asia-exclusive high end products that I picked up (check out my Korea haul HERE), there’s just something so satisfying about finding a cheap product that’s absolutely amazing and cute to boot.

Etude House has consistently impressed me with its low-priced, high-quality products; most recently I’ve been loving the Plumping Lip Tint (review HERE) and Speedy Total Mineral Base (which I picked up during my Korea trip as well–mini review HERE).

I tend to be very picky when it comes to lip tints/stains, and with good reason. I love a good, long-lasting lip stain in theory, but they never work out too well for me in practice. Maybe I don’t keep my lips as well moisturized as I should, maybe they’re just not as smooth as they should be, or maybe I just have weird lips–regardless, stains always give me a dark ring of color on the inner portion of my lower lips that’s far from attractive.

Close-up of Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in #2 Pink on the applicator.
Milky creamy goodness!

My first shopping day in Korea I picked up a lip stain that ended up being a bit of a disaster, so of course I hesitated over these, but I just couldn’t resist the star-embellished plump little bottles.

What Makes These So Great? Well unlike most tints that I’ve seen, the Fresh Cherry Tints are very milky and creamy, rather than runny and watery, giving you a lot more control when it comes to application and making them a lot easier to work with. There’s no funky taste (just a very light, yummy cherry flavor from the sweet cherry fruit extract) and no Kool-Aid mouth – just beautifully stained lips that last and last. I didn’t expect great lasting power from this stain given its milky quality, but believe me once it’s on it isn’t going anywhere!

The #2 Pink is reminiscent of Benefit’s Posietint (but a million times cheaper), and while I tend to veer away from reds, the #1 Red is just perfect. The stains left behind are bright and clear, like the skin of a perfectly ripe cherry, and your lips are left looking lush and moist, a difficult feat for most stains which leave my lips looking rather dry.

Swatches of #2 Pink and #1 Red

Not So Much: Well, as is the case with all stains, if you use your fingers to apply this, things can get a wee bit messy. But on the bright side, it’s actually the easiest-to-use stain that I’ve tried, and therefore the least messy as well. And of course there’s the fact that it’s hard to find outside of Korea, at least for a decent price.

So in the swatch above you’ll see what I mean about staying power. The two ‘stains’ you see in the bottom half of the photo are the swatches from the photo above. I dabbed it on, quickly took a photo then went to blend, but the color had already absorbed into my skin, staining it, and pretty much refused to budge or blend and an inch. Above the colors you can see what the Tints look like when blended right away ~ a gorgeous sheer wash of color that looks amazing on both lips and cheeks.

Lip Swatch of Fresh Cherry Tint in #1 Red

Have I mentioned that I love these tints? Sooooo so so so so so so much! To the point where I’m feeling the need to ferret away random tubes of Fresh Cherry Lip Tint in every available nook and cranny of my room on the off-chance that I might lose one of my two precious tubes. I say we petition Etude House and demand that they open a US location for the sake of my sanity :).

RATING: 5/5

Save 20% @ Benefit Through 5/29/09

Through 5/29/09, enter code: MAKEUP20 at checkout to receive 20% off your entire Benefit order! I’ve really been wanting to check out their Smokin’ Eyes palette, and 20% off really is a great deal, although I’m probably more likely to pick it up using my new Sephora gift card from SO’s sister :).

Smashbox Friends & Family: Save 20% Through 5/29/09

Now through May 29, 2009, participate in Smashbox’s F&F event by entering code: FFSB9 at checkout to receive 20% off your Smashbox order. I’ve been curious about their Lash DNA mascara so might take this opportunity to indulge, although that’s more likely to be a no than a yes since I spent enough this past weekend!

Save 20% @ Cherry Culture Through 5/28/09

Thanks to Ana for this tip! Now through May 28th (I know I’m a little late on these, I’ve been swamped this past weekend) enter code: MD20 to receive 20% off all your Cherry Culture purchases, plus received free shipping on all orders over $40!

I know a lot of ladies love Cherry Culture for their great range of NYX products, so if you’ve been curious about them, now’s a great time to check them out!

Etude House Plumping Lip Tint Review & Swatches

Etude House Plumping Lip Tint in #1 Red
(6,500 won = approximately $5.25)

Colorful lip plumping tint supplies smooth moisture.

Directions: Twist to dispense. Use silicone tip to apply to lips. Apply extra layer for added volume.

I almost didn’t purchase Etude House’s Plumping Lip Tint while I was in Korea, but like so many times in life, managed to be talked into by the perky and oh-so-helpful salesgirl (she was really sweet! she followed me around the store fanning me because I was overheated) and it would’ve been a serious tragedy if I hadn’t, as it’s quickly become my favorite everyday gloss!

The main reason that I purchased this was for the packaging–the fat, stout tube of gloss just seemed so fun and different, and I adored the silicone-tipped applicator. Unlike other silicone/spatula-type applicators that I’ve tried, this one has the perfect amount of flexibility and give, making for perfect gloss application every time.

Top view of silicone spatula applicator.

The Applicator: I’ve raved about the benefits of a silicone-spatula applicator on the blog before, but I’m again to start again! A spatula applicator allows you to have much more control over the amount of gloss you pick up and apply initially to your slips, makes for smoother application as you just slick it on and there’s no fuzziness to absorb the gloss (meaning the gloss actually ends up on your lips), makes for even application, and ensures that you don’t end up with waaay too much gloss on your mouth making for unattractive goopiness.

Side view of the silicone applicator.

The Gloss: The gloss itself is also pretty rave-worthy in my opinion. It’s a light, not-too-thin yet not-too-sticky gel type gloss that has a pleasant bubblegum minty hybrid scent and flavor and imparts a refreshing cooling sensation to the lips when applied (with no stinging I promise!). I usually hate reds, but the shade is bright, clear, and simply beautiful–it makes my lips look lightly tinted (like I’m wearing a great lip stain with some clear gloss on top), and while there isn’t any major plumping action, my lips do look a bit fuller and poutier post-application.

Lip Swatches:

My sole regret is that I only purchased one of these fabulous little glosses, which are a serious bargain at $5 and change. If I were back in Korea, I think I’d stockpile at least 5 of these in both shades (I think it also comes in pink), as I know this gloss would keep my lips pouty, moisturized, refreshingly cool and beautifully tinted throughout the sweltering summer months.

RATING: 5/5