Laura Mercier Ambre Vanillé Eau Gourmande

Laura Mercier's Ambre Vanillé Eau Gourmande ($50 ; Press Sample) is one of the few new additions to the very luxurious Ambre Vanille Bath & Body care range. The Ambre Vanillé Eau Gourmande blends two of Laura's favorite notes -  "the soft sensuality of Amber & the warm comfort of Vanilla to create a fragrance of feminine elegance and sophistication!"

The Ambre Vanillé range also includes a Creme Body Wash, a Body Butter and a Hand Creme so the fragrance can be layered for long lasting goodness. The Eau Gourmande itself is pretty long lasting on me - I can get a hint of the Vanilla even the next day! Ambre Vanillé is a rather rich, sophisticated scent, very sweet and comforting with just a hint of floral. The creamy vanilla blended with sensual amber, notes of brown sugar and coconuts makes it the most luxurious vanilla based scent that I have ever tried. I was absolutely in love from the very first spritz! Normally, I would prefer such scents more in the fall than in the spring or summer, but this definitely is an exception that I would wear year round. Overall, absolutely love it - an amaizng gourmand fragrance that makes me crave something sweet and delicious. If you like sophisticated, feminine, rich and creamy vanilla based scents, you'll love Ambre Vanillé!

Have you tried anything from the Laura Mercier Ambre Vanillé Bath & Body range?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

L'Ete Papillon de Chanel Summer 2013 Collection - Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lip Shine in Pygmalion

Pygmalion ($34) is one of two limited-edition Rouge Coco Shines, part of the L'Ete Papillon de Chanel Summer 2013 Makeup Collection. Pygmalion, looks like a bright, coral red in the tube, but goes on a little more pink on my lips. The color looks juicy & fresh with just the right hint of color for a sheer lipstick.

The packaging is simple, yet gorgeous. There's a slight hint of a floral scent from the lipstick that dissipates quickly. As for the color, Pygmalion is just my kinda color - I would wear it all through the year since it is just so effortless and easy. I don't have a problem with the sheerness of it either. In fact, I prefer sheer, glossy lipsticks over full coverage lipsticks any day. The formula is neither too hydrating, nor drying. I have pretty dry lips to start with and since there's a certain slip to the lipstick, I skipped a lip balm, but it did cling onto certain dry areas of my lips, so I'd recommend exfoliating well before. Like with any other sheer lipstick/lip shine, I got just over a couple of hours wear from this one. Although sheer, I was surprised to see that Pygmalion left behind a soft stain on my pigmented lips.

Pygmalion may not be the most unique color out there (see comparisons below), but it sure is gorgeous. I love the light weight feel and the comfortable texture of this one. It is limited edition and definitely worth a pick up from the collection!

L-R : Burberry Lip Mist in Stormy Pink (most pigmented, more red); Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion; MAC See Sheer ( a little more pigmented, more coral)

Pygmalion - 2 swipes

What are your thoughts on the Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion from the L'Ete Papillon de Chanel Summer 2013 Collection?

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Plum Jam

"A super moisturizing lip crayon that glides on effortlessly and wraps lips in a luscious wash of creamy color."

Soap & Glory's newest launch is their Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick ($16; Press Sample), a twist up chubby crayon that comes in three shades with a lovely vanilla flavor  I tried out Plum Jam, that looks like a rather deep berry and goes on like a much sheer pink tint on the lips. It is formulated without any Parabens or Pthalates and claims to plump and moisturize without the tingle.

The texture is smooth, creamy and you need a good 3-4 swipes to get moderate color payoff. I'm not complaining since these are described to be sheer and glossy. And yes, they are quite glossy initially and that turns into a sheen after about an hour or so. I like the texture, the super yummy scent and how very comfortable it wears without drying lips out one bit, but I do wish it was a tad cheaper, price-wise - something around the $10 - $12 mark would have been perfect, don't you think? As for the plumping effect, there is very subtle plumping with zero tingle and absolutely no discomfort. If you have pigmented lips, Plum Jam is a great way to add a subtle wash of color, sans any shimmer or glitter. 

Like with most sheer lip products, I get about 2 hours or so from this one and  its completely gone after that. On the plus side, it is super moisturizing and feels very balmy with no heavy/waxy feel! Definitely a great product to have for the warmer months ahead! 

Available online at sephora.com and at Sephora stores.

Have you tried the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Treatment + Cloth

The Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Treatment + Cloth ($48 ; Press Sample) is a one step, oil-based, creamy cleansing balm that gets rid of makeup and grime without drying skin out. The Cleansing Balm comes packaged in a small tub with a cloth included for exfoliation.

The balm is rather rich, so you'll only need a small amount for face and eyes. It is oil-based and whisks away every last trace of makeup and even the most stubborn, waterproof makeup that doesn't budge easily. To use, just warm up a little between fingers, massage it all over face & eyes and remove with a cloth or cotton pad, whichever you prefer. I prefer using a cloth dipped in hot water with these kinda balmy cleansers, followed with a few final rounds of cold water. The cloth that comes with the balm is rather big, but it does a good job of exfoliating skin really well.

My one big gripe with this cleansing treatment is the somewhat oily/waxy film it leaves on my skin. The oils do a fantastic job of breaking down all the makeup, but the film requires a foamy cleanser to get off. I usually follow up with a gentle cleanser and my skin feels super squeaky clean! The Argan Cleansing Treatment isn't drying when used alone, in fact, my skin does feel soft and well nourished because of the oils and shea butter. Since I follow it up with a regular cleanser afterwards, my skin feels a little taut and that's taken care of with some moisturizer. I wish the packaging on this was better - the small tub doesn't travel very well & the oil tends to leak quite a bit onto the sides. That packaging qualm apart, it is a very effective & gentle cleanser, especially great for the drier skin types that makes the whole cleansing experience a very luxurious one!

What are your thoughts on the Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Treatment + Cloth?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint For Eyes in Fuller Fudge

Clinique's Chubby Stick Shadow Tint For Eyes ($16) are a fairly new launch that come in a total of 12 shades, ranging from frosty pinks and lilacs to neutral browns and greens. I picked up Fuller Fudge, a rich, dark bronzy brown that is perfect for a quick wash of color - a must have if neutrals are your thing.

I love the convenience of some of these cream shadows that come in a stick form and this one's no exception. The formula is nice and easy to work with and most of the time, there's no need for a brush. As for Clinique, I think they did a good job with these Shadow Tints. The color comes in a twist up form and the texture  although creamy initially, dries to a powder finish. I like how the color doesn't set immediately, giving you sometime to blend the edges out and smudge it a little, where needed. The formula feels a little dry when compared to other eye shadows in stick form, like the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colors, for instance. But, it still is easy to work with whether you use your fingers or a brush to blend the color out.

Fuller Fudge is a very safe shade that would work on just about anyone! The shimmer keeps the color from being just another boring brown. The color is intense, but blends into a slightly more sheer wash. And also since these shadows don't have a very tacky texture or a heavy feel, building the color up a little more doesn't lead to a cakey mess. Without a primer on, I get about 4-5 hours and a couple hours more when layered over a primer. Fuller Fudge works perfectly well as a base and pairs well with most neutrals in my stash!

Have you tried the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints? What are your favorite shades?

ZOYA PixieDust Summer 2013 Edition - Review, Photos & Swatches

ZOYA's new Summer PixieDusts are here! The previous set of PixieDusts out for Spring were softer colors, perfect for winter & spring, while the summer edition is full of brights with the same sugary texture and super sparkly matte finish. Like all PixieDusts, this one too needs to be applied in thin coats, with no top/base coat, allowing ample time in between coats to dry. I found that these dried a little faster than the previous set of PixieDusts and the formula was quite easy to work with. *Press Samples.

Beatrix - Tangerine Metal Sparkle. 

Destiny - Coral Metal Sparkle

Miranda - Rose Sparkle

Stevie - Violet Sparkle

Liberty - Blue Sparkle

Solange - Gold Metal Sparkle (Exclusive Pigment)

All colors except Beatrix were quite easy to work. All swatches were done with two thin coats with no top/base coat, If you want a more glossy finish, be sure to add two coats of top coat after it is completely dry. Liberty was very opaque in just one coat and the blue base is a lot more creamy and smooth compared to the others. Miranda was a little less matte compared to the other shades in the range, but the color is undoubtedly gorgeous  Overall, I love the color range of the summer PixieDusts - super fun, bright and ultra sparkly! My favorites from this collection are Liberty, Solange and Destiny!

Available now online at zoya.com. 

Price : $9 each. 

Zoya Nail Polishes are 5-free (Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, DBP and Camphor).

What are your thoughts on the new PixieDusts for summer?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Elizabeth Arden New York In Bloom Spring/Summer 2013 Collection

A few pieces from Elizabeth Arden's new New York In Bloom Collection for Spring/Summer 2013. The limited edition compacts have a gorgeous, floral print design and flower embossed patterns on the inside that is almost too cute to put a dent on! Featured here are the Eye Shadow Trio in Violet Bloom, Radiant Bronzing Powder in Deep, Bold Eye Pencil in Iridescent Teal and the Nail Lacquer Duo in Purple Orchid. *Press Samples.

Eye Shadow Trio in Violet Bloom ($32)

Violet Bloom is a very wearable eye shadow trio with a lovely mix of taupe, dark brown and a light pink. The pigmentation on the light pink was a tad patchy but the other two colors were very well pigmented and smooth. The very travel friendly compact comes with a nice sized mirror too. The dark brown is a fantastic crease color that also doubles up as a liner for me. As for the taupe, although slightly frosty, it pairs really well with the chocolate brown for a simple, wearable look. A very pretty looking palette that would have been perfect if the lightest shade was a little more easy to work with, considering the price tag.

Bold Eye Pencil in Iridescent Teal ($20)

A chunky, pigmented eye pencil that comes with a sharpener included. Iridescent Teal is a bright  bold blue that adds a nice pop of color along the lash line. I tried this one on my waterline and it lasted no longer than half an hour. On the plus side, it doesn't sting my eyes. On my lash line, with a primer, I get about 2-3 hours with a little bit of smudging on the outer corners afterwards. I love how smooth and soft the texture feels - there's no need to tug or pull even if your lids are fairly dry.

Nail Lacquer Duo in Purple Orchid ($18.50)

Purple Orchid is a great shade that works all year round - its nothing very unique though. The formula is a nice consistency and quite opaque in just one coat. Without the topcoat, the color is a tad dull but the topcoat adds a nice glossy sheen to the murky purple.

Radiant Bronzing Powder in Deep ($38)

This is my favorite piece from the collection - lovely, soft texture and a light dusting is all you need for a sun-kissed look. It goes on much less shimmery than how it looks in the pan and the adds a gorgeous, healthy glow. The colors when swirled together create a warm, bronzy glow that also doubles up a highlighter on most medium/dark skin tones. There's a small brush included that works in a pinch. There's no fallout and the packaging, like everything else from the collection is beautiful!

Overall, a nice little collection for Spring/Summer with mostly wearable colors and lovely textures. The compacts are beautifully designed with mirrors included. The Pure Finish Bronzer is definitely my favorite piece from the New York In Bloom collection!

Have you tried anything from the Elizabeth Arden New York In Bloom Spring/Summer 2013 Collection?

Disclosure: The products in this article were provided by PR for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.