New CC Creams For Summer!

I've been trying out a few "CC Creams" that were launched for summer and some of them are just a step above the BB Creams and offer the same, if not better sun protection, benefits and ease of use - great for summer! So far, the ones I've tried have pretty nice coverage - I would compare the coverage level to that of the Korean BB Creams. Too bad a lot of US BB creams were disappointing in terms of coverage, but the CC Creams seem like a better choice in terms of evening out skintone and providing a little extra coverage with the same amount of sun protection.

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting ($42, Press Sample) - It comes in five shades - I tried out light, which was a pretty good match for me a month or so back - just a tad light, but it blended well. Now, its a little too light since I have tanned considerably since summer. Coverage wise, this one feels light, but has sheer to medium, buildable coverage, good enough to blur out small imperfections and uneven pigmentation. It has a very matte finish though, so it would be a better fit for oily skin. It keeps skin looking matte and doesn't get greasy or oxidise as the day goes by. Be sure to moisturize well if you have dry skin. The color sheers out quite a bit, but there is enough coverage to take care of redness & minor imperfections. Available at Ulta, Sephora and smashbox.com

Ingredients : Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 4.00%, Oxybenzone 2.50%, Titanium Dioxide 1.10%. Inactive: Water\Aqua\Eau, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-40 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D'Orge, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sucrose, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Caffeine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Cholesterol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, Linoleic Acid, Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol, Squalane, Sodium PCA, Urea, Bisabolol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Glycerin, Oryzanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Stearic Acid, Silica, Ergothioneine, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alumina, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Chlorphenesin, [+/- Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Zinc Oxide (CI 77497), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)]

Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF35($32, Press Sample) - This is a fairly thick CC cream and feels a little more concentrated and very much thicker than a BB cream or a tinted moisturizer. It comes in two shades - Light/Medium and Medium/Dark and is supposed to self adjust.The shades seem to run a little dark and I'm not sure if Light/Medium would be a good match for fair/light skin tones. It is self adjusting to an extent, but needs to be blended in really well. For a thick CC cream, it does feel light, once blended in. My only qualm with this CC Cream is the whitish cast it leaves. It takes a good 5-10 minutes to sink in and the cast goes off once it does, but initially it is quite obvious. It is also paraben and fragrance-free but I can detect a faint scent which isn't bothersome at all. Available at Nordstrom, Sephora.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC + ($38, Press Sample) - This is a medium-full coverage CC Cream with quite a bit of skin benefits and great sun protection. The color Tan is a tad dark for me right now, but by the end of summer, I'm going to be a a lot more tan, so this would just so perfect then. This CC Cream contains "snail secretion" as one of the top ingredients, which is something to keep in mind if that is something you're trying to avoid. It also has a strong scent, not too overpowering, but it does take a while to dissipate. I love the amount of coverage and the super creamy, smooth application. The packaging is awesome, there's no wastage and if I set it with a good powder, there's no greasiness even after a few hours. It also claims to have anti aging benefits with a serum infused formula, so it doubles as a skincare/makeup in one. Overall, a really nice CC cream, lovely formula and pretty good shade range (5 shades). Absolutely love this CC Cream!  Available at QVC and QVC.com

Have you tried any of these CC Creams?

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.

Products That Did Not Work For Me - Part 4

Just a quick post to talk about some of my recent product misses!

Living Proof Restore Recovery Regimen ($38;Press Sample) - While I loved the Living Proof Restore Shampoo, Conditioner and Styling cream, the Living Proof Restore Recovery Regimen was a huge let down. I was sent the restore line to test out quite a while back. I used the whole pack, for a good 5 weeks (one tube per week) and saw absolutely no difference in the way my hair feels. In fact, the regular Restore Conditioner does a wonderful job at keeping my hair tame. There's also a mask from the line which is supposed to deep condition, but I haven't tried that yet to talk about it. As for the Living Proof Restore Recovery Regimen, I've seen better hair treatments that work for my hair type - oily roots and dry ends.

Aveda Shampure Shampoo ($12)  - Before I got around to trying the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo, I tried Aveda's Shampure - a balancing shampoo that cleanses and conditions. I din't like anything about it except for the scent. It left my hair greasy and super tangled - such a weird combination!

Smashbox High Definition Concealer ($22) - If all you want to standout are your fine lines, get this concealer. It is thick, separates and looks cakey after an hour or two. It has pretty good coverage, but definitely not something for the drier skin types. A big no especially for the under eye area.

Butter London Starkers ($18 for LIPPY, $15 for Nail Polish, Press Sample) - Earlier this year, butter LONDON came out with a collection called 'Starkers'. Starkers was a collection with three LIPPYs and matching Nail Polishes in different nude shades. I was sent all of the lippys and  a couple of the polishes to try out. I love the new formulation of the butter LONDON lippys that came out last fall, but these felt more thicker and goopy. I'm pretty sure the formula was quite different and it felt a tad heavy and weak in pigmentation. The nail polishes separated too soon, but on the plus side, they were quite opaque and the colors were really sophisticated, perfectly suited for any neutral nail polish lover.

Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom Body Wash ($10) - I quite like Pacifica's Body Washes, but this one was a not up to the mark. It smells like dish washing liquid and leaves a film, not sure what the deal is. Doesn't look like all of them were formulated alike.

Have you tried any of these products? What are some of your recent product let downs?

*Starkers and Living Proof Restore Regimen are press samples. *Pictures courtesy sephora.com, pacifica.com, aveda.com and butterlondon.com

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser

Neutrogena's Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser ($8.99, Press Sample) is a foaming, gel-like cleanser, perfectly suited for sensitive skin. The cleanser comes in a very generous 12 ounce pump bottle and does the job effectively without stripping skin of natural oils.

I've tried quite a bit of cleansers from the drugstore and this one from Neutrogena is definitely one of my favorites. It is paraben and sulfate-free. Although I like the First Aid Beauty Cleanser for my sensitive skin a little more than this, I've been using this a lot lately, especially since the start of spring. The packaging is really convenient and the pump dispenses without any wastage - I use about half a pump for the whole face. The gel like texture foams up pretty well and rinses off clean without over drying. I use this mostly in the shower, so most of my makeup is taken off and this effectively gets rid of any traces that may be left behind. I'm not too fond of the scent though - it is mild, but since it is an ultra gentle formula, targeted at sensitive skin, I would have preferred a much milder fragrance or better yet, no fragrance at all. That one gripe aside, I think it is fantastic for most skin types. It definitely is not a one step cleanser or the most effective at removing waterproof makeup, but I use a separate oil based cleanser for that, so it doesn't bother me. Overall, one of the best, gentle, non-drying cleansers available at the drugstore and good value for money. Would have been perfect if not for the slightly strong fragrance.

Have you tried the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser?

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'Occitane La Collection de Grasse - Vanille & Narcisse Eau de Toilette

L'Occitane's new fragrance collection features four new fragrances created by Perfumer Karine Dubreuil for L'Occitane. Inspired by her childhood town, she created La Collection de Grasse, featuring precious extracts from around the world. Fragrances in this collection include - Vanille & Narcisse, Magnolia & Mure, Jasmine & Bergamote and The Vert & Bigarade.

The fragrance comes packaged in a simple, but heavy glass bottle. It looks sleek enough from the front, but is a tad heavy to travel with. Vanille & Narcisse is a rather strong fragrance that packs quite a punch. It is spicy with a touch of floral, a little too heavy for the summertime. This fragrance features Vanilla Absolute from Madagascar and Narcissus Absolutes from France, so the scent is very true to the description. For me, Vanille & Narcissus would be a better fall/winter scent, perfect for when the weather is a little more cold. During summer, I'd prefer something a little more light. For an EDT, it it very long lasting - by the end of the day, I can still smell strong hints of spicy vanilla. It also is more of a grown up scent - I don't have a problem with that at all, and if you prefer sophisticated, rich, spicy fragrances, this one is something you'll love. I haven't tried the other fragrances from this collection, but I'm hoping Magnolia & Mure would probably be a better fit for summer!

Price : $75 Each; Available online at l'occitane.com and at L'Occitane Boutiques.

Have you tried any of the scents from L'Occitane's La Collection de Grasse?

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.

Lancome 'Aquatic Summer' Summer 2013 Color Collection - Review, Photos, Swatches & FOTD

Lancome's new summer collection, 'Aquatic Summer' is a gorgeous mix of shimmering corals, cool blues and bronzes. I tried out a few pieces from the collection - my favorites are the Color Fever Gloss in Metallic Sunburst and Sunbaked Coral, and Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Oasis - the eyeliner especially is a must-have from the collection.

Vernis In Love - Aqua Bleu, Simply Aqua ($15) - Simply Aqua is a light, pale blue and Aqua Bleu is a bright, vivid blue. Both are cremes and Aqua Blue was quite opaque with just one coat. Simply Aqua is a tad sheer, but completely opaque in two thin coats. I don't have a problem with the formula of either, but the brush is too wide and doesn't give even coverage. That apart, the colors are great - Aqua Bleu especially is great for a summer pedi!

Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Oasis ($26) - One of my favorite pieces from the collection and a lovely blue for that pop of color along the lash line. Its a nice metallic blue with very fine blue shimmer. The shimmer is almost invisible, but I wouldn't still recommend it for the waterline. The formula is smooth and easy to work with and glides along the lash line. It doesn't set really fast, so there's quite a bit of time to smudge it out if needed. I was really impressed with the staying power - it lasted a good 6 hours with no smudging or smearing and I needed a good waterproof remover to get it completely off.

Hypnose Star Waterproof Mascara ($28) - I like the regular Hypnose Star for length and separation more than volume. Like the non-waterproof version, this one too is a tad dry initially, but gets better with use. The wand is slightly smaller in length and helps grab the tiny lashes, especially on the inner corners and lower lash line and separates really well. It is super waterproof though - I had to struggle a bit even with waterproof makeup remover to get it off.

Color Fever Gloss in Metallic Sunburst, Sunbaked Coral ($27) - These are sheer glosses, with just a hint of color, great for layering!  There's a ton of shimmer though, so if you don't like too much shimmer in your lip products these might not be for you. The formula is amazing - super smooth, slick and non-sticky. I absolutely love the glossy finish too. They are fragranced, but its not overpowering and dissipates quickly. Like most sheer glosses, I get about 2-3 hours. I haven't tried too many colors from the Color Fever Gloss range, but I definitely will check more of these out. The formula is impressive.

L-R : Sunbaked Coral, Metallic Sunburst

Wearing Le Stylo in Blue Oasis and Hypnose Star Waterproof Mascara

Wearing Le Stylo in Blue Oasis, Hypnose Star Waterproof Mascara and Color Fever Gloss in Sunburst Coral

What are your thoughts on the 'Lancome Aquatic' Summer Summer 2012 Color 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.

Aveda Chakra 5 Balancing Body Mist

Aveda's Chakra Balancing Body Mist ($30) is a body mist made from extracts of grapefruit, rosemary and ylang ylang that help balance mind and body. "With the help of Mr. Chakra –www.misterchakra.com, a new, interactive website from Aveda, you will be given the tools you need to find the balance you deserve. Mr. Chakra will reveal energy-aligning tips that include guided meditation, breathing techniques, mantra usage and personal nutrition and also lead you to the ideal Aveda Chakra™ Balancing Body Mist." 



Chakra 5 is supposed to be the center of creativity, self-expression and communication and helps you calm, relax and express yourself better. The body mist comes packaged in a glass spray bottle and has a strong fragrance initially. Chakra 5 is a rather unisex, citrusy scent, almost slightly medicinal. It dries down to a much subtler scent as time goes by. I have used it quite a bit so far and find the scent to be really nice and zingy - initially a little too strong for my liking, but feels a lot more calming after the scent wears down a little. I'm not sure of the "Balancing and Self-Expression" claim though. I really like spritzing it on it as an body mist and enjoy the strong, uplifting citrus boost, but the scent isn't the most long lasting on me- around 4 hours and a lot lesser in the summer. I can't speak for the other mists in the Aveda Chakra Collection (Check out the Mr.Chakra website to learn more about the other scents), but Chakra 5, although not anything spectacular, is worth a shot if you like citrusy, slightly earthy, herbal scents.

Have you tried any of the Aveda Chakra Body Mists?

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.

Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Bag Collection

As part of the Spring '13 lineup, Sonia Kashuk had launched a few new and cute designs of cosmetic bags in various shapes, sizes and prints like floral, tribal, yarn and dots. I was sent a few to try out, so here are some pictures and quick thoughts!

Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Bag Collection Double Zip Clutch ($14.99) - Holds a ton of makeup and other small stuff like mini shampoos, body lotions. Great to pack for a couple of days.

Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Bag Collection Makeup Organizer ($9.99) 

Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Bag Collection Soft Cosmetic Case ($6.99) - Its small enough to have in your purse for everyday, yet holds quite a bit of daily essentials that you'd always want in your bag like lip balm  gloss, eyeliner, compact, hand cream, mints and much more!

Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Bag Collection Foldover Frame Clutch ($16.99) - I haven't used this one much, but I can tell you that it is very spacious and wide!

Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Bag Collection Double Zip Foldover  ($9.99)

My favorite among these is the Double Zip Foldover (shown above) - Love the double zipper compartments  where I can keep my skincare and makeup separately. It folds up to a small case, saving a lot of space - perfect for travel. The prints on these are really cute and although most of them look small, they are very roomy and hold quite a bit of stuff. The bright pop of color detailing on the zipper on some of them is a nice touch. Overall, very affordable, practical and keeps you organized while traveling!

What are your thoughts on the Sonia Kashuk Cosmetic Bag 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.

Mally Pro-Tricks Eye Shadow Palette

Mally Beauty's pro-tricks eye shadow palette is a fairly new launch and a qvc-exclusive palette that features six eye shadows, along with a primer, light shade modifier and a dark shade modifier that helps create custom looks. The dark shade modifier is an inky black base and the light shade modifier is a light, shimmery champagne color.

As much as I like the concept behind the dark and light shade modifiers, I do wish that the eyshadows themselves, especially the green and plum shades were a tad less chalky. They are quite pigmented and there isn't much fallout, but the textures aren't so blendable. The palette also includes a fluffy eye shadow blending brush - its nice to have and helps achieve good wash of color. The bases are quite sticky, which is a good thing and that helps the eye shadows adhere to them better. The 'dark shad modifier' is quite a nice concept - I tend to use a lot of black or brown bases for my less pigmented shadows to deepen the color a little more and that it is included in the palette is nice.There's a protective covering for the base that keeps the colors from mixing in.

Overall, I think its tad expensive for the price - the shadows are a good size and the mix of colors are really nice, but I wish they blended a little better. I really like concept of including shade modifiers to deepen, lighten and customize colors, but it would have been better if the textures were a tad more forgiving.

Price $50 - Available online at qvc.com

Have you tried the Mally Beauty Pro-Tricks Eye Shadow Palette?

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.

Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub

Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub ($9.99; Press Sample) is a paraben-fee, gentle, brightening exfoliator. The fresh cirtusy scent is perfect for a lazy morning or even at the end of a long day. It is formulated with Lemon Balm, that helps calm, repair and enhance skin's luminosity.





The scrub has very small granules and a gritty, but runny consistency It foams up quite a bit and isn't too harsh even on my very sensitive skin. I absolutely love the smell - it is fresh, not too overpowering and doesn't linger once washed away. I keep this for use about 3-4 times a week, mostly at night, after I've got all my makeup off with a cleansing balm or oil. It washes away whatever is left behind, leaves absolutely no residue and takes care of exfoliating skin pretty well. I don't think its a very harsh exfoliant, but I definitely would recommend a good moisturizer afterwards. It leaves me feeling fresh, very clean and super bright. If you have dry, dull skin, this one adds a nice glow without stripping skin too much. I also had a couple of trouble spots on my chin and this has helped calm those down to a nice extent.

Overall, I love it - its great for summer, but can be a tad drying in the winter - nothing a good moisturizer can't fix. Although marketed as a Daily Facial Scrub, I would recommend using it only about 3-4 times per week. If your skin seems a little dull and dry, you'll love the quick radiance boost this scrub delivers.

Have you tried the Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub?

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.