DKNY Lip and Nail Set: Review & Swatches

Do you like your lips to match your tips? Well then you're in luck, because DKNY has a new lipstick and lacquer set to help coordinate your make-up bag for spring! The set includes three matching nail and lip duos: Urban Fashionista (red), Whimsical Romantic (pink) and Boho Chic (peachy nude). It's available at DKNY's website for $45.

I received the Urban Fashionista duo to share with you, which consists of Empire Red Nail Lacquer and Runway Red Lipstick.

Let's start with Empire Red first! Empire Red is a bright red creme. The bottle holds 0.3 oz, so it's a little over half the size of your average polish. Empire Red is not a unique color by any stretch, but the formula on this was impressive. It's a one-coater!

Then there's the lipstick, Runway Red. Runway Red is a beautiful bright red and the perfect match for Empire Red. The color match is definitely spot-on.

It's a nice neutral red--not too blue-based--and I think it would work beautifully on any skintone. It has a very silky, lightweight texture to it that glides effortlessly across the lips and is very comfortable to wear. It can stand up to some minor eating and drinking and leaves a light stain behind once it fades. My only complaint would be that the tube that houses the lipstick feels a little lightweight. I like my lipstick tubes to feel more sturdy and substantial, but obviously that doesn't affect the quality of the lipstick itself. My boyfriend is a fan of red lipstick on me and this one got his seal of approval. ;)

Having never used any DKNY make-up products before, I didn't know what to expect with these. But the quality is good and if the other two lip and nail pairs are on par with Urban Fashionista, this would make a nice little gift set as a winter blahs pick-me-up (Seriously, is it spring yet?!) or for anyone looking to build up their make-up stash with some classic colors.


Disclosure: These products were sent to me for my honest review. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

ShopNBC Beauty Box: Giveaway & Review

I recently received an amazing beauty box from television shopping network ShopNBC in honor of their "Beautiful You" Beauty weekend, a 48-hour event coming up on March 23rd and 24th. Opening up this box was like beauty Christmas! There are so many different goodies to play with, covering a huge variety of areas from skincare to color to haircare to mascara to nail polish! Here's what was inside!

And in list format: Silk'n SensEpil, iampur Pain Relieving Rub, Suzanne Somers Organics Travel Kit, Angel Lift Dermastrips Kit, VB Beauty Miracle Eye & Wrinkle Spot Treatment Set, Lola Cosmetics Universal Colorless Powder, LaRocca Cellular Gold Hydrating Body Balm, Angel Lift Dermasome Moisturizing Relaxant, Lola Cosmetics Pin-Up Pout Plumping Lipstick in Marilyn, Magnifibres Brush-on False Lashes, Epione Signature Eye Cream, Pur Minerals Double Ego Mascara, Pur-lisse Pur-Moist, Pur-lisse Pur-Youth Preserve, MAXIessentials Liftoff Root Lift and Volumizing Spray, FairyDrops Mascara, Absolute Magnetic Nail Enamel in Bleu, Aminogenesis Age Control Dual Treatment Anti Glycation Serum, Pur Minerals Big Blink Mascara, Borghese Brightening Mud, Skinn Cosmetics Amethyst Collection (contains eye color stick, lipgloss, eyeshadow palette and nail polish).

Phew, I think that's everything! ;) And guess what?! ShopNBC sent along another box for me to give away to one lucky reader too! I'm so excited to give one of you guys a chance to add some great new treats to your beauty stash! Details about the giveaway can be found at the end of this post!

To give you a little sneak peek at some of the brands and products that will be a part of the Beautiful You event, I'll be sharing a few of my beauty box picks with you today! If you have any questions about any of the products not featured in this post, please let me know in the comments and I'd be more than happy to share some additional impressions with you! :)

Pur Minerals Big Blink Mascara

Meet one of my new favorite mascaras: Pur Minerals Big Blink! Big Blink promises extreme length and volume, plus the conditioning benefits with ingredients like Argan Oil and Vitamin E--and it delivers, bigtime! Big Blink has a plastic wand with smaller bristles on the end to help grab those hard-to-reach inner lashes. It reminds me a lot of the wand for Benefit They're Real!, which is a big plus in my book.

As for the mascara itself, it's honestly one of the best I've tried! It delivers volume without sacrificing length and the plastic wand separates lashes beautifully. It's water-resistant and doesn't flake, smudge or smear but is easy to remove in the shower (no scrubbing or raccoon eyes) once you're ready to take it off.

 Bare lashes

One coat of Big Blink Mascara

Love, love, love this! If you're in the market for a new mascara, give Big Blink a look!

LaRocca Cellular Gold Hydrating Body Balm

At first I wondered what practical reason there could be to include 24K gold in a skincare product, but the included brochure explains that this balm is made with an exclusive component that LaRocca calls their Cellular Gold Complex. The complex is made with 24K gold and is supposed to "promote electron transfer with the metal ions naturally found in the skin, stimulating cell turnover."

I'm always skeptical of really fanciful claims like that (I can't confirm or deny if the gold in this balm delivers the effects promised), but what I can tell you for sure is that this is an incredibly rich body balm--one of the nicest I've ever used, in fact. In addition to gold, it also contains shea butter, olive oil and Cupuacu butter, so it feels very moisturizing. It gave my skin a pretty, healthy glow after applying.

The texture feels super luxurious and a little goes a long way. I also have to add that the 90s child in me absolutely loves how this smells exactly like a grape Push-Up ice cream bar! Remember those?! I used to have Push-Up bars all the time when I went over to my grandma's house as a kid. :)

iampur Pain Relieving Rub

I love this stuff! It's a cream you can message into those pesky aches and pains you get throughout the day. Although originally designed for people with arthritis, I think anyone with sore muscles would love the way this feels! I got a neck rub with this (in the name of science, of course) and it was heaven! This rub gives a cooling sensation that's very relieving and relaxing. There is a mentholated smell to it, but nothing overwhelming or too "medicated." I have to be on my feet a lot at work, plus I've got back problems and a bum knee (I'm 22 going on 82), so I will definitely be keeping this in my purse for when my muscles start to ache!

FairyDrops Mascara

I have been wanting to try a FairyDrops mascara forever, so I was thrilled to find this little tube inside the beauty box! FairyDrops is a Japanese brand with a loyal cult following here in the states. The brush design is very unique and probably the most stand-out feature of this mascara.

The curved shape of the brush really does a great job of grabbing and coating all of your lashes. It also gives them a nice curl and separates flawlessly--no clumps or spidery lashes here! This mascara delivers sky-high results. I do wish it was a bit more volumizing (my lashes are sparse and stubby naturally, so I love to amp 'em up any way I can) but if you want crazy length that still looks natural and clump-free, I think you'll like Fairy Drops!

One coat of Fairy Drops Mascara

Silk'n SensEpil

Silk'n SensEpil is an at-home hair removal system that promises permanent, virtually painless hair removal using pulsed light technology. You can use it on your legs, arms, underarms and bikini line. Since using this product requires a series of treatments over the course of several weeks, I'm going to give this product its own in-depth review after I've had more time to use it and study my results. I was super excited to try this puppy out, so since I've administered one treatment on my legs and underarms already, I'll share some initial impressions with you.

The device itself is very easy to use. If you can press a button, you can operate the SensEpil! All you do is turn it on, press the device against your skin and administer a pulse. There is a flash of light, similar to the flash you'd see when someone takes your picture, then you move the device over a few inches and repeat the process. Doing both my legs took around 30 minutes total.

 The head of the device

Obviously everyone's pain threshold and level of sensitivity is different, but for me, using SensEpil was painless. After administering a pulse, I only felt a gentle warming and tingling sensation. In areas where my skin is a bit thinner, like around my underarms. I would occasionally experience a very slight sting that only lasted a second or so. My skin didn't show any signs of irritation afterwards. This is way better than waxing!

I am really excited to continue using the SensEpil! It's FDA-approved and I've read some great reviews for it, so I'm hoping to see some awesome results myself. So far, I really like how easy and painless it is to use. It retails for $499, which may cause some sticker shock at first, but if it really does deliver permanent hair removal, the price of the SensEpil will be way lower than a lifetime of razors or waxing treatments and certainly cheaper than in-office treatments like laser hair removal, which can cost thousands of dollars. Stay tuned for an update after a few weeks!

Lola Pin-Up Pout Plumping Lipstick in Marilyn

Lola Pin-Up Pout Plumping Lipstick in Marilyn is a classic retro red. All of the lipsticks in this line are named for some of old Hollywood's most famous beauties and this one, of course, is named for Ms. Marilyn Monroe.

This lipstick has a vanilla scent, very similar to MAC lipsticks, and there is a tingling sensation (from the plumping agent) when you first put it on that lasts for a few minutes. My lips did look a bit fuller as the tingle started up, but I can never tell if it is just my imagination with all of these plumping lip products!

The formula and wear are both absolutely fabulous though. Marilyn has a balmy texture to it that glides across the lips. It's fairly hydrating and holds up through eating and drinking. Also, I adore the little pop-out mirror that is tucked away on the side of the tube! There's a small jewel clip that keeps it pressed down so that it doesn't add any bulkiness to the tube itself. As soon as you open the lipstick, the mirror springs right out--perfect for on-the-go touch-ups! Why don't more lipsticks have this?

THE GIVEAWAY

As I mentioned at the top of this post, ShopNBC sent along a second set of beauty treats for me to award to one lucky reader! The winner will receive a beauty box containing:

Lola Cosmetics Pin-Up Pout Plumping Lipstick in Marilyn, Lola Cosmetics Universal Colorless Powder, Absolute Magnetic Nail Enamel in Bleu, Suzanne Somers Organics Travel Kit, Angel Lift Dermastrips Kit, Angel Lift Dermasome Moisturizing Relaxant, Aminogenesis Age Control Dual Treatment Anti Glycation Serum, iampur Pain Relieving Rub, Skinn Cosmetics Amethyst Collection, MAXIessentials Liftoff Root Lift and Volumizing Spray, LaRocca Cellular Gold Hydrating Body Balm, FairyDrops Mascara, Magnifibres Brush-on False Lashes, Pur-lisse Pur-Moist, Pur-lisse Pur-Youth Preserve, Epione Signature Eye Cream, Borghese Brightening Mud

You can see all of these items in the picture at the top of this post, although please note the beauty box you receive will have slightly different contents (ie. missing a few items) than the one pictured. To enter and read all of the contest rules, just use the Rafflecopter widget below! Good luck, ladies and thanks for reading!! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick: Review & Swatches

I love me some crazy lipstick. If it's bright and it's bold, I'll wear it. But sadly for my wallet, lipsticks that are unique colors and good quality tend to come at a higher price point. So I was very excited when I heard Maybelline would be releasing a new set of Color Sensational lipsticks called Vivids, which promised bright, pigmented lip colors at a drugstore price!

I immediately began stalking my local beauty haunts for these and was thrilled to finally find them at Target. I tried to avoid shades that were potentially similar to lipsticks already in my stash, so I wound up with four lipsticks in all. Do they deliver? Read on!

 L to R: Vivid Rose, Vibrant Mandarin, Hot Plum, Brazen Berry

The packaging on these is very similar to the regular Color Sensational lipsticks, except the tube color is, appropriately, a more vibrant red than the core lipsticks. I must say though that I don't like how these are sold without any type of seal or casing. I saw two women flat out putting these on their lips while I was browsing the rest of the make-up aisle--not cute and the exact reason why I think all lip colors should come with some type of sanitation protection. Make sure to check inside the tube before you buy so you don't wind up with one that's already been "sampled." :-/

Packaging woes aside, in the pigmentation department, these are extremely impressive. They deliver bold, opaque color in just one or two strokes. They do leave a stain behind, even after the minute or two they were on my hand. Personally I don't mind it but I know some are not a fan of lip color that hangs around, so whether the stain is a good or bad thing depends on you.

 Vivid Rose

 Vibrant Mandarin

 Hot Plum

 Brazen Berry

 L to R: Vivid Rose, Vibrant Mandarin, Hot Plum, Brazen Berry

The formula is glossy smooth, almost like more of a balm than a lipstick, which makes the opacity all the more impressive considering how softly these glide across the lips. There is a light vanilla scent to these. It's not as noticeable as, say, MAC lipsticks but it is there. Once on, these lipsticks feel comfortably lightweight, never thick or drying.

Overall, I am absolutely loving these and highly recommend them! They deliver fabulous pigmentation with a surprisingly lightweight formula and you can't beat the price. I bought these for $5.99 each at Target and it was money very well spent. Vivid Rose and Vibrant Mandarin are my two favorites of the four I tried, but now I am dying to go out and get more!  If you are a bold lip lover, then you owe it to yourself to give these a shot!

Have you tried any of the lipsticks from this line yet? Do you love them as much as I do?

Deborah Lippmann For True Blood Forsaken Set: Swatches & Review

I was so excited to receive my Deborah Lippmann for True Blood goodies in the mail earlier this week! I bought two of the three sets: Forsaken and Sookie Sookie. I really want the third set now so that may be coming home to me sometime in the next few days if my willpower continues to fade... But first up we'll be checking out the Forsaken Set, which features a nail polish called Let It Bleed and a matching lipstick called Bite Me.

Let It Bleed is a deep red--almost a blackberry shade, really--with a hint of chocolate brown and a very glossy finish. As you may have guessed, the color is supposed to look like blood and it absolutely does. I know that may be a little off-putting to some, but personally I love it! Let It Bleed is my new favorite vampy (no pun intended, hardy har har) polish. It's got such a smooth, shiny finish to it and although it's dark, it doesn't look black. I think this polish is super sexy, especially with fall coming up. Plus it's named after my favorite Rolling Stones album! What's not to like?

The formula on Let It Bleed is flawless. I used two coats here. I love the contrast between the dark base color and the squishy finish. In my book, this is the perfect vampy polish.

The other item in the Forsaken Set is Deborah Lippmann's first-ever lipstick: Bite Me. Colorwise, a perfect match for Let It Bleed. I'd imagine most will find this color too dramatic for daytime wear, but it makes a perfect color for after dark--how appropriate!

The formula glides on very smoothly and does not feel drying at all. In fact, it feels almost balmy and has a rich, nourishing texture to it. Also, I am obsessed with the scent of this lipstick! It smells very fruity and creamy, just like a fruit parfait! I wasn't sure what to expect from this lipstick since it's DL's first, but overall I was very pleased with how it applies and wears. I especially like the name too. ("What are you wearing?" "Bite Me!")

The Forsaken Set was a complete winner for me. It retails for $28 on HSN's website but unfortunately it is sold out right now! I'm not sure if it will be back in the future, but the other two sets are still in stock as of right now and you might be able to try your luck elsewhere on Ebay and the like for this one. If you're into vampy colors, love True Blood or are just looking for a great pair of fall make-up goodies, the Forsaken Set makes an excellent buy! I think Pam would approve!

MAC Beth Ditto Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Heart Hangover: Swatches & Review

I only picked up one item from MAC's newest round of collections: a Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Heart Hangover, from the Beth Ditto Collection. Heart Hangover is a brown-based burgundy that's perfect for vampy looks!

The application feels smooth and creamy, delivering nice opacity. There's a bit of a sheen to this color when you first put it on, but after a while it fades to a semi-matte finish. Although this is a longwear formula, it likely won't survive your lunchbreak, but other than eating and drinking, not much else will disturb Heart Hangover. It's not prone to fading or feathering. MAC claims the Pro Longwear Lipcremes last for 12 hours but I'd say you can expect around seven to eight hours of wear from this lipstick, which is still very respectable. It leaves behind a bit of a stain too. The formula doesn't feel particularly drying or moisturizing either, just your regular ol' lipstick texture.


This is admittedly quite the opposite of the lip colors I normally go for. I tend to gravitate more towards bright, vibrant pops of color on my lips but it's fun to change it up! Something about this color really drew me in and Heart Hangover can lend some instant drama and glamour to any look. It's very Clara Bow, don'tcha think?

New Wet N Wild Lipsticks: Swatches & Review

Today I’ve got three new Wet N Wild lipsticks to share with you all. Two, Dollhouse Pink and 24 Carrot Gold, are from the Mega Last line, while the third, Salsa Lessons, is from the MegaShield line.

 

Let’s kick things off with Dollhouse Pink, a bright blue-based pink. I love me some hot pink lipstick! Dollhouse Pink’s texture is a lot like MAC’s satin lipsticks.

Next up is 24 Carrot Gold, an orange-based coral. This color looks so rich and juicy. I love it!

 

Last but not least is Salsa Lessons, an orange-based red. This is supposedly very similar to MAC Scarlet Ibis from the Iris Apfel Collection, albeit with a glossier finish. Unlike the Mega Last lipsticks, the MegaShield line has SPF 15. Salsa Lessons was the smoothest and most moisturizing of the three.

The packaging on these isn’t going to win any beauty contests. It’s functional but nothing special to look at—just a black plastic tube. However, the no frills packaging is likely part of the reason Wet N Wild is able to sell these at such a low price.

Although the packaging isn't exactly expensive-looking, thankfully the lipsticks themselves do not perform like cheap products. In fact, they absolutely blew me away. They’re creamy, pigmented and non-drying. These are extremely comparable to many of the high-end lipsticks I own. They deliver good wear and even leave behind a bit of a stain afterwards.

I’m incredibly impressed by all three of these. At $1.99 for the Mega Last lipsticks and $2.99 for MegaShield, these are some excellent, extremely affordable lipsticks. They make fabulous guilt-free treats to pop into your shopping cart next time you’re at the grocery or drug store.

Tarte Gifts From The Lipstick Tree Set: Swatches & Review

So Tarte has a brand new set out called Gifts From The Lipstick Tree. The set is based around the achiote tree, which is commonly called "the lipstick tree" since the seeds from its fruits are used to produce natural pigments. For $42, you get three full-sized products: a Lipsurgence Natural Lip Luster, a Maracuja Divine Shine Lipgloss and an Amazonian Clay 12-Hour blush. All three products come in the shade Achiote, a beautiful pink with gold shimmer, and are mineral and paraben free. The color is very feminine and sweet and would flatter a wide variety of skintones.

The lip luster has a non-sticky, moisturizing texture and very nice color payoff. These aren't designed to be opaque, more like a tint, but you still get considerable pigmentation with this. Application feels incredibly smooth and glossy.

The lipgloss is more sheer than the lip luster but has the same lovely shimmer. The texture is on the sticky side but nothing extreme. It's a click applicator, but not the kind you twist (which I despise). Instead, you push a button on the bottom of the tube. Simple enough! This has a subtle minty taste and scent to it that feels nice and soothing on the lips. I don't find the scent overpowering at all, but if you are very sensitive to fragrances you might want to do a sniff test to make sure it won't bother you. You could easily wear this alone or layer it over the lip luster.

Unlike the luster and the gloss, the blush is completely matte. Although it is a matte, it doesn't feel chalky or go on patchy at all. The color payoff is very rich and the texture feels super smooth and blendable. This is a very finely milled powder that is a pleasure to work with. Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes are some of my favorites. They have great wear and go on like a dream.

I absolutely love this trio! The set is an amazing value. Considering that buying the products individually (which at this point you can't even do) would set you back $70, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck here. The blush alone retails for $25, so $42 is a total steal!


All three products perform very well and I love that they are full sizes, not minis or travel sizes. The overall feel is very fresh, feminine and pretty--perfect for warmer weather! I think the blush may be my favorite but I honestly like them all a lot and can see myself using them regularly. I highly recommend checking out this set next time you're on the prowl at your favorite cosmetics haunt. You get three fabulous products for an equally fabulous price!