Yves Rocher Grand Rouge

Pour le printemps, Yves Rocher nous présente sa dernière innovation lèvres - Grand Rouge. Une nouvelle génération de maquillage alliant couleurs intenses et soin des lèvres. Une bonne tenue, un côté crémeux sans être trop glissants et surtout très pigmentés! J'aime!

Le concept derrière Grand Rouge: que chaque femme puisse trouver une teinte pour ses lèvres, que votre carnation vous permette du rouge vif ou plutôt du corail ou du marron… Trouver LE rouge. Bref, avec cette gamme pas de doute vous avez le choix, puisqu'elle se compose de 18 nuances!

Verdict: On aime la formule naturelle à base d'huile de Camélia et d'huile de Sésame (allo lèvres douces)! Les rouges à lèvres Grand Rouge avec leur texture hydratante ''seconde peau'' qui se fondent sur les lèvres, sont ultra agréables à porter.  Et que dire du packaging doré? Ultra chic non?

Nuances: Stylo lèvres nuance #31 Rouge, Grand Rouge #31 Rouge Vif,  #71 Rose Poudré et #41 Coral Étincelant

Cette saison, Yves Rocher lance également un nouveau Stylo Lèvres dont la formule est enrichie d'huile de jojoba et de vitamine E, disponible en 5 nuances ainsi qu'un tout nouveau Stylo Lèvres Zéro Défaut (incolore) pour des lèvres impeccables. Mon nouveau chouchou quand je porte une lèvre foncée!

Stylo lèvres Zéro Défaut

Trois nouvelles nuances de leur Vernis Brillance sont également lancées: Rose Nude, Rose Somptueux et Mauve Poudre. Quasi opaque avec une couche...vraiment un allié parfait pour nous, femmes modernes. Une pause manucure est maintenant facile à ''squeezer'' dans un horaire surchargé. Youppi! Sur les photos, pas de base, ni de couche de finition et regardez la brillance! GROS coup-de-coeur pour la nuance Rose Somptueux (à ma grande surprise....fan finie de mauve que je suis!).

1 coat/1 couche

2 coats/couches - am totally in love with the Rose Somptueux shade/coup-de-coeur pour Rose Sompteux!

Finalement, deux nouvelles teintes du Blush Naturel font leur entrée dans la gamme : Rose Vif et Rouge. Des couleurs ''punchées'' tout à fait tendances!

Tentée de les essayer? Yves Rocher organise présentement un concours sur leur page Facebook qui permet de gagner des ensembles Grand Rouge! Faites vite, le concours se termine le 8 mai! 

Bonne chance et profitez bien de cette belle journée ensoleillée!

English version to follow shortly! Sorry, life is calling! ;O)

xxx

Mary Kay Zen in Bloom Collection

East meets West has never looked so good! For Spring 2013, Mary Kay brings us a fresh bouquet of pastel  hues and bright pinks with the Zen in Bloom Collection.

In this collection the Mary Kay R&D team put together an array of innovative products with the modern woman, always on-the-go and in a rush, in mind. And, this mommy approves! There are 4 new cream  eye color shades, 2 limited edition hydrating lip lacquers, 2 new shades of their oh so lovely nail lacquers, one mineral pressed eye shadow trio in a beautiful special edition compact and a gorgeous mini clutch/makeup bag. Let me show you, in colour... ;)

The Zen in Bloom Collection

First, lips...Lip Lacquers that is! Sad to say but these didn't wow me as much as I thought (hoped) they were going to. You do get a lot of product for the price and they come with a mini retractable lip brush which is pretty fantastic, I have to say. Although, if applying on-the-go, you can totally apply these with your finger as well. 

The reason why they didn't get a raving review here...opacity. These are very sheer high shine lip lacquers. Maybe it's just me, but when I think lip lacquers I think high shine BOLD vinyl finish lip shades. Not sheer. Opacity aside, they are nice, hydrating and very purse friendly. I would have preferred a true lip lacquer, something with a little more character! Here are the swatches:

Limited Edition Lip Lacquers (with mini retractable lip brush, $18 CAD)

Also included in the Zen in Bloom collection are these four new shades of their cream eye colors. Super creamy and pigmented. They are kinda slick at first, which allows you enough time to place them properly onto your lid before they start to set. You can wear them alone or as a base for your eye shadow looks to create bolder looks that will last up to 10 hours. I love to just throw them on using my fingers, add liner and mascara and I am good to go! You can wear them on the waterline as well making them totally safe for contact lenses wearers. Definitely my favorite product of the collection. They are also available in 5 other shades. Click here to see the other color options!

Creme eye color shades - Metallic Taupe, Violet Storm, Meadow Grass, Coastal Blue ($16 CAD)

Limited Edition Mineral Eye Color Palette in Garden Sky:

As with the other mineral eye colors they carry, this limited edition trio is nicely pigmented and blend really well. I am loving the sand shade and the green is definitely a must-have this season (if you find emerald to be too bold, you will love this one to rock the Pantone color of the year!). I love using the blue shade as a pop of colour below bottom lashes while keeping my lids in the neutral zone. 

The Garden Sky trio comes in this special-edition compact that celebrates Mary Kay’s 50th Anniversary. It features a golden Swarovski crystal nestled amid a wave of ripples – a reminder that when you touch someone’s life, you create a ripple effect that carries far beyond that one act. 

Limited Edition Mineral Eye Color Palette in Garden Sky ($22 CAD), Special Edition 50th Anniversary compact $22 CAD.

I am so ready to start wearing pretty Spring hues on my nails and was thrilled to see that two new shades of their nail lacquers were included in the collection! For Spring, Mary Kay brings us two limited edition nail lacquer shades in Pink Bamboo and Blue Lotus. I can get away with one coat which I love on days where life is just a tad crazy or on nights where you decide to paint your nails when it's almost bedtime (yes, I know I am not alone...you do that too, don't you?). If you have to pick just one shade, Lotus Blue is the stand out. Love, love it!

Shown here: ONE coat!

Also included is one of my favorite ''face savers'', a product I have discovered about a year ago. Mary Kay has teamed up with Skindinävia to bring you their exclusive Makeup Finishing Spray. Spray evenly over your makeup to help your look freshly applied all day (up to 16 hours)! You can also use it throughout the day as a refresher to keep your skin cool. The small size of this bottle makes it the perfect purse buddy! 

Mary Kay Makeup Finishing Spray by Skindinävia  ($20 CAD)

As a perk, when you buy for at least $55 suggested retail in Limited-Edition Mary Kay Zen in Bloom Collection* items, you get the Limited-Edition Mary Kay Obi Pouch FREE! The Obi Pouch is so pretty and perfect to carry your favorite products in style (pouch includes a little pocket inside to keep your items safe)! Small enough that it can be popped into a handbag for safe keeping or you can use it as a clutch for an evening out.

Overall, Mary Kay didn't disappoint once again with this lovely collection. I have said it before, and I will say it again: "This is NOT your aunt Rose's makeup!". I am so in LOVE with the cream eye color shade in Metallic Taupe. It has become my everyday eye shadow. I also love to use it as a base for smokey eyes. 

The only "two thumbs down" for me goes to the lip lacquers, as I really wish they would have been more ''lip lacquer'' like and less like a high shine lip butter.

The Zen in Bloom collection is available until May 15th while supplies last. You can purchase the Mary Kay Zen in Bloom Collection online www.marykay.ca or via your personal independant consultant. Don't have one and would love to have one? Check out their website to locate a sales rep or call 1-866-455-5454.

If you have purchased any of the items above, let me know what you think in the comment section below! 

Have a great week everyone!

xxx

I have heard a whisper...and fallen in love!

Maybelline recently came out with a new line of lipsticks/lip balm hybrids. I must say I am totally on board with the trend toward more comfortable, hydrating lipsticks! Finally, the beauty world has heard our pleas! Needless to say, I couldn't wait to try these new Color Whisper...because Maybelline is totally right...sometimes a whisper is better than a shout!

The formula is very creamy, but not heavy on the lips (or too slick). They are on the sheer side, but the colour is buildable, which I LOVE! A light sweep on the lips will give you just a veil of colour (aka no need for a mirror to apply...did I just hear you go "woo hoo!"? Oh no wait, that was totally me!), but if you reapply a few coats, you get a gorgeous shiny lip. 

Because these are a cross between a lipbalm and a lipstick, you do have to reapply often (staying power is not that great) but if that means not having to deal with a drying formula (and flaky lips...so not cute), I am all for reapplying!

Who Wore It Red-er, Orange Ambition, Lust for Blush, Coral Ambition, Pin Up Peach,  Cherry On Top

Berry Ready, A Plum Prospect, One Size Fits Pearl, Petal Rebel, Who Wore It Red-er, Orange Ambition

Isn't that a pretty bouquet?  

In a nutshell, lightweight lip products that can give off a range of colors depending on how much you build them up. Non-drying, comfortable to wear, moisturizing and all over good for your lips (they smell good too). If you are as big of a lipstick junkie as I am, these will quickly become a staple in your makeup bag...until the next lip innovation comes out that is (said in my best lipstick addict voice). Get one, you will want them all. Consider yourself warned.

Available in 20 shades, these retail for 9.99$ CAD.

xxx

*PR sample. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

OPI Oz The Great and Powerful Collection

If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably seen these already. My latest Trade Secrets haul!

Saw the movie with the family (loved it, the lip gloss crew did too) and had to get my hands on a few...ok ok I fess up..missing just one - When Monkeys Fly - the only glitter that received bad reviews (taco glitter). Too bad because the holo glitters looked gorgeous in the bottle!

I have tried/worn 3 of them so far and I have to say that this one (What wizardry is this?) is my favourite. The only liquid sand in the collection. Absolutely STUNNING!

The creamy shades are quite sheer (think OPI Barefoot in Barcelona). Personally, I prefer more opaque polishes so I am a tad disappointed. Glitters are to die for pretty. If you are a glitter lover, you will love these! My must: definitely Lights of Emerald City!

The collection includes 7 shades: 3 glitters, 3 "nude" shades and "What the Wizardry is This?", the only textured polish in the collection (liquid sand) which is the one I am showing you today.

Have you gotten any of the polishes from that collection? Which ones are your favourites?

My next mani will probably be Lights of Emerald City over I Theodora You, aka princess nails! ;) I have a feeling that my little ones will want to rock the same nails as mommy... ;)

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Swatches and Review

When Spring comes I love to wear bright hues on my lips. No...wait....scratch that...what am I saying? I love to wear bold lips ALL the time!

And I think I have found the boldest hues EVER from the drugstore (to this day anyway): the new Color Sensational Vivids by Maybelline!

From Maybelline: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids gets treated to a new technology using neon coated pigments produce Color Sensational’s brightest most vibrant color ever. The end look is intense and bold, but never garish. Color is rich, luscious and bright – and wears for up to four hours! Formula with honey nectar keeps lips feeling smooth, nourished, never dry, chalky or cakey.

Let me show you! 

No Flash

With Flash

Shades (left to right): 895 On Fire Red, 875 Vivid Rose, 865 Fuchsia Flash, 860 Pink Pop, 900 Hot Plum, 870 Shocking Coral, 885 Vibrant Mandarin, 880 Electric Orange

Highly pigmented - 2 swipes and opaque coverage is achieved. Great staying power, but be careful as the darkest shades tend ot stain (On Fire Red is still on my arm). The formula is lovely: cream finish, and on my uber picky lips they are not drying. 

Here I am wearing On Fire Red #895. My new favorite bright red (if you follow me on Instagram, you have seen this picture before as it's currently my avatar).

p.s. Eyeliner I am wearing on the picture is the new Maybelline Master Duo in Black Lacquer.

Overall- I am in LOVE! The colours are outstanding! If you are not a nude lip only kinda gal, then you definitely need to give these a try! 


Which Vivids shade will you be rocking this Spring?

Signed: Mel, the lipstick junkie.

Mary Kay Brush Cleaner

I have to say, when I first heard that Mary Kay was coming out with a brush cleaner, I was thrilled! If you follow me on Twitter, you already knew because I had tweeted about it. 

I don't understand why not all cosmetics companies carry their own brush cleaner?! It would make sense, wouldn't it? Take note cosmetics companies! ;)

Cleaning your brushes is essential if you want to keep your brushes 1- in good shape 2- keep germs away from your face (bacteria = acne) and your products (cosmetics are expensive, we all know that, so you want to make sure you treat them right, and that includes avoiding contamination with dirty brushes).  

All you need:

1- Paper towels or clean towels (I use paper towels because I already spend my life doing laundry so no need to add to my never ending pile!)

2- Brush cleaner

3- Dirty brushes

4- A good TV show or music CD to keep you company while you clean (MOTIVATION ladies!!)

How-to:

1. Dirty brushes (shown here: mix of foundation, cream products, gel liner and powdered products like eye shadows and blushes for testing purposes! Yes, I had fun getting them dirty.):

2. Spray brush cleaner on dirty bad boy (the guinea pig here is a MAC 219 pencil brush).

3- Swirl the brush onto the paper towels to remove all traces of makeup. Spray and repeat until all clean...Ta da!!! (shown here: result after two sprays and 2 swirls):

4- Let your clean brushes air dry overnight. I like propping them up head down on a rolled-up hand towel to keep any moisture away from the ferrule. Just a little tip! ;)

Picture credit: About.com

Verdict:

I am a MAC brush cleaner fan (tried Quo, hated it). I have to say that the Mary Kay Brush Cleaner is a great alternative. As you can see in the picture, it removed ALL traces of makeup from the brush with just 2 sprays. The only thing I noticed, is that it doesn't work as well on long-wear cream shadows (it takes a few more sprays than the MAC version to get the product out completely). 

If you don't use long-wear cream products often, I would definitely recommend this brush cleaner. It smells divine and does what it claims. Plus, it helps condition bristles. At $10 CAD for a 6 fl. oz. bottle, you can't go wrong!

How often do YOU clean your brushes? What is your favorite brush cleaner? Leave me a comment below. I LOVE it when you guys share your thoughts. ;)

Psst! Mary Kay now offers makeup brushes. Review to follow! ;)

Stocking Stuffer Approved!

Just a few days left before Christmas! What do you hope to find in your stocking this year?

Here are a few of my favorite things! Please share yours in the comment section!

Stocking Stuffers For The Beauty Lover!
with Maybelline, EOS, Skindinavia, Eylure (avail. at Shoppers/Pharmaprix, Jean-Coutu, London Drugs and on ebauty.ca at $8.00 ea.).