Scentsy Layers Bath & Body Review

Hi everyone! As many who follow me on Instagram (@kskybeauty) know, I’m a HUGE fan of Scentsy scented wax bars and their adorable bulb warmers. I USED to be a big fan of flame candles, that is, until I had a toddler… oh and that major gas leak in our garage a few months ago that could have caused a huge fire in our home (or worse!) had I been burning one of my Bath & Body Works candles instead of running my Scentsy warmer. (Thank God we are all ok and got out in time and we had all the leaking pipes replaced, but here’s a reminder to get some natural gas detectors installed in your home!) In any case, I had been curious of course about Scentsy’s line of bath and body products from their “Layers” collection and liked the idea of having lotions and body sprays in some of my most favorite bar scents! But I was also skeptical as well… Would these products last as long as say, a comparable brand such as Bath & Body Works and could they hold a candle (hehehe, corny pun, I know!) to my high-end fragrance creams and sprays from the department store? Plus, scent-factor aside, how well did these products work to condition and clean my skin? You know I had to give them a try!

Scentsy Layers Bath & Body Haul

First up, Layers Body Lotion in Luna ($10.00 for 8oz/230g), a smooth, creamy lotion I used on my arms, legs and body… not too thick but not very runny either. Honestly… this stuff feels like SILK gliding over your skin! It sheers out super easily and absorbs really well into your skin so you don’t feel like it’s sitting on top and not penetrating to work it’s magic. It leaves my legs with a nice glow- no sparkles or anything like that- it’s just that I do get a lot of moisture from one application and my skin looks dewy and glowing, again, without leftover residue. I know it’s keeping my skin soft and moisturized, especially after shaving my legs and especially in this cold pre-winter weather! And the scent? Ahhh… I LOVE Luna! It’s a floral scent with jasmine, sweet pea and freesia but add some juicy berries and a touch of sandalwood. A fresh, yet decadent fragrance. I HIGHLY recommend this scent. I also think it might be one of Scentsy’s most popular or best-selling in their Layers line. And how did the scent last on me throughout the day? Actually surprisingly well for something that really soaked into my skin with no residue. In fact, when I took my jeans off at the end of the day- I could smell Luna on them and still on my legs. Lovely! This was MY FAVORITE product from the line and I will for sure be ordering more scents!

Scentsy Layers Body Lotion in Luna

Next up, Layers Body Spray in Luna ($8.00 for 4.4fl oz/130mL) and their Layers Hand Sanitizer in Lucky in Love ($9.00 for 0.3fl oz/8.87mL). I have the body spray in Luna because I like to pair my body creams and perfumes- I always think it helps the scent last longer on your body. Clearly that’s the major reason Scentsy named the line Layers: you “layer” each product from their shower gel or bath tablets to their body lotions and top it off with their body sprays for a pleasant experience. I’ll start off by saying I liked the body spray- the scent was exactly the same as the lotion which is great: no inconsistencies there. I also compared the scent to my wax bar in Luna and again, very consistent. I liked the pump spray tip which dispensed a perfect misty cloud around me and I found I only needed one or two pumps to get the job done. No residual scent of rubbing alcohol either- I hate when body sprays have that chemical smell mixed in with them. My only complaint with this body spray is that it didn’t last as long and wasn’t as potent as the body lotion. I wore both independently of each other for a few days before combining them in that “layered” routine and I felt I got better scent results with the body lotion and it lasted longer on my skin than the spray. Now, that might be a very good thing for those of you who are afraid of of strong perfumes and get headaches easily from scented bath and body products. You might like a light and airy mist around you that won’t linger all day and that’s so strong that you feel like you’re choking on it. I just personally prefer perfume formulas over body sprays for the reason that I really want those one or two pumps to last me a good 6+ hours. I actually don’t even own any body sprays, aside from Luna, because I’d rather just buy the perfumed version if they have it. Which, unfortunately, Scentsy does not offer at this time. That’s my hope: they’ll release a stronger perfume version that I can buy. Until then, on days when I am wearing Luna body spray, I just freshen up and put some more on when I’m in my bedroom next to my perfumes and then I’m good again. I also like to spray this on right before I hop into bed. Hubby thinks I smell sexy…

Layers Body Spray in Luna and Hand Sanitizer in Lucky In Love

Their hand sanitizer is FANTASTIC! And for multiple reasons! #1: It too, is in a pump spray so it’s not some messy, slimy gel that slides right off your hands when you’re fiddling with the cap, your purse and your fussy, wiggly toddler. #2: It dries super quickly and still gets the job done by killing germs, plus you’re left with a wonderful fragrance on your hands. #3: I not only can spray it on our hands when we are out and about, but I can also spray it on my daughter’s toys and stuff animals she’s always carting around. That last one may not be what Scentsy had intended for their hand sanitizer, but hey, it works for me! I got the scent Lucky in Love: a sweet bouquet of mandarin, bergamot and orange with hints of peaches and berries. Similar to Luna, but I wanted to try something with fruity notes. Love this one as well. Again, I highly recommend this product and I’ve been using it for about three weeks now, sometimes three times a day, and I still have a good amount left in the bottle. This will last me for awhile.

Layers Hand Soap in Luna

On the topic of hand sanitizing, I also tried out Layers Hand Soap in Luna ($6.00 for 8fl oz/236 mL) for my bathroom sink. Another great product from Scentsy! It cleans really well: as some of you know, I’m a fine artist and graphic designer, so my hands are always covered in some kind of paint or pen ink… and makeup too! I have no issues pumping out a small amount like in the photo above and scrubbing my hands and fingers together to get everything off. This stuff works awesome. And it’s got that wonderful, consistent smell of Luna that lingers after I wash and dry my hands. It hasn’t “gunked up” my sink area either and the pump bottle works great and just looks so cute too with it’s curved, plump shape. Next purchase will be their Layers Shower Gel because if I like this hand soap so much, and it hasn’t dried out my hands, then I’ll probably love their shower gel for my whole body.

I also received a sample of their Layers Bath Tablet in Enchanted Mist too, which was a nice surprise. I like this scent a lot: a romantic blend of juicy apples, enhanced and sweetened by rose petals and rich jasmine. I don’t take baths too often but I did for the purpose of my review and I loved how decadent my tub smelled when I dropped into the hot water. My skin did feel a little softer than usual when I dried off so that was a bonus as well. It’s a treat if you’re a big fan of taking baths! I’d like to maybe try their French Lavender tabs sometime! I bet those are great after a long, stressful day!

Finally, even though it’s not “beauty-related”, I thought I should mention a little bit about Scentsy’s Layers Laundry collection. It’s based on the same principle as their bath and body line: you layer the products as you go about doing your laundry to get an awesome fragrance on all of your clean clothes, towels and bedding.

Scentsy Laundry Layers Collection in Scentsy Clean

I tried samples of their Laundry Liquid, Washer Wiffs and Dryer Disk in the scent Scentsy Clean which smells like white florals with a touch of spring: everything that fresh, clean laundry should be! Very impressed with all three! First I used their laundry liquid: a high-efficiency laundry detergent that is ultra-concentrated. It delivers the perfect amount of fragrance and packs as much punch in a few easy pumps as a capful of my old detergent. The formula supposedly transforms the way cleaning agents bond with dirt and stains, lifting and washing them away and leaving every load of laundry super fresh and clean. Then I added a small amount of Washer Whiffs directly to my washer drum. They’re basically pure indulgence: extra fragrance that enhanced my load. And finally, when the laundry came out of my washing machine and went into my dryer, I added their Dryer Disk, another added bonus to infuse my clothes with scent for up to fifteen loads. After all was said and done and I began folding my laundry upstairs in our bedroom, my husband came in and said, “Wow! The clothes smell GREAT! New detergent?” I found the scent has lasted on our clothes and towels much longer than my usual Tide does. Plus my bedroom smelled great hours after I had put everything away. As for the cleaning power: everything looked great and felt super soft and ready to be worn. I am impressed with Scenty’s Layers Laundry collection, that’s for sure! And I love the fresh, clean scent too!

Overall, I think Scentsy did a fantastic job with their Layers line of bath and body products and laundry products! I love the fact that I can pair scents together and match them with my favorite wax bars I buy for my warmers in the house. Scentsy has high quality products: I’m always impressed by their packaging and how well everything has held up over time. I find their wax bars last longer and smell stronger than my old candles and I have found that their Layers Bath & Body collection is indeed a better value and quality compared to Bath & Body Works and very comparable to my high-end department store bath and body products, save for the body spray, which was not as long-lasting as I had wished (in fairness, I cannot really compare it to a perfume formula) but still a wonderful spray that can be used a few times throughout the day to make it stronger. I love the concept of “layering” all of these products to create the best fragrance experience! After all, Scentsy knows fragrance and it’s never a disappointment! I’m excited to try more items from these collections and I will most certainly post updates to keep you all informed!

As for purchasing, you may or may not know that Scentsy is a multi-level marketing company so you’ll need to order your products through a rep that works for the company. In my case, I have a friend Katy Hawalka who is an Independent Scentsy Consultant and she’s been fantastic with helping me order my waxes and warmers and now bath, body and laundry products! In fact, for the 2014 holiday season, I ordered a bunch of Gallery Warmers with the logo of my advertising business on them to send to all my clients with a wax bar in the scent “Thank You”. I think they’ll love this holiday gift and it will make their offices smell great! Katy is super sweet, never pushy (which I love), and is very knowledgeable about all Scentsy has to offer. You can tell she loves this company and loves what she does for a living. She’s passionate and friendly and I highly recommend you give her a call at 732-266-7019 or reach out to her on her Facebook page if you have any questions about any of the awesome products Scentsy has to offer! And please, feel free to leave me a comment below and let me know if you have ever tried any Scentsy products, especially ones from their Layers collections and how you’ve been liking them!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stay tuned… I have a MASSIVE makeup blog sale coming up soon!
xo,
Kathleen

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Serum Has Saved My Dry Skin!

How many of you love this time of year? The leaves are turning all shades of red, orange, gold and yellow and the colder temps have arrived, making me reach for my warmest and fuzziest sweaters… Ahhh, yes autumn is here and winter is not too far away. That being said, even though I can’t get enough of pumpkin pie and hot apple cider this fall, I could do away with all the dry patches of skin I’m finding near my cheeks and forehead. I’ll spare you by NOT describing how my hands look… Where did I put those fuzzy mittens from last year anyway? I digress…

Anyway, it’s no wonder October is National Eczema Awareness month and to save my skin from horrid dry patches (that can be highlighted in the worst ways when wearing foundation), I’ve been reaching for Indeed Lab’s most amazing creation: their Hydraluron Moisture Serum ($24.99 for 1fl. oz./30ml). Found at any local Walgreens or online, Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Serum is basically a very lightweight, clear serum that feels very soft and silky (but not like silicone) gliding on your skin. I feel like I’m splashing my face with fresh water every time I use it, except it’s easy to apply and not messy. No cooling sensation, but it is refreshing. And it’s not sticky either. No film left behind which is something I hate about other serums I’ve tried.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Serum

I apply a pea-sized amount after I wash my face in the morning and at night but before I use my moisturizer. I have been using this daily for about 3 weeks now to really see how well it would improve those dry patches and maintain a soft, moisturized glow to my face and I can safely say, this stuff is AWESOME! And best part: it’s NOT greasy! Yippee! Those with oily t-zones like me can rejoice!

Here’s why it’s working for me: Hyaluronic acid is an incredibly hydrating ingredient that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Basically, it absorbs water like a sponge and it’s designed to give your skin the appearance of fullness and plumpness- SWEET! Hydraluron Moisture Serum contains one of the purest forms of hyaluronic acid and along with red marine algae, helps deliver plumper, smoother, softer feeling skin. I found this serum increases my skin’s hydration level and minimizes the need for me to keep adding more moisturizer as the day goes on or when I’m out in the cold air. Plus, apparently the increase in moisture levels has been shown to increase skin elasticity and reduce surface roughness. BONUS! Luckily I don’t have a lot of winkles at 31 yet, but I hear this stuff can even reduce the look of fine lines and some wrinkles as well, over time. Makes sense. I definitely plan on continuing with it to see.

All you need is a tiny, pea-sized amount that spreads nicely over your entire face. I probably used too much for these photos, but I just wanted to make sure it picked up on camera.

So far, I’ve had this tube for about 3 weeks now and I’m not even halfway empty. That makes me happy because at $25, I want it to last at least a few months. The good news for me is, because I typically don’t experience dry skin all year long, I know I can call upon the magic of Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Serum from October through May and take a break during the warmer months here in NJ. For those who normally struggle with dry skin all year or those with aging skin, I HIGHLY recommend you give this a try! And for everyone else like me who needs an extra boost of moisture along with your daily facial routine, try this out and please let me know if it’s working for you!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’re all enjoying this beautiful time of year!

Boots No7 Foundation & Concealer Review PLUS New Match Made Service Available At Walgreens

Before I get to my review on some amazing new foundations I’ve been loving, let me ask you a question: How hard is it for you to find your perfect foundation shade at the drugstore? Displays filled with tons of shades and formulas from lots of different brands line the walls when you walk into the cosmetics department and often it’s a daunting task to try and pick out just the right shade, especially with those horrible fluorescent lights overhead. Great news my dear readers: Boots No7 is coming to select Walgreens and Duane Reade locations in the New York area and bringing along an awesome new service that will help you find your perfect shade AND formula with the help of their specially trained Beauty Experts and a handy little device shown below:

No7 Foundation Match Made Service from Boots

Previously, I have only ever seen such a cool service offered at Sephora where their device would match you to a specific Pantone color which correlated to the different brands and formulas of foundation found within their store. But Boots wanted to bring that same convenience to the drugstore and offer a totally affordable option without skimping on the quality. Boots started this process by measuring the exact skin tone of more than 2,600 women around the world of all different ages and ethnicities which resulted in the development of a new shade palette of skin-true foundation shades unique to No7. Head into your local Walgreens and get matched to one of 17 different shades and four different foundation lines, based on your skin needs:

• Boots No7 Lift & Luminate Foundation provides medium coverage that blends easily to target advanced signs of aging.
• Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Foundation targets the early signs of aging, helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles with medium coverage.
• Boots No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation absorbs excess oil to create a flawless look.

I was psyched when I saw the new Boots No7 display at my local Walgreens down here at the Jersey Shore this past month. I knew I had to check out some of their products previously unavailable to me. A lot of Target locations already carry the No7 line but I think it’s going to be even more convenient having an additional display at Walgreens! One other thing I noticed immediately was that every single product and shade within the display had a tester right in front of it! How awesome is that? No more guesswork! No more returns! Take a peek:

The new No7 display at my local Walgreens

I was able to test out some wonderful products that I’m really loving at the moment. First, I’ve been using No7’s Protect & Perfect Serum ($24.99) for over a week now in the morning and at night before I put on my moisturizer and I really like the way my skin is reacting to it. It feels like it is smoothing my skin and I definitely notice it feels softer to the touch now. I also am testing out their Photo Fix Primer ($19.99) which seems to be a great dupe for Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer but with a thinner consistency, which I enjoy. It’s also not as silcion-y as the Smashbox version so I don’t feel like it’s clogging my pores which is great.

No7 Foundations & Skincare

Sometimes during the hot summer months, I don’t want a lot of product on my face or just feel like having a no-makeup makeup type of a look going on. That being said, having perfect skin is the main goal with this look so I’m please to tell you all, No7’s Beautifully Matte Foundation ($13.99) is hands-down, my new favorite! One of my all-time loves will always be Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation, but at $37, I can’t always afford to keep it in my weekly rotation. DUPE ALERT! I was sooo impressed with No7’s version! It feels very similar going on the skin, gives amazing full coverage without looking cakey or feeling heavy and it evened out my skin tone! And the best part? It lasted all day long on my typically oily and acne-pron skin! Yup! No breakdowns around my t-zone, no extra oil production and it never oxidized or turned a deeper color after being on my face for hours. I am able to get 12+ hours of wear with this foundation and it also has not broken me out once. I’ve been loving this stuff for over a week now!

Easy FOTD featuring makeup from No7

I’m currently testing out No7’s Lift & Luminate Foundation ($14.99) as well and again, I’m super impressed! It’s a lighter consistency in a pump glass bottle like the Beautifully Matte, but it gives medium coverage that I’m sure you can build up if needed. It also leaves my skin with a very subtle dewy glow, which is nice for days when I don’t need a totally matte complexion. I’ll update as time goes on with this one, but so far, I really like it and it has also lasted all day without changing color or breaking down around my oily areas, although with the Lift & Luminate, I do like to blot my face for excess oil throughout the day to help keep my skin looking fresh.

Some other fantastic products I’m loving from Boots No7’s line is their Stay Perfect Blemish Cover which is in a stick form and has a cream-to-powder consistency. It covers my acne marks so well and blends beautifully with a soft touch from your finger tips. Plus, I know I found the perfect shade that won’t clash with my foundation and call attention to my problem areas like some concealers tend to do. I’m enjoying their Stay Perfect Mascara ($8.99) too at the moment. Take a peek at that precise brush head in my photo above. It separates my lashes so well, it’s not goopy or too thick and it doesn’t clump. I found it gave me really nice, dark lashes with a lot of volume. My only wish is that it had a little more lengthening properties to it, as my lashes tend to be short and I love that long lash look. But this is great for my everyday makeup routine and I found it very easy to remove at the end of the day. And, it never gave me the dreaded raccoon eyes! Finally, if you’re a huge fan of chubby lip crayons, check out No7’s High Shine Lip Crayon ($9.99). In the photo above, I used the color called “Daydreamer” which is the perfect “my lips but better” shade on me. Loved the instant hydration, it did NOT dry my lips out like some other chubby crayons have done in the past, and the color, though very light and neutral, definitely stayed in place on me for a good 4 hours before I ate my lunch and needed to retouch afterward.

It’s great that drugstore brands are finally recognizing the need to be able to easily match our skin tone shades before we make a purchase and I have to give a lot of credit and praise to Boots No7 for bringing this amazing service, along with testers built into their displays, to our favorite locations! I wanted to share this exciting news with my readers as well as give you some quick reviews on the products I have from Boots. Please go check out your local Walgreens and Duane Reade locations if you’re in the New York area and let me know if you were able to have a Beauty Expert help you out and find your perfect skin tone match to any of the products in their line and how you like them. I do hope Boots No7 will continue to expand the shade range in their line to more options for very fair skin tones as well as deeper and darker skin tones. My location did not seem to have a lot on display for the extreme ends of the spectrum and I hope that changes. Please let me know if you have any questions or if you’re curious about a particular No7 product that you’d like me to do a review on and thanks as always for stopping by!

Tawes Creek Soap Company Review

For a few weeks now, I’ve had the pleasure of testing and trying out some great samples from Tawes Creek Soap Company, a small, handcrafted soap and beauty product business located here in NJ. Carol and her daughter Erin are friends of a close friend of mine and when my first daughter was born last year, I received some samples of baby products from their “Sapling” line to try with my girlfriend who also has a baby the same age. I immediately LOVED everything we tried (and not just for use on my little one! Even my husband was loving the creams and lotions!) so I knew I had to place a full order for some of my favorites.

When I contacted Carol recently to tell her how much I particularly LOVED her “Baby Bump Butter” and that I wanted to purchase a full size, she gave me more information about how awesome and unique their company and products really are compared to soaps, lotions and creams I was buying from mass retailers. Then she sent me a ton of awesome, deluxe size samples with my order so I could test out even more of their offerings! I knew I had to blog about Tawes Creek at that moment because it’s very rare in this day and age to come across a company, even a small business, who not only puts out excellent products that work but a company who really does care about their customers!

Take a peek at all the goodies that came with my recent purchase:

Tawes Creek Soap Company Samples

First, my favorite two items and what I had ordered from their website, Baby Bump Butter and Whipped Mango Body Butter:

Tawes Creek Body Butters

I could rave about this stuff forever! Their Baby Bump Butter ($9.95 for 2 oz.) is made with cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil and sweet almond oil and is originally intended for use during pregnancy on your “bump” to help protect and nourish your tummy while preventing stretch marks. However, this past winter into the spring, I was using my small sample (which lasted a longgg time!) on my cracked hands as well as some slight eczema on my daughter’s legs and arms. Worked like a charm! No other lotion or cream- not even my organic pricy baby brands- could help clear away her dry patches but this stuff did the trick within a matter of days. And if I switched back to my other creams for her, the dry skin would make an appearance again! See how creamy it is and it melts right into your skin in the photo above? Just love it! The scent is ah-maz-ing too! Their Whipped Mango Body Butter (also $9.95 for 2 oz.) has been great this summer for relieving insect bites as well as healing skin rash and peeling after sunburn! I expected it to have a really fruity scent but it has more of a “natural” light scent so if you shy away from anything mango, you might want to try this anyway because mango butter has some fantastic properties to it that are really beneficial to your skin!

Tawes Creek Soap Company Samples

Next up, Tawes Creek’s soaps, powder, facial masks and creams and body scrubs! I’d say Tawes is most known for their wonderful handmade soaps and they offer a huge variety on their site. I was lucky enough to try a lot of them thanks to Carol, but hands-down, my most favorite of the bunch has to be “Waimea Bay”!!! One sniff and you’ll know why I’m so in love! Tropical, sweet, yet clean and fresh at the same time… Ahhh I could use this in my shower every day! I’m actually all out now so I’ll need to place a new order soon but I love the way this soap conditioned my skin, never left it feeling dry or filmy and I never noticed any residue left on my shower walls either, which is a pet peeve of mine with other bars of soap. I also enjoyed the soap called “Jersey Fresh” because it reminds me of the ocean and salt water air scent down here at the shore where I live! All of Tawes Creek’s soaps are very moisturizing and have soft scents that are not overpowering. Give them a try- you won’t be disappointed!

As for their body and foot scrubs, another hit! I plan on using these more in the winter when I get dry skin, but I did like the way the Menthol Foot Scrub felt on my feet when I worked it in- very relaxing after a long day! What I am using a lot during the hot summer months is their Rose Geranium Body Powder right after I get out of the shower. Sprinkle a tiny bit of this on your upper back, shoulders and décolletage… you won’t be sweaty as the day goes on! It’s light and refreshing with a hint of rose scent, which you all know I love, and the best part? TALC FREE!

I did enjoy using the samples of Tawes Creek’s face creams and masks and they never made me break out, which is a blessing because I have acne-prone, oily skin and always have a terrible time finding face products that won’t irrate my skin! My favorite from the bunch? Their Silky Face & Body Cream which I will say is a VERY CLOSE DUPE to LUSH’s Vanishing Cream which goes for $40+! The light weight feel was so nice and I loved how it gave me instant moisture where I needed it! I plan on trying out some other face creams from Tawes in the near future because I want to see how I’ll do after using them a good month or so. Will keep you updated!

Other awesome samples that Carol gave me to try and I loved were their yummy cocoa butter and coconut oil lip balm and Ladies Shave Soap, which, you guessed it, is a bar of soap that you use to lather up your legs or underarms and then you have a nice, thick foam to protect your skin while saving. She also let my husband try the men’s version and he loved it! Same wonderful, all-natural ingredients found in their soaps but with a foaming property that feels so cool when you apply! The only sample I have yet to try and I’m excited about is their Tub Tea which you drop in your bath right before getting in and it will not only soothe and nourish your skin, but the aromatherapy provided by the natural ingredients will help your mind start to relax as well. I just haven’t found the time to take an actual bath yet with my busy schedule and chasing my 15 month old around but I plan on doing so soon!

Overall, I am super impressed by all of these wonderful samples that Carol from Tawes Creek Soap Company gave to me after my recent order and I highly recommend checking out their website, www.tawescreeksoap.com, if you’re interested in any of the products I’ve mentoned today in my post. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have about a particular product, as I probably left out a few details here and there but I didn’t want to make this post too long. And Carol is so lovely to speak with, so I know you can message her through their site or on their Facebook page as well and she’ll get right back to you. If you do end up trying anything, please come back and leave me a comment letting me know your thoughts! I love hearing what other’s think about products I’m passionate about and have thoroughly enjoyed! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Anna Sui Cosmetics : Makeup Haul in NYC

Anna Sui Cosmetics Haul

Last past month I was very lucky to finally meet up in person with my dear friend of seven years, Claire! Claire is from Paris and we’ve been trying to get together for a long time now but it’s very rare when she visits the US and I have not been able to hop a plane and take a trip to France yet (hopefully soon) so when she told me she was coming to NYC for a few days and asked if I’d like to come hang out with her, I jumped at the chance! We each had our lovely moms with us and we enjoyed a great lunch at a cute restaurant in SoHo before walking down to Little Italy and stopping at some shops along the way.

You probably know by now if you read my blog often or are following my Instagram feed that I love to shop for makeup! So of course I made sure we stopped in the Anna Sui flagship store on 113 Greene Street in SoHo. Picture this as I quote Molly Noonan’s review for NYMag:

“Past the soot-black storefront, the stained glass windows, and the purple flag fluttering above the front door, Anna Sui’s unconventional store packs rock-and-roll edge, Prohibition-era glamour, and cabaret dancer-sensuality into one alluring room. In the front, customers browse the cosmetics counter and, in the back, a row of antique black-lacquered tables showcasing Sui’s modern art deco jewelry designs. Under the blaring hard rock soundtrack and framed rock band posters, Sui’s signature petite-framed floral and eyelet dresses—many accented with black lace or ruffle details—hang neatly in the shop’s center, while in the corners, brightly-hued mohair jackets and oversized, hand-detailed purses hang on silver coat racks in spontaneous fashion, as if in a downtown doll’s boudoir. Back by the old Hollywood-gone-Goth fitting rooms, find an impressive display of vintage-inspired peep toe pumps in nearly every texture and print imaginable. Anna Sui’s cosmetics and fragrance are the most sought after items in the store. Specifically designed to enhance Asian skin tones and facial features, the line includes glittery eye shadows in bright 80s palettes like lemon yellow, turquoise, and hot pink, plus bold nail polish colors.”

If you’re ever in the NYC area and have time to visit this beautiful boutique, you won’t be disappointed. Take a peek at some pics I snapped while shopping:

A plethora of Anna Sui cosmetics from the flagship boutique in SoHo

 

Shopping for some gorgeous Anna Sui makeup with my girl Claire!

Now, on to what I purchased! It was hard to choose a few items as I wanted EVERYTHING I laid my eyes on but I am really trying to be good lately with making new purchases, weed through my makeup collection and purge what I do not use anymore or give away some things that didn’t work for me. I knew I wanted to try one of Anna Sui’s perfumes because they all smell amazing and I’ve heard a ton of positive reviews in the past. The display was adorable and the packaging of these bottles is beyond cute but my eye immediately went towards the newest fragrance, La Vie De Bohème, which is $65 for 1.7 oz. The scent of La Vie De Bohème is described as “a blend of feminine pink florals, rich burgundy berries, and a kiss of electrifying, sensual woods” and I totally agree. It’s fun and flirty yet sexy and powerful at the same time. My kind of fragrance! The neat thing is that I received an adorable tin box shaped like a vintage gypsy caravan that housed the perfume when I bought it! I’ll use the tin to hold some lip glosses and then display it on my vanity because it’s too adorable to hide away!

La Vie De Bohème

Next I was drawn to their adorable loose powders in shiny black floral carved containers. They had three shades and a limited edition protective shade in a white duo-chrome container. They cost $33 for 0.56 oz. I bought Claire the translucent purple shade called Purple Lucent and I got the shade Light Beige which doesn’t have any luminescence to it since I have oily skin to begin with and perfer a matte finish. The best thing about these powders aside from the adorable packaging and puff? They have that signature Anna Sui rose scent to them. It’s not an overwhelming scent either and it won’t linger. I actually love it- it’s like a fresh rose and sometimes I just open the container on my vanity and take a whiff to remind me of the fun day I spent in the city with Claire!

Anna Sui Loose Face Powder in 701 Light Beige

Claire then wanted to buy me something in return to have as a souvenir of sorts from our city trip so she purchased one of Anna’s GORGEOUS lipsticks in the color 205 which is a stunning berry pink with hot pink glitter throughout. I must say, this shade is truly a standout and I do not own anything even close to it in my collection! Again, they come in the most beautiful packaging and smell like rose complete with a tiny rose topper on the end of the tube! Too cute! I then picked up an additional shade in 305 which is a brighter yellow-based pink, more for everyday wear. Each cost $30 for your typical 0.11 oz of lipstick.

Anna Sui Lipstick in 250 and 305

And I must say, the girl at the counter helping us was so wonderful! She took her time explaining each product to us, letting us test out anything we wanted and even took our photo for Instagram before we left! With amazing customer service like that, you know I’ll be back! Overall, I am so impressed with everything I picked up from my visit to Anna Sui’s shop in SoHo and I know Claire is loving her purple translucent loose face powder as well! I can tell you now, the lipsticks are out-of-this-world and for sure I have my eye on some additonal colors in the collection. Next time I plan to be in NYC, I will most likely pick some up and do a giveaway for a few of my lucky followers here on my blog and social media accounts to share the love!

Thanks for stopping by to check out my Anna Sui cosmetics haul and I hope you get the chance to try some of her fantastic makeup and perfume yourself! If you have alrready, please leave me a comment below and let me know which products from the line you love!

1000 Follower GIVEAWAY!!!

Are you following @kskybeauty on Instagram? Twitter? Facebook? Pinterest… and ESPECIALLY my blog here?!?!?! Well if so, check out this amazing, massive makeup GIVEAWAY I am throwing this week with a winner to be chosen on Sunday, May 31, 2014. The more places you follow @kskybeauty, the greater your chances to win! Just my way of saying THANK YOU to all the lovely people I have met and talk to on a regular bases through our amazing makeup/beauty community since I started my blog almost a year ago! GOOD LUCK!!!

Massive makeup giveaway with a ton of my current drugstore and higher-end makeup favorites totaling over $200!!!

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stains – First Impression and Swatches

Have you guys heard the news that Revlon is jumping on the “gloss/gel/stain” bandwagon and just released a new collection called Colorstay Moisture Stain to their permanent line? I found these at my local Harmon/Face Values today in Central NJ and just had to pick some up to test out. I’m already a BIG FAN of YSL’s Glossy Stains and Maybelline’s Color Elixirs and I had a feeling these ones from Revlon would be similar.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stains in LA Exclusive, India Intrigue, Miami Fever and Rio Rush

I’ll keep this short since it’s only a first impressions post, but I wanted to show you swatches on my lips for four out of the twelve colors I bought:

From top: Rio Rush, Miami Fever, India Intrigue, and LA Exclusive

If I were to compare these to the Maybelline Color Elixirs, I would say they are similar, with even more of a “gel-like” feel to them. The Elixirs are more “gloss-like” in my opinion. The four colors I bought are definitely pigmented and go on fairly easy with the wide doe foot applicator and only needed about two swipes to become opaque and build up nicely. I’ve been wearing Rio Rush for about three hours now and it STILL has a beautiful shine and feels very comfortable. Not drying one bit!

There is a subtle scent when first applying these: reminds me of craft paint but luckily it fades very quickly and then there is no scent or taste at all. They also glide on with almost a cooling sensation but not tingly or minty- just cool. I am assuming that’s the “gel” properties in them?

As for stain power, since, well “stain” is in their name, I can tell you this: The darker, more vibrant shades like Rio Rush and India Intrigue definitely leave behind a slight stain but it’s nothing compared to say, the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. I think because these are meant to pack a color punch, last longer than a typical gloss AND be moisturizing, that’s most likely the reason they do not leave a darker stain, which for me, I’m happy about!

Stop over to my Instagram @kskybeauty and see more pics along with a photo I took of the display and all twelve shades in this collection! My Instagram feed is ALWAYS packed with the latest makeup/beauty finds, FOTDs, swatches for high-end and drugstore makeup and lots of beauty tips and pictorials! PLUS it’s updated multiple times a day, so make sure you follow me!

So have you found these babies in your local drugstore yet and which colors are you most interested in? Leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Battle of the Liquid Lipsticks: Too Faced Melted vs. L.A. Girl Glazed vs. Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color vs. OCC Lip Tar vs. Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer

ARRREEE YOUUU REAAADDDYYY TO RUMMMBBBLLLEEE???

This week’s post is all about my adventures in liquid lipstick testing. There are some hot new lip products on the shelves lately, from drugstore to high end, and you all know me: I don’t discriminate; I’ll try them all! It seems to me the most popular ones are Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick, L.A. Girl’s Glazed Lip Paint, Milani’s Lip Intense Liquid Color, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics or OCC’s Lip Tar and Rimmel’s Show Off Lip Lacquer. I’ve had a few of these babies in my collection already and picked up the Too Faced Melteds and L.A. Girl Glazed so I decided it was about time to write up a comparison for you all. First let’s do a packaging and swatch comparison between L.A. Girl and Too Faced since there was a lot of talk in the beauty community recently about how similar these products looked to each other when they were released a few weeks back:

L.A. Girl Glazed (from left: Pin-Up, Bombshell, Hot Mess, Babydoll, Blushing and Coy) vs. Too Faced Melted (Melted Ruby, Melted Fuchsia, Melted Coral, Melted Peony, Melted Nude and Melted Violet) with swatches

Right off the bat, I can tell you the L.A. Girl Glazed are NOT dupes for Too Faced Melted. If you were hoping to save some cash and try out the less expensive versions from L.A. Girl, I wish I could tell you they are more similar in texture and color, but they’re really not. In my swatches above, the first three shades to the left look the most alike however, the formula on these is vastly different. I would say the Glazed are closer to OCC’s Lip Tars and the Melted are more of a true… well, “melted” lipstick. Too Faced are creamier, thicker and not as runny as L.A. Girl. Both pack a big punch when it comes to pigmentation and you only need one swipe to coat your lips in total opaqueness, which I love. The Melted lipsticks have a sweet, almost cherry scent and the Glazed have a minty scent and slightly tingle your lips but do not cause any burning sensations like some lip plumping products do. The Glazed are also more glossy than the Melted and harder to apply with their squeeze tip that is just a larger hole in the plastic slanted edge. I would recommend using a lip brush for a cleaner and neater application. The Melted leave a satin, almost matte finish, much like a regular lipstick in a tube would leave (unless it’s a high shine lipstick formula of course!) and the tip is fantastic- one of the best features to the packaging in my opinion: a slanted tip covered in a furry felted texture with tiny holes allowing the product through so you can achieve a more even and controlled application. Plus, the formula of the product is thicker and creamier so it doesn’t drip out or run all over your lips which is a bonus.

Let’s talk about staying power: because the Glazed are a tad on the runny side, I did notice feathering around my lips after 30 minutes or so. Kind of a bummer for me because I hate feather. I guess I could use a lip liner to help lock them in place and also give me a neater application so that’s a quick fix. Or you could wear these over a regular lipstick as well. The Glazed do stain your lips a tad. Not as much as say, the Revlon Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains do or an actual “lip stain” product, but they do leave behind a slight stain. Not so much with the lighter colors in the Melted line- only Ruby, Fuchsia and Violet left a slight stain, though not as much as the Glazed. I feel like Too Faced lasted longer on my lips before I needed a new swipe to punch up the color, say about 4 hours. L.A. Girl needed some help around those feathering lines an hour into my day and I found myself touching them up a lot more often, though the glossy shine did last a decent amount of time. When it comes to quality, hands down Too Faced Melted wins this battle! The tube itself feels rather nice in your hands and the applicator tip was really awesome. The quality of the product inside was of course much better too- felt more comfy on my lips and really wore nicely throughout the day. I would say these are worth their $21 price tag for 0.40 fl. oz./12mL of product. But I am not saying you shouldn’t pick up some L.A. Girl Glazed for ONLY $4 again with 0.40 fl. oz./12mL of product. They both smell, feel, look and last differently on the lips!

Now let’s talk about all the other liquid lipsticks in my collection and how these all compare to each other or scroll to the bottom to find out which brand wins out overall for the title of “Best Liquid Lipstick”.

Too Faced Melted in Fuschia (Melted Peony pictured here at the bottom only to show you the applicator tip since I do not have a full size of Melted Fuchsia, only a sample) vs. L.A. Girl Glazed in Bombshell vs. Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color in Fiery Coral vs. OCC Lip Tar in Anime vs. Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Apocaliptic

If were going to call them “liquid lipsticks” than Too Faced Melted, Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color ($7 for 0.20 fl. oz./6mL) and Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer ($6 for 0.18 fl. oz./9.8mL) feel to me like the closest thing to it. L.A. Girl Glazed and OCC Lip Tar ($18 for 0.33 fl. oz./6mL) feel so similar, very runny and glossy, with the Glazed taking the prize for most glossy out of them all. OCC Lip Tar stains the best in my opinion and both the Glazed and Lip Tars have that slightly tingly minty smell, taste and sensation. The least pigmentation and color payoff goes to Milani which have a very similar sweet cherry scent like Too Faced. Don’t get me wrong: Milani packs a punch! But You can see it’s a thinner formula, though more mousy compared to OCC and L.A. Girl but I felt like I needed two layers to achieve full opaqueness. Easiest to apply? Too Faced, Milani and the winner for best applicator: Rimmel which has a doe foot applicator that gives you just the right amount of product and a precise application with it’s extra slanted fuzzy tip! Love it! These all have great lasting power, much longer than a regular lipstick, so that’s a plus. And you never have to worry about breaking off your lipstick tube on a hot day or if you apply too much pressure: these are already in the perfect melted form! Now let’s check out my categories and see how each brand did:

Truest “Liquid Lipstick” Formula:

• 1st Place: Too Faced
• 2nd Place: Rimmel
• 3rd Place: Milani

Glossiest Formula:

• 1st Place: L.A. Girl
• 2nd Place: Rimmel
• 3rd Place: OCC

Longest Lasting Formula:

• 1st Place: OCC
• 2nd Place: Too Faced
• 3rd Place: Rimmel

Most Comfortable Formula:

• 1st Place: Too Faced
• 2nd Place: Milani
• 3rd Place: Rimmel

Best Pigmentation:

• 1st Place: OCC
• 2nd Place: Too Faced
• 3rd Place: L.A. Girl

Best Packaging/Applicator:

• 1st Place: Rimmel
• 2nd Place: Too Faced
• 3rd Place: Milani
• LAST PLACE: OCC- I should mention I am NOT a fan of OCC’s packaging at all but I know a lot of people love it. I can’t wait for OCC to come out with stick versions of their colors!

And finalllyyy… Overall Best Liquid Lipstick Winner (based on all categories and my rigorous testing): Drumroll please…

• 1st Place: Too Faced
• 2nd Place: Rimmel
• 3rd Place: OCC

Have you tried any of these liquid lipsticks and which ones are your favorites? Any other brands I didn’t mention that you think are worth a shot? Please leave me a comment and let me know. I love chatting with you all and getting to hear YOUR options and favorites! Thanks for stopping by and I hope I was able to help you find a new liquid lipstick that you might want to pick up now!

Haul: Estée Lauder Skincare and GWP Time at Macy’s

Hi everyone! This week I visited my local Macy’s department store in search of some new skincare from Estée Lauder and lucky for me, it happened to be their “Free Gift With Purchase” month! I LOVE GWPs: I think it’s a great way to try out deluxe and sometimes full-size products that you may have never tried before. And I love Estée Lauder skincare so it was a win-win situation. Take a peek at all my lovely goodies I hauled:

Haulage pic I posted on my Instagram @kskybeauty

First, let’s talk about my skincare purchases and why I love and trust this brand so much! My skin has always been combo to oily: I have a very oily t-zone, yet my cheeks and lips always seem to be dry. I also have struggled with acne and breakouts over the years, mostly on my chin and lower jaw as well as blackheads on my nose. In the summer, my skin is always a little better (I think it’s due to more sun exposure and the humitity in the air, although I’m always careful about that and never go overboard) but in the winter, the dry patches in some areas drive me nuts and it’s hard to combat my oily areas without drying out my skin even further.

Let me just put it out there: since high school, I have tried EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING under the sun in terms of face cleansers, moisturizers, eye creams, acne treatments, masks, peels, lip conditioners… you name it, I’ve purchased it and gave it a whirl. From drugstore to high-end, I’ve bought them all. The ONE BRAND I keep going back to… The ONE SKINCARE LINE that has NEVER disappointed me… Is Estée Lauder! I think a lot of younger women have this impression that the brand is for more mature skin (something your mother or even grandmother would buy) but I have to let those girls know: it’s not true. I’ve been using their line of skincare since my early 20s when a friend in college recommended the brand to me. For my skin needs and for the type of skin I have, I loved their products from the moment I started using them. Problem was, as a college kid, money was tight and I couldn’t always afford them. So off and on throughout the years (and when I had the extra cash), I always headed over to my local Estée Lauder counter when my skin was really misbehaving and I needed a great regimen to kick it back into shape.

This past week, fed up with the nasty winter weather that’s still lingering here in NJ causing my newest skin issues, I decided to go back and see what Estée Lauder had in their line as of late. First up: their Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II which is a serum I put on after I’ve washed my face at night using the Clarisonic Mia 2 with Garnier Clean + Blackhead Eliminating Scrub. This serum is amazeballs! This is my 4th bottle I believe? I know, I know… it’s pricy at $62 for an ounce of product, but trust me: this stuff works great and it will last you a while! Packed with anti-aging goodness, it apparently rejuvenates your skin overnight and works with your body’s cell purification process to give you softer, smoother and more hydrated skin in the morning. The main reason I love it? My makeup the next morning goes on flawless without any dry patches of skin showing through my foundation. And when I don’t use it? Yup- those pesky patches are back!

My Estée Lauder skincare purchases

Next I purchased Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex which is basically the eye cream (well, it’s a gel) version of their serum. I’m testing this one out at the moment as it’s a new product for me but so far, I like it. I have the worst time with dry skin around my eyelids when I wear eyeshadow primer so I definitely need a good, hydrating eye treatment. I’ll do an update in a few weeks with how well this works for me but it seems to be helping already. It’s $55 for half an ounce but I typically can get a good three months or more out of my eye cream jars.

Finally, I bought their Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme for Normal/Combination Skin which is $42 for 1.7 ounces. I am a HUGE fan (and typically buy) their Daywear moisturizer and Advanced Time Zone night cream but I wanted to get a little extra dose of hydration to really knock out this bad dryness. The consultant at the counter suggested I try this new one. LOVE IT!!! Their mositerizers go on so smooth and sink right into my skin which is such a lovely feeling. I’ve been using it for about three days now, so again, I’ll post an update soon but I haven’t had any new dryness and my skin has been super soft!

Now onto the free GWP!!! If you’re already a fan of Lilly Pulitzer prints, you’ll think this new spring themed 7-piece collection is adorable:

Macy’s Estee Lauder & Lilly Pulitzer Free Gift With Purchase

I spent over the $35 requirement (OBVIOUSLY LOL!!!) so I was able to customize the gift and choose which pieces best suited my skin type and coloring- how neat! I’d much rather be able to pick and choose what goes into my GWPs rather than have generic ones given out. Customers aren’t all the same so I appreciate when you can tailor these freebies to your skin and coloring preferences! Along with the cute mirror and matching travel makeup bag, I got a mini version of their Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (sweet!), a deluxe-size sample of their Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Black (never tried so I’m curious), Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion (LOVE and these deluxe samples last forever for me- I never need to purchase a full size!), DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme with SPF 15 (or I could have chosen the firming/lifting cream), an eyeshadow quad with bold pinks and purples (or a gold-toned neutral quad but I have a ton of neural shades in my collection), Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Pink Parfait (or I could have picked their Sugar Honey), Double-Ended Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer in Light/Medium (again, you pick your shade), another lipstick in Rose Tea (WOW!) andddddd a full-size lip conditioner which I’m using it before bed at night. Whew! Ton of stuff, right?

If you’re curious after this post and want to try anything from Estée Lauder’s skincare line but can’t make it to the mall before this GWP is over on March 23rd, check out Macy’s online skincare calculator here which helps you find your ideal skincare products, similar to what one of their consultants at the beauty counter would do for you. There’s a foundation one too since I know shopping for a matching foundation color online can be the hardest thing ever! Everyone’s preferences and skin types are different so what works for me might not work for you of course, but I love the fact that Macy’s has this quick, interactive quiz to help their customers identify the perfect product for their skincare and beauty needs!

Thanks for stopping in to catch up with me and check out my latest haul. I’ll be sure to post an update on how well the eye gel and hydrating moisturizer are working for me in a few weeks! And if I hear about any upcoming GWPs from any of my favorite cosmetic companies, I’ll make sure I keep you all informed too!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!! Follow me on Instagram for a chance to win:

500 Followers GIVEAWAY on Instagram

 

Wet N Wild’s new Spring 2014 The Style Award Goes To… collection featuring these two GORGEOUS eyeshadow palettes in Walking The Red Carpet and Flirting At The After Party! All you have to do is like and repost my photo on Instagram, hashtag #kskybeauty500 and tag @kskybeauty so I can enter you. Once I reach 500 followers, I’ll announce a winner! Open internationally so please check it out! Thank you all! I love my readers and followers! You guys make blogging about makeup and beauty fun for me and I really enjoy and love our online beauty community!

xoxo,
Kathleen