NOTD: Pacific Blue by Sally Hansen

I've had Sally Hansen's Pacific Blue for several years but never wore it for some reason.  Well, this week I was craving cobalt blue nails so out she came.  Quite the pretty color!  Formula was good as well, with 2 coats giving me plenty of smooth coverage.

My tips started to show after just a few days, however, so I decided to do a tone on tone french tip with Wet 'n Wilds Saved by the Blue.  It has a metallic finish but is in the same color family as Pacific Blue, although slightly darker.

I like how this turned out, but sadly had some more tip chips within 2 days.  I'm not seeing the wear time I usually do with my polishes, but I'm not sure if that's because my nails are peeling, or that I'm wearing drugstore brands.  So, I clipped my nails, which actually looks pretty cool with just the slightest sliver of darker blue along the edges.  So, all's good:-)

Linking up with The Nail Files, hosted by Jennie Shaw!

Czarina Satin Finish Powder Blush by MAKE

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.  Links provided for convenience only.

MAKE's Satin Finish Powder Blush features jet-milled pigments that really do give the finish of this blush a lovely translucent glow.  Seriously, I love the finish of this blush!  The formula also contains lecithin and lauroyl lysine, an amino acid derivative, to help hydrate and nourish skin, and Vitamins C and E to provide anti-oxidant protection.  Form and function :-)

Here's some more good news:  it's not tested on animals, and is oil-free, talc-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic.  I think of this color as a strawberry pink, and I've got to say it looks nothing like the orange color represented on Barney's site, where I bought it. 

I was curious to see how it compared to another strawberry hued blush I own, theBalm's Toile Instain blush.  In the pan, Toile looks slightly darker and pinker.  Arm swatches show Toile leaning slightly more red, with a more matte finish.  Between the two, Czarina's glow wins out for me.

Czarina ($25) applied smoothly and wore my normal time of 8 hours or so (oily skin and all that).  There are 11 shades available (6 matte finish, 5 satin finish) and I also picked up Geisha, but have yet to wear it.  I'm loving Czarina though, so hoping Geisha brings more goodness my way!

Sunday Modern Lip Color by Sunday Riley

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Sunday Lip Color by Sunday Riley is a sheer but buildable coral red with pink undertones, and I'm quite enamoured with it.  It's such a wearable red for me, and apparently Sunday Riley's founder signature lip color choice.  I can see why.

According to the description on Sephora, the Modern Lip Color formula

"uses a highly advanced pigment delivery system, which attaches high-impact pigments to soothing base molecules for long-lasting color. Vitamin C increases collagen levels and gives antioxidant protection to maintain youthful plumpness and repair the effects of UV exposure and other environmental damage while nourishing shea butter continuously hydrates the lips."

Interestingly, I see more than one negative review on Sephora's site, mainly complaining about how dry the lipstick is.   I did not find it drying and it feels emollient when I first apply, but neither would I call it a highly moisturizing formula in spite of it's 10% shea butter content.  It did not irritate my lips, however, which is a problem I have with some formulas.  I found it lightweight and comfortable to wear, with about a 3 hour wear time. 

The goldtone tube does pick up lots of fingerprints, but it's substantial without being heavy and closes with a satisfying snap.  The Modern Lip Colors are $32, and I picked mine up from Birchbox with some of my Birchbox dollars. 

Swan Lake Water Canvas Blush by Vincent Longo

Disclaimer:  I won this.

A few months back I was fortunate enough to win two Vincent Longo products in a giveaway hosted by Amber of DayDreaming Beauty.  Having never tried anything from Vincent Longo, I was quite excited to try these out, and I've got to say I haven't been disappointed!

I chose Swan Lake, a neutral medium pink, as my blush color.  It gives a soft, realistic flush that is great for anytime wear.  What's really interesting, however, is the formula of this cream to powder blush.  Containing 75% Microwater, a 100% natural botanical seaweed polymer, along with vitamin E, silica and long-wearing pigment, it feels cool when you apply it.  Not cool like "that's cool, man" (although it is), but cool as in temperature wise.  It's also housed in a airtight container to prevent evaporation.

Swan Lake

It blends easily and I apply with my fingers first and then blend out with a brush.  Color can be built up to an extent, but this is a soft color that would be hard to overdo.  There is a very faint silver shimmer in the mix that is quite fetching.

The $44 price tag on these may deter some, but it is a lovely blush formula.  I'm so glad I got to try it out, thanks Amber and Vincent Longo!

Eye Looks Using Almay's Shadow Softies

Here are a few of the looks I've created using Almay's Shadow Softies.  As I noted in my review of them yesterday, they produce soft washes of color.  Applying with my finger worked the best, although I was also able to use a firm brush to pick up color.

Cashmere + Honeydew + Moss + Smoke

Peach Fuzz

Smoke

Smoke w/Maybelline's Inked in Pink

My favorites are Smoke and Honeydew from the six shades I picked up.  Cashmere turned out to be too light for me to use as a brow highlighter - I thought it was a bit too stark.  All wore well over primer, with fading happening after 7-8 hours on my oily lids.

Almay Shadow Softies: Peach Fuzz, Cashmere, Honeydew, Petal, Smoke, Moss

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

The word on the beauty blogging street is that Almay's Shadow Softies are a much less expensive ($4.49) version of Dior's Fusion Mono Matte eyeshadows ($30).  Both have a moldable not quite powder and not quite cream formula, with sheer color payoff.

I picked up six of the Shadow Softies back in March during a BOGO 50% off sale, and after using them for a few months, here are my impressions.

Peach Fuzz

Peach Fuzz looks terra cotta in the pan, but all of these apply much lighter in color than they look.  For some, that will be a no go, but I actually like the subtle effect they give.  Peach Fuzz has a slight shimmer.

Moss

Moss is a metallic green gold.  I'm a sucker for this kind of shade and always veer towards it.  Again, this applies sheer but can be built up to a point.  I found using my finger worked the best.

Petal

Petal is a delicate pink matte.  

Cashmere

Cashmere is a pale ecru that I was hoping to use as a brow highlighter, but it comes off as a bit chalky.  It may be too light for my complexion.

Smoke

Smoke is a grayed out taupe, and one that I like more than I expected.  It has a lovely shimmer to it as well.

Honeydew

Honeydew is more of a pale gold sparkle than anything else, and makes for a nice inner eye highlighter or as a wash over other shadows.  It's another one I really liked.

I'd say that if you are not a fan of applying shadow with your fingers or prefer more intense color, to skip these.  Personally, I'm liking them and think they make for some really nice springtime eyes!  I'll have some looks I created with them up tomorrow.

Le Métier de Beauté May's VIP Subscription Box is Peachy Keen

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I do believe I've only got 2 more months left to receive my VIP subscription boxes from Le Métier de Beauté.  Would I sign up for this service again, knowing what I know now?  Absolutely, in a heartbeat!  I've discovered some great new products from Le Métier de Beauté, and while there were a few misses in the mix, almost everything I received was top quality and imminently usable.  

May's offering are two of the True Color eyeshadows, Peachy Keen and Goldstone.  I recently reviewed two other shadows from Le Métier de Beauté, Naked and Tamarack, and I'm pleased to see that the quality is just as great with these two.  

Peachy Keen is a flesh toned satin/matte, and makes for a nice all over lid shade.  I've got a discoloration (sun damage?) on one of my lids, and Peachy Keen does a nice job of evening things out without looking chalky or dry.  

Goldstone is a lovely gold shimmer that I'm happy to say does not go metallic on me.  I love gold shadows for the contrast they give my blue eyes, so Goldstone is right up my alley.  The true beauty of these shadows is enhanced when I layer Goldstone over Peachy Keen - it's très bien!

Peachy Keen, Goldstone

Here I'm wearing Peachy Keen with Goldstone on top, Tarte's SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Gold along the upper and bottom lash line, and Elizabeth Arden's Beautiful Color Lash Enhancing mascara.  Such an easy but pretty look for daytime wear.

The True Color shadows retail for $30 each, which give's May's box a $60 value.  I'm hoping that I'll see a cream blush before the subscription period ends, but really, Le Métier de Beauté has done such a nice job of curating these boxes that I'm sure I won't be disappointed.  Really interested to see what's in store for year two of this service!