Black Ecstasy Mascara in Obsidian Black by Giorgio Armani

In general, mascaras are not an item that I sink a lot of money into.  I'll pay a lot for foundation, skincare items, palettes, blush, highlighters - but mascara?  I'm just not convinced that the higher end mascaras are that much better than mid level, or even drugstore brands in many cases.

That doesn't mean I'm not excited to try them out when they come my way as part of a GWP or other offers, such as with the Black Ecstasy travel sized mascara that was part of the Armani VIB trio I recently got from Sephora.  I've been using it exclusively for the last 3 weeks, and I really like it.  A lot.

Here's what Armani has to say about it:

"The cylindrical and multi-directional brush captures and coats every lash with 4 patented multi-effect waxes for quick application, volume, length and curl.  The formula features an exclusive color boosting polymer for the most intense black."

My wimpy invisible lashes

One coat of Black Ecstasy

Marketing speak always makes everything sound magical, but here is what I like about Black Ecstasy:  it's easy to apply, non-clumping and non-flaking, and did a good job of emphasizing my lashes.   I had zero smudging, which is pretty remarkable with my oily skin and the hot and humid weather conditions in Mobile.  I notice more length than volume, but overall a really good performer.

Black Ecstasy ($32) also comes in blue (Armani Navy) and brown (Wood), and while I'm still not inclined to spend that much on mascara (I've got a drugstore mascara I like just as much at 1/3 of the cost, which I'll be reviewing soon), I'm glad to have received two of these and will use them both up.

Empties! Products I Used Up in June

June's empties feature some tried and true items that were used up to the last drop as well as two items that were used once and then tossed.  So, let's get started!

• Julep's Rock Star Hand Creme (full size):  with a formula containing shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and vitamin E, I liked this quite a bit. I've got some other hand creams I need to work my way through, but I'd repurchase.
• DHC Head Oil (foil sample):  my favorite way to remove product buildup from my hair.  Think of it as oil cleansing for the hair, because that's exactly what it is.  Full review here.
• Marcelle Energizing Hydra-C Energizing Hydrating Gel (deluxe sample):  loved it, even cut open to tube to get the last drops, which were quite a few.  Note to self, don't throw out sample tubes without cutting them open and extracting contents first.

• Sephora Express Nail Polish Remover (full size):  good stuff, even takes off glitter polish without much of a fight.  Already have another bottle.
• Supergoop Eye Cream (deluxe sample):  I liked that this eye cream has spf, as so few seem to.  Other than that, I'd say it's average. I cut open this tube as well, lots still inside that I could not squeeze out for the life of me.
• Julep Freedom Top Coat:  I'm a fan, although it's frustrating that it thickens to the point of non-usage before I finish a bottle.  I have that problem with Seche Vite as well.
• Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect (deluxe sample):  I've yet to meet at Number 4 product I haven't liked, and this one is no exception.  I just received another from Birchbox, so the timing is perfect.
• Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo (deluxe sample):  A little goes a long way, and it does the job.  Very nice.

• Nuxe Body 24 HR Moisturizing Body Lotion (foil sample):  quite luxurious feeling, I'm keeping this on my wish list.
• YSL Cherry My Cherie Volupte Tint-in-Oil (foil sample):  also on my wish list, perhaps I'll treat myself during Sephora's next Friends and Family sale.  Full review here.
• Le Metier de Beaute Revitalizing Anti-Aging Day Cream:Very nice, but hard to tell much based on the few uses available from the foil.  Pricey. I can say all the skincare items I've tried from LMdB have been top notch.
• Le Metier de Beaute Revitalizing Anti-Aging Night Cream:  Ditto.

• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (foil sample):  I think the shade wasn't quite right for me, but I'm drawing a blank on this one.  
• Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser (foil sample):  I like, but don't love.  Wish the warming sensation lasted more than a nano-second.
• Golden Girl Gradual Tan (deluxe sample):  only enough for one application, so hard to form a solid impression.

• First Aid Beauty Deep Cleanser with Red Clay (deluxe sample):  love this stuff, full review here.
• Bloody Orange by Alice & Peter (spray vial sample):  loved the concept of this perfume, but the lasting power was disappointing.  Full review here.
• Palmetto Derma Collagen Booster & Restoration Serum:  I liked this slightly thicker than water clear serum a lot.  The bottle lasted 3 months, and I'd consider purchasing.  

Now for the items that got tossed after one use:

• Dr. Jart+ Night Beauty Balm:  No, just no.  Full review here.
• L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara:  clumpy under performer that also flaked.

Whew, that was a lot!

Loving Your Unloved v3: Revlon Colorbust Lip Butters in Raspberry Pie, Creamsicle, Sweet Tart & Candy Apple

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

If you were reading beauty blogs when the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters were first released in 2011, you know the sensation they created.  And for good reason, as the formula is quite nice at a reasonable price point.  I've collected a dozen+ of them now, and yet only one is even close to being finished.

So, I've pulled four of the colors that have seen minimal usage and will be focusing on them for the month of July.  Since I shudder at the thought of being restricted to just one shade and the goal of this series is not to punish myself, but rather to rediscover my love for languishing products, my Lip Butter choices for July are:

• Raspberry Pie:  medium-dark raspberry pink 
• Creamsicle (discontinued):  creamy vanilla peach
• Sweet Tart:  bubblegum pink
• Candy Apple:  orange red

When looking through my Colorburst Lip Butter collection, it was immediately obvious that Peach Parfait has received lots of love and is the closest to being finished.  I was tempted to include it just to finish it off, but considering the series focuses on the unloved, it doesn't really fit.

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress I make with these neglected Lip Butters!

Loving Your Unloved v.2: Dollskin Palette by Tarina Tarantino June Usage

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

For those not familiar with my "Loving Your Unloved" series, it's where I chose an item that has languished largely unused for a while and use it for a solid month.  My goal is to either rediscover my love for the item or come to the conclusion that perhaps I'd be better off without it.  The Dollskin blush palette by Tarina Tarantino was my neglected item of choice for the month of June. So let's see if that spark was rekindled or not!

I definitely fell back in love with one of the blushes, the lightest shade called Feather.  It was the shade I gravitated towards each day in June, as Feather is a great natural looking blush for my warm but fair toned complexion.  I used the other 3 colors (Candy Cameo, Carved Rose, Parasol)  mainly as pops of color on the apples of my cheeks after I applied Feather. 

I thought pigmentation on Feather, Parasol, and Carved Rose was quite good, but Candy Cameo needed building up a bit more to get the color shown above.  The finish is lovely though - look at that shimmer! 

I can't say that I see much progress in using this baby up, however, so it's a good thing that powder products last as long as they do.  Here is Dollskin when it was brand spankin' new:

After 3 years of sporadic use, at the beginning of June:

At the end of June:

Can you tell a difference between the beginning and end of June?   Yeah, me neither. 

Even though it's only the second month of the "Loving Your Unloved" series, I can say that focusing on a product for a solid month is helping me to identify the colors (especially in palettes), that I really use.  I've also found myself still reaching for May's neglected item of choice, Urban Decay's Naked palette (in particular Virgin, Sin, Buck, and strangely Darkhorse, which I was stumped by initially).  I think I'll be reaching for Feather more often now, which makes Dollskin a keeper (not that there was any doubt).  Now, just need to decide on July's Loving Your Unloved choice....

NOTD: Red, White & Blue

 Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

I'm looking forward to more relaxing as part of the long 4th of July weekend, interspersed with yard and house work, of course.  But oh, to have 4 days off, luxury. 

To celebrate America's Independence Day, I've got the traditional red, white and blue color motif.  The red is St. James by Nails Inc., the white is butter LONDON's Cotton Buds, and the blue is Julep's Lola.  I topped Cotton Buds with Julep's glitter topper Fireworks and then mattified everything with Julep's matte top coat. 

I'm a bit obsessed with Lola and will be revisiting that in the future.  Lola has a satin, or semi-matte finish that looks slightly rubbery, and was very easy to work with. 

Happy and safe 4th of July to those who are celebrating!

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #2

Did anybody else take advantage of Sephora's Armani Beauty VIB trio GWP recently?  I was most enticed by the Fluid Sheer #2, although the opportunity to try the Black Ecstasy mascara and the Lip Maestro 400 held  appeal as well.  Today I'll be showing you the Fluid Sheer #2.

I've had experience with one other Fluid Sheer, the peach hued #5 (full review here).  It left me a bit ambivalent, as it didn't really work as a blush nor did it show up much as an lumizer when mixed with a foundation.  Considering the $62 price tag, I wasn't convinced on the merits of the Fluid Sheers.  I'm happy to say that the beige Fluid Sheer #2 could change my mind. 

My favorite way to wear luminizers is mixed with my foundation, although patting this on the high planes of your face with a damp Beauty Blender works for focused highlights.  Mixed with foundation provides an all over subtle glow that brings life to my complexion without making it look oily.  Consdering my skin is oily to begin with, I want glow as opposed to shiny, and Fluid Sheer #2 delivers the goods.

Here I'm wearing Fluid Sheer #2 combined with SuperGoop's CC cream in Light to Medium.

Fortunately, the shipping gods at Sephora included two of the Armani VIB beauty trios in my box for some reason, so I should have enough Fluid Sheer #2 to last for a while.  Très lovely.  Also apropos of nothing, I'm watching Kung Fu Hustle as I'm typing, and it's fantastic fun!

Very Charming Volumizing Lip & Cheek Tint by Tata Harper

Tata Harper's Volumizing Lip & Cheek Tint is designed to bring color and skincare together, combining "lush natural pigments with the latest in antiaging skincare technology".  I'm a fan of cream blushes, so was interested to see how this upscale natural and organic line delivered.

Very Charming is one of six available shades, a classic petal-pink designed to give cheeks a realistic flush.  The finish is dewy, and a peek at the ingredients gives me a good indication as to why, as  coconut, sunflower, and castor oils are the first 3 ingredients.  On the plus side, I didn't feel the need to wear a highlighter as my cheeks fairly glowed without one.  The texture on the skin is slightly tacky but not overwhelmingly so.

Very Charming is $35, and if you are looking for a more reasonably priced blush with a similar finish, you may want to check out the BareMinerals Pop of Passion blushes.  Those are limited edition, however, and may not be available for much longer.  You can see the Natural Passion shade here, but Posy Passion looks like it may be similar in color to Very Charming.

(left) BareMinerals Natural Passion, (right) Tata Harper Very Charming

Overall, a lovely blush (I never tried it as a lip tint), and if you are looking for 100% natural formula with quality ingredients, this is a winner.  Tata Harper products are manufactured in small batches in their Vermont laboratory for the freshest possible products, and I'm interested in trying more.  Just be aware that the shelf life on these is going to be shorter due to the all natural formulas, as I discovered recently with a Tata Harper travel-sized serum that had gone bad.  It was my fault for not using it immediately after receiving it as a GWP, always a hazard with my stockpile of beauty products.