Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Sweet Watermelon

When I was growing up, my grandparents grew watermelons on their land.  I would spend a month with them every summer, and in the afternoons, I would follow my grandfather out to the garden to chose a watermelon.   He would slice it long ways in half, give me a spoon and one side of the watermelon, and I would dig in.  Later, we would feed the rinds to the cows.

I've got a different kind of Sweet Watermelon to show you today - one of the Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Sticks.  I wouldn't really describe the color as a true watermelon, but more of a peachy pink shimmer.  The color borders on frosty, but not to the point where I felt like I couldn't wear it without having flashbacks to the '80's.

Sweet Watermelon has a light texture and felt emollient on.  It does contain some conditioning ingredients such as mango and shea butters (petrolatum is in there are as well), and Neutrogena claims that your lips will be softer and smoother after wearing for 3 days.  I wouldn't describe the texture as waxy, as there is more of a slip to it, probably due to the silicones in the formula.  It did not dry my lips and wore surprisingly well, as I could still feel it on after wearing it on two separate occasions and (1) taking a shower and, (2) eating breakfast and drinking coffee. It swivels up so no sharpener is needed.

It does settle into lip lines, but it is not as apparent unless you are very close.  I'd like to try one of the non-shimmer colors to see how it performs, but overall, Sweet Watermelon is a solid performer!  I'm not over the moon about it, but for the price ($8-$9), not bad at all!

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Ingredients:
hydrogenated polyisobutene, phenyl trimethicone, polybutene, petrolatum, hydrogenated lanolin, pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, ozokerite, cetyl lactate, myristyl myristate, polyethylene, bis-behenyl/isostearyl/ phytosteryl dimer dilinoleyl dimer dilinoleate, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, silica, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax, _avor, stearoxymethicone / dimethicone copolymer, ethylhexyl palmitate, mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, silica silylate, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, tribehenin, maltodextrin, sorbitan isostearate, lactic acid, punica granatum pericarp extract, palmitoyl oligopeptide May contain: mica, synthetic wax, titanium dioxide, calcium sodium borosilicate, iron oxides, red 7 lake, yellow 5 lake, red 6, red 33 lake, isopropyl titanium triisostearate, blue 1 lake, tin oxide, yellow 6 lake, carmine 

NOTD: Belle by Zoya with Pumpkin Glow in the Dark Glitter

Belle is part of the Zoya Blogger Collection by Birchbox.  A watermelon hued glass fleck, Belle looked like a perfect early spring choice.  I used 3 coats, but can still see my tips, so 4 might have been better.  Application was easy and I had no problems with the formula.

However, I wasn't quite satisfied so added a layer of glitter a day later.   I had picked up this Pumpkin Glow in the Dark Glitter at Halloween but never used it, and the color looked like a perfect fit for Belle.  I was going to then mattify the whole look, but somehow I've managed to lose my mattifying top coat.  Oh well.

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

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The Next Big Thing Eyeshadow Palette from bareMinerals

I think I've already said this a couple of times before, but in case you missed it:  I love the formula of the bareMinerals pressed shadows, which contains antioxidants, cold-pressed borage oil, caffeine and cucumber, which all help to deliver anti-aging benefits.  When Ulta recently had a 50% off sale (!) of the 4.0 palettes, I picked up three of them.  Today I have The Next Big Thing to show you.

The Next Big Thing was part of the spring Remix collection, and features a shiny aqua case as opposed to the usual matte black.  I had originally passed on this one in favor of The Wild Thing (see review here), which featured greens and aquas.  The Next Big Thing's warm colors naturally appeal to me, but I wasn't sure it was unique enough to my collection to splurge on both.

Rising Star

The colors and finishes are gorgeous though, so I'm glad I was able to get it as well!  Rising Star is an ethereal pale gold.  I love the way this catches the light and enjoy using it as an inner eye or brow highlighter.

Smash Hit

Smash Hit is a soft matte coral.  It applies nicely, can be built up in color, and makes for a lovely tropical eye look.

Hoopla

Hoopla is a metallic brass with an intensely shiny finish.  The pigmentation is fantastic and, in addition to being a great lid color, made for a really pretty eye liner.

Ensemble

Ensemble is an eggplant purple, and looks lighter here than it applies.  It's more of a blackened eggplant when swatched.  It looks a bit patchy in the arm swatch but I did not have issues when applying to my lids.

The colors and finishes of The Next Big Thing work well together - it's a lovely palette!  Here are a few looks I've done with it.

 Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

March Birchbox: Celebrate the Madness!

I was never much of a basketball fan until I went to graduate school at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and then I caught the fever.  The fever broke a few years later, but it was fun for the duration!  There was the year I happened to be in D.C. with friends during March madness on St. Patrick's Day when UNC was marching towards the final four.  That day began with a planned visit to an art museum, but somehow veered into an epic bar crawl that started in D.C but ended in Maryland.  The next year this same group of now graduated friends met me in Nashville for the tournament.  Standing room only in Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Ashley Judd sightings, and crowds singing patriotic songs, as I believe we had invaded Iraq a few days before. 

Wait, this post is about the March Birchbox, right?   I wouldn't call it epic, but it's pretty nice, nonetheless!  I got a new BB cream from Marcelle to try out.  It is supposed to give skin a golden glow, and while I was a bit afraid excessive shimmer as a result, it turns out to be quite subtle and a good color match for my skin.  Minus points for not having any SPF, but other than that, very nice!

I'm hearing good reports of the Evologie skin blemish serum, and goodness knows my skin still breaks out, so looking forward to giving it a whirl. 

The Caldrea lotions come in 3 different scents, and the one I've tried thus far was very nice. 

I also received an exclusive to Birchbox blueberry scented shaving cream from Whish.  I rarely buy shaving creams but do enjoy using them, so this is a treat.  I'm liking the natural and organic ingredients:-)

The extra this month was a floral patterned emery board, the result of a Birchbox and Madewell partnership.  Pretty and practical, nothing wrong with that!

Well done, Birchbox! 

Disclaimer:  I subscribe to Birchbox for $10/month.  If you would like to subscribe as well, consider using my affiliate link which helps me earn points toward purchases in the Birchbox shop, or you can go directly to Birchbox to sign up.

OCC Lip Tars: Pro's Picks v2.0 Swatches

As promised, here are the swatches of the lip tars included in the Pro's Picks v2.0 lip tar set!  For those not familiar with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic's lip tars, they are liquid lipsticks that have a thin consistency but are highly pigmented.  A small dot is all you need, and applying them with a lip brush works best for me. 

Iced is one of the newer metallic finishes, and I was interested to see how mixing the other colors with Iced would look.  All of the lip tars can be mixed together to make your own custom colors, which makes them even more versatile.  Iced is not as glossy as the cream lip tars due to the metallic finish and felt dryer on the lips as well. 

Iced

Kava Kava is described as a medium peach, but leans more towards terracotta to me. 

Kava Kava

Kava Kava mixed with Iced

The medium plum Lydia was the problem child of the set, as the formula seemed thinner and less pigmented.  It's possible it just needs mixing better, but I've tried shaking the tube multiple times and it is still a but runny.  You can see how it bleeds more than the others.  Lydia mixed with Iced produced a lovely mauve shimmer.

Lydia

Lydia mixed with Iced

Hoochie is described as a vibrant magenta, but it looks purple to me.  Mixed with Iced, you get lavender!

Hoochie

Hoochie mixed with Iced

 Last is Pretty Boy, a fuschia pink.  Mixing with Iced produces a lighter pink shimmer.

Pretty Boy

Pretty Boy mixed with Iced

Obviously, the levels of color and shimmer will vary with how you mix them.  Less Iced will give a less frosty finish.  I've yet to wear these for any length of time  so have yet to get a feel for how the metallic finish wears, but the cream lip tars wear comfortably as long as you don't over apply.  Too much will lead to feathering.

There are two separate Pro's Picks lip tar sets available at Sephora, and they retail for $49. 

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

YonKa Vital Defense Intense Hydration

Vital Defense by YonKa was one of the items I received in a New Beauty Test Tube.  I'm just about finished with it and thought it was time for a review.  For those not familiar with YonKa (I wasn't prior to receiving Vital Defense), it is a skincare line founded in 1957 by a pair of French botanist brothers.  They were able to perfect the process of stabilizing essential oils in water-based emulsions and specialized in esthetic aromatherapy, phytotherapy, marine therapy and fruit acid based products.

YonKa may be more well known in Europe and continues to be manufactured in France.  It's on the higher end of skincare lines and is featured in spas, although it can be purchased online as well.  The Vital Defense lotion is described as an anti-aging skin cream that protects skin from environmental stressors

"by stimulating skin renewal. Lactic acid exfoliates for a smoother, brighter complexion. Moringa peptide decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Olive oil, rich in antioxidants including vitamins A and E, protects the skin against free-radical damage. Mandarin peel oil promotes blood circulation and the regeneration of new skin cells." (Source:  Dermstore)

Every morning when I apply Vital Defense I'm struck by the pleasant citrusy floral scent, so I've got to say the aromatherapy aspect is definitely there.  The cream itself is a thicker white cream that applies easily and leaves no greasy after feel.  I've got oily skin and Vital Defense has not made me feel more oily, just nicely hydrated and smooth.  For someone who has a variety of skin care lotions and creams, I've been fairly loyal to Vital Defense since I started using it, so that speaks quite highly!

The price is a hefty $72, which is comparable to another natural, botanically based high end brand I'm fond of, Eminence Skincare.  I think I may actually prefer YonKa, or at least the Vital Defense moisturizer, now that I've tried it.   Would I purchase?  I think so!  I've got aging, problematic skin, so when I find something that works well, price becomes less of an obstacle.  I've seen discounted prices online, although I'm assuming those are not through an authorized retailer. 

Photo source:  NHR Organic Essential Oils

Ingredients:  Water Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate Myristyl Myristate, Urea, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Myristyl Esters, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/ Vp Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Latic Acid, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Peg-75 Stearate, Hordeum Distichon(Barley) Extract, Serine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis(Orange) Peel Oil, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Santalum Album(Sandalwood)Extract, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Squalane, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate(Vit E :.21%), Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate(Vit C), Retinyl Palmitate(Vit A), Michelia Alba (Magnolia)Leaf Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange)Peel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Parfum/Fragrance, Dextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus(Sunflower)Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Ubiquinone, Limonene, Linalool, Citral.

Disclaimer:  I received this in my New Beauty Test Tube, which I purchased.

On a Jet Plane: What I Took to Washington, D.C.

Today I'm flying back from a conference, Healthcare for the Homeless, that I was presenting at in Washington, DC.  When I was younger I thought I wanted to travel the world, but now I'm at the point where the yearly conferences I attend are more than enough.  I've become a homebody:-)

Cosmetics and Body Lotion

However, it does give me a good opportunity to use up the hoard collection of travel samples that I have.  I'm a lover of variety, so being able to take multiple items without having to sacrifice space is a big plus.  Say what you will about foil packets, they definitely are great for traveling!

When choosing the compacts I wanted to take, I was going for (1) small and (2) versatile. I took a pink and a neutral blush, and mainly neutral eye colors with a few splashes of color.  The UD shadow pencil in Sin is a great highlighter, and the UD Smoked travel pencils are some of my favorites.

The Estee Lauder Lilly Pulitzer compact is a great travel option, as it contains a blush, bronzer, and powder foundation in one compact. 

Primers, Concealers, Mineral Foundation & Eyelash Curler

Primers are a must, and I do like UD's Naked Skin BB cream as a primer.  I like using a mineral foundation on top.

Hair and Skincare Items

 I've got my skin treatment and hair care needs covered here.  I decided against taking my Clarisonic, but the Exfolikate should tide me over.

I love my DHC cleansing oil, and fortunately I had a few foil packets I could take with me. 

I decided on the Shipley & Hadley cosmetics bag I got from Beauty.com, as it's compact but can accommodate a lot of items.   I've still got plenty of room for my brushes, contacts case, and any miscellaneous items! 

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.