Product Reviewed: Korres Holiday 2011 Guava Indulgences Kit
I bought this kit as a Christmas treat for myself months ago. Since then, I've been enjoying Korres' luxurious natural body products. The light guava scent leaves me feeling fresh and relaxed. The scent is light enough so as to not mix with any perfume I might add. The body butter absorbs instantly and leaves skin feeling velvety soft for hours. The body wash works up to a rich lather. Both body butter and body wash last FOREVER! The Lip Butter is nice, but not life-changing. I wouldn't buy it by itself but in a kit, why not! These Korres products are all paraben, sulfate, and synthetic free. Shea butter softens, moisturizes, and rejuvenates skin. Almond, sunflower, and avocado oils provide nourishment to improve skin elasticity and smoothness. I look forward to the delicious scent and luxurious texture or Korres' body products after each and every shower!
Tip: Transform your body butter into a body shimmer by adding an illuminizer or shimmer powder into the lotion before applying. This look is especially sexy during the summer when you're showing a little extra skin.
Product Reviewed: NARS Pore Refining Primer
This is one of the most liquid-y primers I've ever tried. Not necessarily bad, just different. I liked the fact that the primer promised to address pores as well as fine lines and wrinkles. At first I was disappointed by the small bottle, but found that a little goes a very long way. I've heard relatively positive things about this primer, but myself had a reaction to it. Every time I use this primer, I break out. Not ideal. The texture isn't heavy, and the formula is fragrance free yet somehow this primer and I can't seem to get along. Luckily, I didn't fall in love with the texture so no big loss. Overall, impressions I get from clients seem to be mixed. Overall rating: Mehh....
Tip: For those with sensitive or reactive skins (prone to irritation and/or reactions), do a patch test on a small area of your face to test for sensitivity. If you want to jump right in, be sure to only try one new product at a time so as to not overwhelm your delicate skin. Additionally, by only trying one new product at a time you'll be able to quickly isolate the genesis of any problems that may arise.
Product Reviewed: Revlon ColorStay
Disclaimer: Normally I am vehemently opposed to using drugstore foundation. Why? Several reasons: 1) Less expensive formulas tend to have a lot of cheap "filler" ingredients, many of which are not good for your skin. 2) Even as someone who works with foundation on a daily basis, I find it nearly impossible to determine a good match through without a tester. 3) At drugstores, you can never be sure how long the product has been sitting on the shelf. 4) Not all drugstores have a flexible return policy, meaning you could get stuck with a few foundations you don't love before finding your match. (Even at less than $15 each, it's still a risk.) Ok, so now that I've come clean about my anti-drugstore-makeup bias, let tell you Revlon ColorStay has changed my world.
The consistency of the foundation was nice and creamy, and provided excellent coverage without being heavy. ColorStay has a natural finish, and wears well throughout the day. Flexible coverage allowed me to apply heavier in areas where I need more coverage and lighter in areas where I don't need as much help. I particularly like that Revlon has created two ColorStay formulas: one for combination/oily skin and one for normal/dry skin. I chose the oil-free formula for oily/combination skin. So far, so good in terms of breakouts (I was worried it would be comedogenic.) I must say, I owe Revlon on apology on this one--ColorStay was $15 well spent.
Tip: If you're having trouble guessing your correct color through the bottle, go for a color with neutral undertones. Unless you know you have warm or cool undertones, a neutral foundation is a safer bet.
Another tip: Make sure to wear an SPF with this foundation, as the 6 SPF it provides is negligible.
Product Reviewed: Sephora by OPI, Meet Me at the Disco
This new polish is the PERFECT glitter polish! A lot of glitter polishes are pretty stingy with the glitter, and leave nails looking relatively bare. Not this pretty little polish! Meet Me at the Disco delivers an opaque layer of sparkle in just one coat. (I used two coats in the picture, in order to even out coat and add a little extra pizzazz). Even with two coats, my at-home mani was dry in less than five minutes. After a full day of work, not even a chip. Best part is, this polish goes with everything--it has silver and iridescent flecks so it reflects a prismatic shine of all colors. Absolute bling.
Tip: Add Meet Me at the Disco to your existing by painting glitter only on your ring fingers. It's a more subtle shine, and so trendy right now!
Product Reviewed: Josie Maran Argan Oil
This product is the perfect example of when practice deviates from theory. In theory: oil breaks up oil, making oil-based skin care products great for all skin types, including oily skins. In practice: oil + oil = more oil. The Josie Maran Argan Oil, while claiming to be perfect for all skins types, is realistically only suitable for drier skins types. I have combination skin myself, and found that even on drier areas (such as my cheeks) this oil took forever to absorb and left me feeling sticky, shiny, and uncomfortable. That being said, clients with drier, more mature skin seem to find that the oil absorbs nicely and leaves skin feeling hydrated. While I appreciate and understand the science and theory behind using oil-based products on all skin types, I can't say that I've seen this theory work on too many clients (or myself!). I do like the Argan Oil on dry elbows, cuticles, or even on the ends of my hair in a pinch; but unless you have dry skin I'd keep this product off your face.
Tip: Josie Maran's line is renowned for its conscientious business model. The Argan Oil is native to Morocco; and Josie Maran purchases all Argan Oil directly from women's cooperatives in Morocco at fair wages, ensuring that the women are justly compensated. Josie Maran also strives to protect the environment and is dedicated the environmental irresponsibility. I may not love the Argan Oil, but I can't help but love her business ethics!
Product Reviewed: Korres Mattifying Primer
Korres is an all-natural skincare and cosmetics company founded in Greece. Korres recently added this mattifying primer to its Pomegranate line. The entire Pomegranate is designed to mattify and target pore size. This primer is nude and should blend into any skin tone. (I've only only tried it on myself and clients with fair-medium skin tones, however.) This primer is water-based, non-comedogenic, and very lightweight. It will balance skin tone and texture, minimize the appearance of pores, and control oil and shine throughout the day. I especially love using this primer with tinted moisturizers and light foundations, as the primer is likewise lightweight yet balances skin tone to perfect skin's appearance. Ingredients such as witch hazel water will tighten pores while removing dirt and impurities. The rice starch will absorbs oil will also soften skin. This is the perfect primer to keep skin looking fresh during even the stickiest days summer!
Tip: For added results, Korres recommends using this primer in conjunction with the Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Treatment. Apple the treatment each morning after moisturizer and before primer. As a bonus, you can also use the treatment on top of makeup throughout the day.
Product Reviewed: Tan Towels
The Tan Towels are a great way to fake a summer glow. Easy to use, non-stinky, and not at all orange. One of the body towelettes is enough to give your whole body a subtle glow. Use the Tan Towel spray to recharge a towel and layer on a deeper hue. Although the towels don't deposit any immediate pigment, color shows up within several hours. I usually prefer to use tinted tanner so I can see if I've missed a spot, but the towels add such a soft amount of color that I rarely have any problems with missed patches. That being said, if you're going to layer on color make sure you take your time and get an even application. The towels are easy and quick enough to use everyday, and can be used on face or body. Great way to add a natural look color as summer approaches!
Tip: Apply the Tan Towel after showering, exfoliating, and moisturizing. Let dry. I usually apply at night and then shower the next day to ensure tan is even.
