Lots of buzz over TARTE’s latest collection of products for Spring, which includes these LipSurgence Power Pigments ($23 @ qvc.com and tartecosmetics.com). These were inspired by the newly designed cheek stains with the bright colors and new shape. These slim lippies contain the antioxidants, vitamin E and peppermint like their big brothers but these seem to have more pigment in the color, which I’m surely not complaining about!

Shown here in Blissful (dark peach coral) Exposed (nude pink)

They are pretty hydrating and the color lasts a few hours and doesn’t creep into lip creases at all. I think these could be the best lippies I’ve ever tried from tarte. Yeah!

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

This CAILYN Dizzolv’It Makeup Melt Cleansing Balm ($24/1.7oz @ dermstore.com) was one of the products I bought at the ISSE show last month. It was just being launched and was on the PR company’s buzz list. Truth be told, I was just going to buy it based on the name at first but then I got a demo from the woman working at the booth and saw it in action and wow, I had to get this one home to try out for myself.

I don’t really have a staple makeup remover since I oscillate between wanting one that is also a face cleanser to wanting one to use before formally washing my face at the end of the day. The latter one is mainly when I’m testing out a skin care line.

So back to this Dizzolv’It! I just saw on their site that they have a banner stating it the “No. 1 Beauty Gurus’ Favorite” but no link to who those Gurus are that are declaring this rather large statement. Ummm, ok …

Scooping out a quarter-sized dollop, just massage it around the face and eyes to remove your day’s makeup and dirt and watch it turn from a light pink mushy wax to colorless light oil yet. But don’t expect your hands and face to feel greasy like a cleansing oil because they won’t. And the formula really does just lift the makeup off so that it easily transfers onto a washcloth to go right down the drain. No tugging or rubbing required! I was pretty amazed as I’ve experienced a product that essentially seems to just lift or melt off makeup like this. And I should also mention there was no greasy residue leftover like there is with my beloved Ponds Cold Cream from yesteryear.

So what ingredient/s inside this does the dissolving? Not quite sure but it could be the papaya enzymes (I would have assumed major eye irritation from that alone but none from this ingredient), or the glycerin, or aloe leaf juice, or the powerful antioxidant Acerola or some of the other extracts or a combo of them all! In any case, it does a good job at removing makeup and that’s good enough for me.

Are you in the market for a new cleanser/makeup remover? Or have I fully piqued your interest with this one? Do tell in the comments!

How many times have you met a makeup pencil that can be applied to the lips or eyes? Well 6 out of the 12 here can be. Meet OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS new category of makeup, Cosmetic Colour Pencils ($16 @ occmakeup.com and nordstrom.com). These are 100% vegan and made with micro-refined mineral pigments.

They’ve covered the basics with your neutrals (Trick, Pennyroyal, Sybil), were inspired by some of the Lip Tar best-sellers (Anime, Black Dahlia, NSFW) and then gave us some we’d only expect from OCC (Pool Boy, Hoochie, Grandma). And there is even a clear invisible liner (Anti-Feathered). 

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So far in 2014, highlighting and contouring has to be the hottest trend right now and makeup companies are hearing the rumbles and putting out products to make it easy to do just that.

Take this one from one of my favorite lines, IT COSMETICS. Their just released My Sculpted Face contains 6 waterproof powders to be used to contour and sculpt your way to a natural look. I think I first got turned onto it after seeing the Allure magazine’s 2013 Blogger of the Year, Cara Brook from Maskcara and her Hac-ing demonstration. I tried it a few times with different products and just couldn’t seem to find the right mix of colors. Maybe I wasn’t choosing the right shades? Or maybe I just need more practice! Either way, I’m quite fascinated with the whole thing and was excited to try this one from IT.

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The country sure is having some crazy weather this year! Freezing cold one day and then warmer temps in the 50’s the next. As we all know, moisture drops in the air when it gets cold (insert how much moisture drops in the winter) so you’ve got to be prepared on all fronts. A good moisturizer is good but it’s not the whole picture. Here are my recommendations (clockwise L to R):

CAUDALIE Gentle Cleansing Milk ($28/6.7oz, $38/13.5oz @ sephora.com and nordstrom.com) – in the colder months, the less foam the better. Switch to a cleansing lotion, milk or oil so the skin’s pH doesn’t change and it’s able to maintain a good moisture level. This one from Caudalie is also great at removing makeup and is free of parabens, sulfates, dyes and Petrochemicals, among others.

HONEYWELL Top Fill Warm Mist ($39.99 @ amazon.com) – a humidifier? Yup, I swear by them and have for years. As soon as I have to pull the heating blanket out, the humidifier is set up too. I turn it on at night and let it run until the next morning. And I find a warm mist is much better at putting moisture in the air then one emitting cool mist. This one from Honeywell is filer-free, so don’t have to worry about mold and mildew developing (ewww!) inside the unit, it’s quiet and can run up to 24-hours on one 1.3 gallon fill-up. And such a great price on this one!

BITE BEAUTY Agave Lip Mask ($26/15g @ sephora.com) – besides my nasal cavity, my lips are the other place that seems to be zapped of moisture when temps drop. And just out is this lip mask that is a super moisturizer for lips. Besides the combo of organic agave nextar and vanilla CO2 that promotes healing, the fact that it is able to stay on lips and not just disappear is also why it’s able to do an excellent job. Thanks BITE!

KOH GEN DO Oriental Plants Deep Moisture Mask ($90/1.34oz @ sephora.com) – skin will need some added moisture so using this face mask once a week will really help. And this one does its work while you sleep as it’s a no-rinse clear formula. Just apply some at the end of your nightly skincare routine and hit the hay.

EMINENCE ORGANIC SKIN CARE Vanilla Mint Hand Cream ($14/2oz @ amazon.com) – hands are out there and in the elements and can show your age if they’re not taken care of. This one from Eminence is super hydrating using Shea Butter and also contains denatured alcohol, which is a natural antibacterial and antiseptic. And it smells great!

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

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Are face primers part of your routine now? They certainly are part of mine - both face primer and eye shadow primer. CLINIQUE put out All About Shadow Primer for Eyes ($19.50 @ ulta.com, clinique.com) last fall and for some reason I just missed when they launched! Better late than never.

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Have you heard of the MIRACLE SKIN TRANSFORMER line? I think every woman on this earth was born with a skeptical gene in their body and with a name like they have, mine sure perked up! But after reading more about their latest product and then trying it out, I think I could be a convert from this one product alone. The Miracle Balm, is, like the name says, a balm and like a good balm, is a major multi-tasker and can be used in different places – feet, chapped lips, reduce redness on the skin, as a soothing post-wax treatment, cuticles and even to tame fly-aways and I’m sure I’ll come up with more uses as I use it!

So why is it good for all these different places? It is packed with some pretty great ingredients: Tamanu Oil for its wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties; Manuka Honey for it ability to fight infection and keep moisture in the skin; Shea Butter for its deep moisturizing abilities; Blue Mountain Sage Oil for its ability to soothe dry and irritated skin; Japanese Licorice Root as a natural alternative to hydrocortisone; Evening Primrose Oil, which aids in producing new skin cells; and then some wonderful oils like coconut, olive, jojoba, sesame and Moringa oil.

After using this a handful of times, one question popped into my head - why is this one called a balm and not a salve? What’s the difference? It depends on who you ask. When reading the press release, it read like a salve but as I got into the ingredient list, it doesn’t seem like either. I mean both salves and balms are known for being multi-taskers like this so since I can’t quite figure out the difference between the two, I’ll just not question the category! Oh and then this could also be called an ointment…

And you should know that this one has quite a few more ingredients than the ones I listed above like glycerin, some silicones, a faux fragrance and preservatives, among others, which I don't think most balms or salves do, well, at least the ones that come in the tins. I’m personally not really an ingredient tyrant and but want to make sure you are aware so you can make your choice from here. $36/1.5oz @ ulta.com. 

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

It’s not often I’m standing in the shower saying, “wow,” out loud and over and over but I must have said it about 6 times as I used this next product. It’s the brand new DERMASURI Deep Exfoliating Mitt and sure  was I sure skeptical when I entered the shower.

What it is: A deep exfoliating mitt to help you achieve healthy, glowing skin that maintains its elasticity, suppleness, and smoothness. Made from a unique fabric texture, the Durmasuri revitalizes your skin by removing dead skin cells and debris off your body, revealing healthy, smooth skin underneath. Unlike other exfoliation methods such as loofahs or scrubs, the Dermasuri unique fabric grabs and sloughs off flaky dead skin from the skin’s surface and simply rolls it off.

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I'm starting a new on-going feature called "5 Favorite ... " where I list my 5 current favorite products in a particular category. So this week, I've chosen Pantone's Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid. 

It’s almost like they picked it just because it’s such a great color when it comes to makeup! Here are my favorites when it comes to this color. Are you wearing any radiant orchid these days on your features?

THE BODY SHOP Bunch of Violets Shimmer Cubes Palette #23 ($22 @ thebodyshop.com) – this quad is great for creating an overall orchid-colored eye look. The cube shades are: Orchid Purple, Candy Pink, Pearly White and Velvet Plum. Use wet or dry and apply with brush or your finger and blend, blend, blend.

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Shameless Bold Blush in #212 Outspoken ($30 @ sephora.com) – blend in  this surprisingly workable shade on cheeks. So unexpectedly fun.

DOLCE & GABBANA The Nail Lacquer in Passione ($24 @ saks.com) – along with the Beauty Addicts, this one is a spot on perfect shade of the trending color. Gorg!

BEAUTY ADDICTS Lip Addiction in Seduce Fierce ($17 @ beautyaddicts.com) – I think this shade perfectly describes the shade. The coverage is sheer to medium depending how much you apply.

KANEBO Sensai Rouge Everlasting Colour in #115 Iwatsutsuji ($40 @ sensai-cosmetics.com) – this one is just a smidge more purple so if you want your trending shade more on that side, this would be a good one to try. And these lippies are really smooth and last quite a few hours.  

Have you been to a sample sale before? They’re pretty common on both coasts and I’m sure in most cities around the country. Sample sales are usually comprised of overstock items, pieces that may have not sold as well as they hoped, or items that never even made it to the line. And you’ll find them in all categories: clothing, furniture, jewelry, shoes, makeup and beauty products; probably every category of product out there has had a sample sale at some point.

I’ve been to my fair share and have some tips on how to get the most out of one. The pictures I took in this feature were with my iPhone from one I went to back in December for the Steady Clothing line at their warehouse in Santa Ana, CA, which is about 1 hour from me. Yup, I will make the drive for a good one! It seems that there is a surge of the quantity in November or December but I know they do take place all year and they usually on a Friday and/or Saturday and/or Sunday. But of course they can vary. 

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