Pure Color by Estee Lauder, Clarisonic, Sinful Colors and more!

I was a bad girl the other day.  I went into my local Belk store to get some clothes and I walked out with a new blush (including a nice gift with purchase) and no new clothes!  I'm a sucker for a beautiful blush and my new Pure Color blush by Estee Lauder in the shade Wild Sunset is stunning.  I love just about any shade of blush but this one caught my eye.  It's perfect for the summer and looks great on.

Closeup of Wild Sunset

Recently Estee Lauder updated their blush line and Wild Sunset pulled me in the fastest.  It's a bold, coral shade with gold shimmer.  Don't be scared of the shimmer though, it's very fine and adds a perfect "glow". 

Pictured above- Wild Sunset blush and Estee Lauder eye pencil in SoftSmudge Brown

While at the Estee Lauder counter I also picked up an Artist's Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Brown.  I have been looking for a good eye pencil in a brown shade that is not too dark.  This pencil has worked great and is perfect for small eyes like mine since black eyeliner can overwhelm and make them appear smaller. 

Wild Sunset and Softsmudge Brown are available at your local Estee Lauder counter or at www.esteelauder.com  Swatches of both the blush and eye pencil are pictured at the bottom of this blog entry. 

Because I purchased over $35.00 in products at Estee Lauder, I received this nice gift with purchase.  It included a cute blue and white bag, .24oz of Advanced Night Repair, a Pure Color lipstick in the shade Candy, .5oz of Time Zone Line & Wrinkle creme, .17oz of Time Zone eye creme, double ended Sumptuous mascara and Lash Primer Plus and 1.7 fl. oz of Soft Clean Creme Cleanser. 

I've been using the primer and mascara which I have enjoyed.  The primer is nice and helps my itty bitty lashes look longer.  The mascara has not caused "raccoon eyes" and has held up well.  I do wish the mascara was more thickening but it does lengthen well.  The lipstick shade is a bright, shimmery pink but I wish it lasted longer on my lips-it seems to disappear too quickly.  A swatch of this lipstick is pictured at the bottom of this entry.

Closeup of the Sumptuous mascara wand

Recently I also visited my local Ulta store and picked up a few goodies I've been eyeing for a while.  I purchased a bottle of Pantene's Aqua Light shampoo, a new Clarisonic brush head (for normal skin), a bottle of Essie's Millionails (on clearance!) and Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting.

Pictured above- Clarisonic brush head for normal skin, Pantene Aqua Light shampoo & Essie's Millionails strengthener.

Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting in Honey Glow

I've been using the Pantene Aqua Light shampoo this past week and it's okay.  It does cleanse well and is lightweight like it claims BUT it leaves my hair very dry.  I know most cleansing shampoos can be drying and I guess my hair is just too thirsty to care.  The shampoo states it provides weightless nourishment without silicone that can weigh down hair.  I think this would be a great shampoo for someone with fine hair.

I was so excited to see Essie's Millionails on clearance.  Essie is redesigning their packaging therefore some products are on clearance.  I have used this nail strengthener in the past with success.  Usually it costs $15.00 which is very steep but I found my bottle on clearance for $4.99! 

This past week I decided to replace my Clarisonic brush head.  I've been using the sensitive skin one but I bought a normal skin brush this week, so hopefully all will go well.  All single Clarisonic brush heads are available at Ulta for $25.00 each.

 The last item I was excited to pick up was Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting.  I can't tell you how many times I've swatched this, picked it up then placed it back without buying.  It's designed to be a body bronzer.  It's a HUGE compact (.85 oz) that comes with a body puff.  The bronzer can be applied dry or wet.  I used it today on my neck and chest and I was happy with the results.  You can find it at Ulta for $45.00.  You can see a swatch at the bottom of this blog entry.

Neutrogena's Micro-Mist sunless tan and Sinful Colors polish in Hazard

Of course no haul would be complete without a trip to the local drugstore.  I chose Rite Aide and picked up some self tanner, nail polish and some more bronzer (because clearly I don't have enough)!

I have been using Neutrogena's Micro-Mist airbrush sunless tan this past week and I have mixed thoughts about this product.  It sprays a very fine mist which is super-easy to apply.  The result is a product that doesn't have to be rubbed in and the product doesn't smell after it's applied.  The negatives about this product is that it only makes your skin about 1 shade darker and that if not used in a WELL-VENTILATED area, you might lose your ability to breathe freely.  I'm not kidding.  This stuff is so strong that it gave me a coughing fit when I used it.  I know it can't be healthy to inhale it too often but I used it in my bathroom which is fairly large and still I was overpowered by the smell.  If you can get past the fumes it gives off when applied, you may decide to use it often.  Neutrogena's micro-mist sunless tanning spray is usually priced around $10.00

I haven't tried my bottle of Sinful Colors polish yet but I've heard good things about this brand and the $1.99 price tag doesn't hurt either!  I have been using my City Color bronzer though.  It's a nice, large compact that has a raised palm tree and a gold overspray.  The nice thing is that this bronzer has gold shimmer throughout the product, not just in the overspray.  I've used this on my chest and I liked the results.  I usually don't go for a shimmery bronzer but this one is pretty decent for the $3.99 price.

City Color bronzer in Sunset.  On the left you can see where I have used the product past the gold overspray (which is seen to the right).  See swatch below. 

Swatches of products mentioned above (L-R)- City Color bronzer in Sunset, Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting in Honey Glow, Estee Lauder's Wild Sunset Pure Color blush, Estee Lauder's Artist's Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Brown and Estee Lauder's Pure Color lipstick in Candy.

My Perfume Collection

When I was growing up, even throughout high school, I never really cared too much for perfume.  I would use body sprays occasionally but I never found myself attracted to one scent in particular.

While I was pregnant with my son, I found every scent I encountered to be horrific so I stayed away from perfumes even after he was born.  Over the past few years however I am finding that I love perfume more and more.  I enjoy "clean" scents, light floral scents and even fruity scents. 

When I purchase perfume I usually buy the smallest size possible.  It takes me FOREVER to finish a bottle so it doesn't make much sense to buy a larger bottle then have it go bad while it just sits on my dresser.  I always make sure I smell a perfume at the store to decide that I like it.  Once I like it, I spray it on myself and then go walking throughout the store.  I find that is the easiest way to "test drive" a perfume.  When you are sitting there smelling them all in a row, your nose gets tired.  Once you try a perfume on your own skin, you can get a better sense of how it will mix with your body chemistry. 

L-R- Haiku (1.7oz spray) by Avon, Harajuku Lovers "G"  (1oz spray) and Harajuku Lovers "G" (.3oz mini spray) by Gwen Stefani, SJP NYC (2oz spray) by Sarah Jessica Parker, Chloe' (3oz spray) by Karl Lagerfeld , Burberry Weekend (1oz spray) by Burberry and Romance (1.7oz spray) by Ralph Lauren.

Here are reviews on each perfume I own-

Haiku- You can purchase this perfume from Avon for as cheap as $9 when it is on sale to over $30 for full price.  I've loved this scent ever since I smelled my sister's way back when I was in high school.  Avon describes it as "a bright combination of Japanese citrus and pomegranate effortlessly blends with muguet, delicate jasmine, sandalwood, a hint of vanilla and soft musks."  Go to http://www.avon.com/ to purchase it.  

Harajuku Lovers "G"- One of my favorites is this one.  If you love a summer scent with coconut, then this is the one for you.  This scent screams summertime which is why I wear it all year long.  I swear it puts me in a better mood.  It is described as having "sandalwood, coconut, mandarin, freesia, magnolia, white cottonwoods, coconut cream, apple skin, and jasmine sambac."  It's a gorgeous scent in a super-cute bottle.  The 1oz spray is priced usually between $25-30.  The .3oz spray can be found for $15-20. 

SJP NYC- When I smell this perfume I instantly think of my 29th bday.  My close girlfriends gave me this bottle along with a great pair of wedge sandals.  This scent is fruity, sweet and is a great spring/summer scent.  My birthday is during the summer so they couldn't have picked a better perfume.  Perfume notes listed are strawberry, italian mandarin, white osmanthus, gardenia, honeysuckle, mimosa, rum, sandalwood and musk.  Whew...that's a lot!  You can find this scent for around $35. 

Chloe'- This scent holds the most memories for me.  In 1975, Karl Lagerfeld introduced this perfume to the world and it was a top choice for fashionable ladies everywhere.  My mother was one of those ladies and when I smell this scent I instantly think of her and my childhood.  It is described as having "daffodil, lily of the valley, coriander, jasmine, rose and honeysuckle over a warm base of sandalwood, amber, oak moss and fresh greens."  Recently a newer version was released however it is not as fragrant nor unique as the first Chloe' perfume.  You can still purchase bottles online for anywhere between $20-35. 

Weekend Burberry- One day while I was sitting with a client at work, I noticed the fabulous scent she was wearing.  She stated she had on this perfume and instantly I was hooked.  Weekend is so much nicer than the more popular Burberry or Burberry Brit.  This scent reminds me of smelling clean and fresh.  The perfume is described as having "tangerine, sape greeness, red cyclamen, blue hyacinth, wild rose, iris, cedarwood and musk" notes.  You can find Weekend in the 1oz size for around $40.

Romance- This is one of those perfumes that many people have and I can tell why.  Ralph Lauren creates TONS of perfume but this is my favorite above all.  I received a bottle from my husband one Christmas and every time I smell it I think of him, Christmas and our yearly anniversary trips we take since this is the perfume he always chooses for me to wear.  I know it's cheesy to think of my husband by simply smelling a bottle of ROMANCE, however I think it is a great scent which is soft and not too overpowering.  Romance is described as having "sungoddess rose, marigold, ginger, chamomile oil, yellow freesia, white violet, lotus flower, day lily, patchouli, oakmoss and musk notes."  You can find Romance at http://www.sephora.com/ for $62.00. 

L-R- Kim Kardashian (1.7oz spray), Pure Grace (2oz spray) by Philosophy, Pure Grace (1oz perfume oil) by Philosophy, Very Hollywood (1oz spray) by Michael Kors and Pleasures (1.7oz spray) by Estee Lauder.

Kim Kardashian- I found out that I liked this scent via a magazine insert (which rarely happens).  Usually those testers in magazines smell horrible but I found the KK perfume to be totally different than anything else I had ever smelled.  I went to Target and bought a bottle for around $30.  I love this scent since it is heavy with gardenia and gardenia flowers are my favorites.  There is one drawback though...I thought this perfume was truly unique until I smelled the original Michael Kors-it's a dead-on match.  I don't own the original Michael Kors however if I would have smelled that one first I would have bought it instead since the KK perfume has very little staying power.  The notes in this scent are "mandarin, honeysuckle, orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, gardenia, tonka bean, jacaranda wood, vanilla orchid, musk and sandalwood."

Pure Grace- Where do I begin?  My mother in-law introduced me to this wonderful fragrance one Christmas.  You either like it or you don't.  It's clean, fresh and pure-just like its name.  Philosophy makes wonderful products but this is the best in my opinion.  You can find the spray for around $40 and the perfume oil for around $26.  The notes in this fantastic scent are "bergamot, water lily, lavender, jasmine, cool greens and musk.  If you love a "soap and water" type of scent then this is the one for you!  I even have my mother and sister hooked on this one.

Very Hollywood- I love anything Michael Kors does, says, makes, etc.  He is hilarious in a fabulous, bitchy way.  It doesn't hurt that he makes great perfumes too.  Very Hollywood is my go-to perfume for work.  It's a great scent that is not too strong but leaves me feeling happier just by wearing it.  The bottle is super glamorous and don't forget to mention the perfume itself is pink which is perfect for all the girly-girls!  Some of the notes in this perfume are sparkling mandarin, gardenia, and vetiver."  You can find Very Hollywood for around $50-65. 

Pleasures- Launched in 1995, this perfume is floral, soft and wears well throughout the day.  Some notes in this perfume are "white lily, lilac, rose and violet."  Pleasures can be found at your nearest Estee Lauder counter for $55.  The best thing about Pleasures is the quality of the scent.  It lasts till the end of the day and wears well on almost any woman.