Benefit Cha Cha Tint

Sorry for the infrequent posts the last few months. Several family trips and extra hours at work have kept me very busy! I had a few minutes to myself the other day, and decided to pick up Benefit's newest tint: Cha Cha Tint. I love the new oranges for summer, and this "mango-tinted lip and cheek stain" is the perfect shade. It is just the right shade of peachy-coral to give you a lovely summer glow. I blend it on my cheeks for a nice flush, and also layer it under my favorite gloss for a pretty coral lip.

One bottle will set you back about $29, but it will last forever. A little really does go a long way!

**swatched on my hand**

**Item purchased by me.

YSL VOLUPTÉ SHEER CANDY Glossy Balm Crystal Color Review and Swatches

A new gloss balm from YSL!  I was excited to see this added to their collection, because Natasha and I were big fans of their Sheer Sensual Gloss Balm.  They are super moisturizing, with a sheer wash of color that feels great on your lips.


The new collection of gloss balms comes in 6 different shades that retails for $30 USD each.  YSL says this balm is a sheer veil of brilliant color that is boosted with a vitamin and antioxidant rich fruit extract.  I am reviewing 3 shades from this collection, #2 Dewy Papaya (sheer fresh peach), #3 Juicy Grapefruit (sheer fresh baby pink with golden shimmer), and #5 Mouthwatering Berry (sheer reddish blackberry).

Everything about this new product reminded me of their Gloss Volupte Sheer Sensual.  The scent and texture were almost exactly the same.  The scent always reminds me of mangos or something fruity that I cannot pinpoint.  The coverage is completely sheer to light and does leave your lips super moisturized.

Another view:

#2 and #3 were hard to photograph as they were nearly invisible.  #5 is pretty pigmented (but still sheer).

The only color noticeable is #5.  Overall, these are a great balm.  They are light-weight, moisturizing, and fruity scented.  I just cannot justify $30 USD a tube for these.  I think there are cheaper balm/gloss's out that can suffice! They are the same formula as before and seems like YSL hasn't updated it at all. (I could be wrong).  They have a great texture, just wish the price was a little lower for the balm.

This was purchased by me.

Bite High Pigment Matte Pencil Swatches and Review

Another Bite product!  This time I am trying out the High Pigment Matte Pencil.  This is a lip pencil that gives a long lasting matte color.  I am loving all these lip pencils, so easy and portable for spring and summer.  This Bite product, like all contain resveratrol, an antioxidant.  Price is $24 USD.


The lip pencils come in 6 shades, and I am reviewing Bouquet (a peachy-pink) and Velvet (a vibrant rose pink).

I didn't realize the two colors would be the close in color to each other.  These is a definite peach tone to Bouquet compared to Velvet.  Bite products are sold online only, so it hard to tell exactly what color. (Thank you Sephora for your amazing return policy!)

The pencil glides on so smooth and stays on.  My lips never felt dry while wearing, but didn't feel sticky or greasy either!  The pencil tip is smaller, so it allows for a more precision application.  The color just twists up from the bottom - so no sharpener required.

The color is matte and the color of the pencil is pretty much the same color as it applied on my lips.  I think Bouquet looked better for my skin tone, as Velvet was a little too pink and has a blue base to it.  Bouquet is great for a light peachy lip.  This is a low-maintance lip color, so I recommend for spring and summer!  Another great product from Bite - just wish they would release more colors.

* This weekend only there is 20% off at Folica.com.  They sell my absolute favorite flat-iron - the Sedu Revolution.  Good until 4/11/11 *

This product was purchased by me.

Bite Beauty Lip Products - Luminous Crème Lipstick Swatches and Review

I could not wait until Sephora shipped my most recent order.  Ever since I've seen Bite products on their website I have been dying to try them.  Bite is a new brand and so far all products are for lips.  What makes them unique is the super antioxidant, resveratrol, is in their formula.  Read more about resveratrol and it's benefits here.

From Sephora's Website:

"This product is free of synthetics, polybutenes, and petroleum byproducts and made exclusively with lip nurturing food-grade ingredients that are healthy enough to eat.  Each lipstick contains the amount of resveratrol found in five glasses of red wine."

Sounds amazing!  First product I am reviewing is their Luminous Crème Lipstick.  This retails for $24 USD.  Their are tons of colors to pick from, but today I am reviewing Shiraz (Soft Plum) and Vouvray (Ballet Pink).

Please excuse my blotchy skin, I am having issues!

Overall, these lipsticks are great!  The formula is creamy and the pigment is full coverage.  The lipstick was really smooth and moisturizing.  My favorite is Vouvray -  It really is 'Ballet Pink' and it doesn't wash you out or look chalky.  Shiraz is a soft plum that is very buildable. There are tons of shades available and I can't wait to try more.


These were purchased by me.

Nars Velvet Lip Gloss 'Club Mix' Duplicates!

A few weeks ago I posted on the Nars Velvet Lip Gloss Pencils ($24), and was sad to report there was no duplicate for my favorite shade, "Club Mix." I have been pining over that color ever since. Well, I am happy to admit that I stand corrected. I was in Sephora yesterday (I know, big surprise), and decided to play around with some of their lipsticks. Sephora Collection Lip Attitude-Star ($12), is somewhere in between a lipstick and a gloss. I tried on S12 (Plum Vertigo) and S11 (Audacious Violet). The Plum Vertigo is a dead-ringer for NARS Velvet Lip Gloss Pencil in Club Mix!!! Same consistency, same color, same shine--everything, but 1/2 the price! I'm pretty sure there was a Hallelujah chorus in the background, when I made this discovery. 

L to R: #1 - NARS Club Mix, #2 - Sephora Plum Vertigo, #3 - Sephora Audacious Violet

Both of the Sephora colors shown above are stunning (they look far different than in the tube), and will look stunning on every skin tone. On a side note, the Audacious Violet by Sephora, looks very, very similar to the now sold-out, limited edition, Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Wild Violet. I know you are running out the door to buy these, right now, so once you get back, let us know what you think!


These were purchased by me.