Josie Maran BearNaked Nail Wipes Review

I received these nail wipes around Christmas I believe and for the first time I decided to give it a go. The products claims to remove nail polish and condition cuticles with one wipe for all ten nails. Sounds impressive right? Also you may like to know that a portion of the sale is donated to Polar Bear SOS initiative, thus why the cute bear picture on the packaging.

Packaging

• Round plastic container with 20 wipes. Each wipes are about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Shockingly small and thin, in my opinion.

Product

• The wipes are acetone free, contains organic Argan oil, and apparently supposed to smell like grape but my nose didn't really smell the grape. I did detect a subtle somewhat citrusy scent. 
• At first when I picked up the wipe, it felt kinda dry. I thought well maybe I waited too long to use them and they dried out. They were sealed with a tight plastic wrap around the opening. My nails had a layer of base coat, a couple layers of nail polish, and another layer of top coat. I decided to go at it in spite of feeling skeptical at that point. Once I started rubbing the wipe, I noticed that it still had some oil in it but nothing was happening. I rubbed more vigorously and managed to remove nail polishes from 2 nails. The process probably took like about 5 minutes if not more for just two nails and at that point I pretty much gave up. 
• Aside from the strenuous removal process, the oil was comforting and hydrating. 

Final Thought

Performance-wise this product is a joke for nail polish removal. It works but it just takes too long and a lot of rubbing. I honestly don't think you can use one single wipe for all 10 nails. It's just too tiny! On the bright side, if you just want to use it for the oil and for conditioning your nails and cuticles, and for the fact that purchasing these wipes also goes toward a good cause, then it might just be worth it. Just don't expect it to remove your nail colors effectively.

Rating: 5/10

Price: $9.00
Availability: Sephora

Miscellaneous Hauls And Some Gifts

Hello lovelies,

These are some products I hauled a few days ago and was too lazy to post, lol. The sad thing is that after all the damages, there are some after Christmas sales that are still tempting me.

I took advantage of the Ulta 20% off coupon to snag a few things. luckily for me half of these were also on clearance:

• NYX HD Concealer. They were on BOGO and with my daughter using it, my last one ran out quickly. This is a repurchase. I've already reviewed this HERE. 
• Layla Ceramic Effect CE14
• Essie Parka Perfect
• Essie Using My Maiden Name
• Physicians Formula Eye Booster Eyeliners Ultra Black. One of my favorite black eyeliner.
• Elegant Touch Envy Wraps. I found these on clearance. I've never used nail wraps so I'm curious to try.

I picked up these Revlon Nail Appliques at CVS, they were almost $10.00 each. Normally, I don't pay much attention to these because they are pricey but I had some extra bucks coupons that I needed to use and couldn't find anything I wanted so with these being so pretty and BOGO 50%, I got a killer deal on them.

So I missed the boat on the MAC Heroine lipstick that came out a couple months ago. Didn't think I was going to need it but the more swatches I saw the more I wanted it BAD! Well, the good news is that it is no longer limited edition and with Radiant Orchid being the new color of the year for 2014, I guess MAC decided to bring it back make it part of the permanent line. Woo hoo! If you love purple lipsticks, you need this shade! 

I can't believe that my Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour cream lasted me a whole year then again, it contains more products then most eye creams. It's still got some but I know I will run out soon and needed to restock on eye cream. When I saw the NUXE skincare on sale at Hautelook, I was curious to try and decided to pick up their eye cream. I liked the fact that it came with a pump and it was fairly priced. Along with that, I decided to get the Huile Prodigieuse. I thought this was going to come with a spray nozzle but it didn't. I was rather disappointed with that because it would have been easier to apply this oil on my skin with a spray since it's rather thin in consistency. It has a pleasant smell though I wouldn't rave about it. It smells woodsy, floral, and a bit sweet like honey.

I received this adorable star ornament from a dear friend. I took a picture of it hanging on one of the flowery light up branches that I keep at my vanity desk. With my 50mm lens and some editing magic, I must say it turned out pretty good!

Another friend gifted me a couple beauty products. She gave me the Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner Set and they came with this very shiny aluminum tin container. I'm totally in love with the colors! I'm such a huge eyeliner junkie and the more the merrier so I was very happy when I saw these.

And lastly, the other gift I received is this Josie Maran BearNaked nail wipes. This container is so cute. I don't even want to use it. I'm fine with just acetone and cotton balls but I guess doesn't hurt to have something more portable for traveling. 

So that's it for this post. Got a couple new things but will do a separate posts for them.

What did you get for Christmas?

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Poppy Paradise - Swatch and review

I think they had me at "gelee" lol. When I first saw the jelly-like color in this pot, it instantly got my attention because I've not seen anything like this. I just thought I had to have it and try it. After testing this for a week now, I'm ready to tell you what I think of it.

It's a hybrid cream/gel blush that is hydrating with the benefit of long lasting staining color. This coconut water infused cheek gelee claims to last up to 14 hours. Contains vitamin E and argan oil. 

Packaging

• Small glass pot, similar in size to that of cream eyeshadows. I think the packaging is cute but I typically do not like digging my fingers into this type of packaging.
•  0.18 oz or 5.1 g 

Product

• At first glance, you see a jelly-like consistency in the pot. Poppy Paradise may look really bright and bold in the pot but it looks just lovely on the cheeks. It has a pretty good color payoff but at the same time it has a sheerness and translucency to it that makes the color buildable. 
• I found the consistency firm to the touch yet very gel-like and a little slippery when I swirled and warmed my finger in the pot; however, once I patted the color to my cheeks it didn't really blend that easily. The product seems to stick to my skin. I found that the best way to use and blend the color seamlessly is to dab it on the cheek with your finger and then immediately use a stiff brush to buff and blend the color into your cheeks. 
• Poppy Paradise is a sheer pinkish red. At first, I thought it was warm red but I think the undertone is pretty neutral. It gives a very natural flush of color on my cheeks with a subtle dewiness. 
• It stains so the great thing about it is that it pretty much lasts all day. The color wears strong for 10 hours and even few hours after that, the fading is very subtle. 

Final Thought

Overall, I love the color, the longevity, and the way it looks on my face. It's hands down the longest lasting blush that I own. My small complaint is that I wished it blended easily with my fingers without having to resort to a brush. Also I don't like dipping my fingers into jars but I'll make an exception for this one since it's the only way you can get the product out. It's not a sanitary friendly packaging so always make sure you use clean fingers but I believe this blush is worth the trouble. Yes, you'll get a stain on your finger but after a couple of hand washes, it goes away so that's not really a deal breaker for me.
If  you want a blush that will last through those long summer days, I think you should add this to your summer beauty survival kit.

Rating: 9/10

Price: $22.00
Availability: Sephora

What do you think? Would you give it a try?

Sephora Haul

I haven't stepped inside a Sephora store in what seems like ages. I wasn't looking for anything in particular...just looking if anything interesting catches my attention.

Benefit How To Look The Best At Everything kit, $30.00. Comes in 3 shades: light, medium, and deep. My daughter wanted this set for herself...*sigh* that's what happens when she shops with me...double the trouble! Packaging is very sturdy and adorable! Looks like a book and comes with tips and tricks on how to look your best. The set includes: the Porefessional primer, Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow, Boi-ing 2 and 3, I'm cute as a bunny powder and a flat face brush.

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee, $22.00. Looks like jello and feels like jello. Definitely got my attention. I played with it in store and I think this is something I had to have. Yes, I know I don't need another blush but just the fact that it is different from all the blushes that I own or tried, I can justify the need for it, lol. I got the shade Poppy Paradise, which is a warm red.

Sephora + Pantone Universe Light Storm Liquid Shadow Smoky Grape, $18.00. I can't find this anywhere on Sephora's website. I don't know what the deal it is with that BUT this cream eyeshadow has an awesome lilac/teal duochrome to it. After playing with it to get a feel for the texture and application, I said Oh yeah baby! You're coming home with me!

Urban Decay Beauty Balm (travel size), $14.00. So glad they had a travel size cause I just wanted to try it. This is .5 oz.

With 100 points, I redeemed for the Dior Capture Total One Essential serum. The cashier was nice enough to throw in a couple samples.

I think that was enough damage for the weekend. Did you do any shopping? What did ya haul?

My Blush Stash

Hello Beautifuls,

Just wanted to share with you a sneak peak at my blush stash. I know rarely post about them but that is going to change soon.

I plan on swatching them by brand. Some of them I have already swatched or reviewed, in this case I will hyperlink them so you can view them now if you wish.
As you can see at first glance, I have a pretty decent collection. Perhaps not as extensive as some but still more than what a typical person actually need.

MAC Blushes

Top row, left to right: Azalea Blossom, Amazon Princess, Stereo Rose

Second row, left to right: Hang Loose, Happy Together, Band Of Roses, Prim & Proper, Dirty Plum

Third row, left to right: Gentle, On a Mission, Bite of an Apple, Lady blush

These are the two new addition to my MAC blushes and I purchased them after I took pictures of the ones above. On the left: Center of the Universe. On the right: Ring of Saturn.

Milani Blushes

Top row, left to right: Mai-Tai, Red Vino, Rose D'Oro, Berry Amore

Bottom row, left to right: Dolce Pink, Corallina, Fantastico Mauve, Luminoso

On the left: Amber Nectar. On the right: Beauty's Touch

ELF Studio Blushes

Top left: Pink Passion

Top right: Candid Coral

Bottom: Fuchsia Fusion 

NARS

Ok, please disregard the dirtiness of the palettes but on the flip side this is what you should expect from NARS packaging.

Top: NARS blush/bronzer trio

Bottom: NARS Danmari Palette

NYX

Top row, left to right: Natural, Tickled, Boho Chic

Bottom row, left to right: Cinnamon, Pinched

Sally Hansen

Yes the top two are still unopened :-/

Top left: Beaming

Top right: Cherub

Bottom: Orchid

Physicians Formula

Left: Rose

Right: Rose Pearl

Wet N Wild

These two were part of a limited edition set, thus why different packaging.

Left: Mellow Wine. I'm not sure if this one is available as part of the permanent line.

Right: Pearlescent Pink. You can get a full size blush from Wet  N Wild's permanent line.

Others Brands

Top row, left to right: Maybelline Brick Rose, Tarte Blissful, Flirt! Heartthrob, Illamasqua Nymph

Second Row, left to right: Philosophy cream blush Look on the Bright Side, Love & Beauty Pink, Maybelline Dream Bouncy Pink Frosting, Sephora + Pantone Color of the Year blush duo

Third Row, left to right: Femme Couture Lip and Cheek Stain duo, Josie Maran Blush/Bronzer duo Flushed

I am not sure if I will swatch the unopened blushes as I was thinking about including them in a giveway.

Thanks for reading. Any questions, let me know.

Luuux Shared Link

My High-End Lipgloss Collection and Swatches

Here's just a quick post of my high-end lipgloss swatches. To be honest, MAC makes up for most of my lip products so I feel that it would need to have it's own post or category. I've already posted a post of my MAC lipstick collection and some swatches (by now, I must have acquired a few more already) but I have not done one with the MAC lipglasses.

Unfortunately, some of these high-end glosses were limited edition or discountinued but who knows if you might still be lucky enough to come across them. Nonetheless, I'm throwing it out there just for the love of blogging and because some of these shades are still available.

 

I listed a brief description of these in order from left to right according to the photos and swatches.

YSL Glosss Pur 49 black (limited edition). I purchased this one from allcosmeticswholesale.com a while back but it's no longer available there. However, when I googled it it seems like you may still be able to find it online. To be honest, I rarely reach for this, lol. I believe most people won't go for this type of shade anyways but I just bought for the quirk of having something unusual. Plus, considering it's the YSL brand and I got it for about half of its retail price, I thought eh why not?!

Josie Maran Natural Volume Lip Gloss Soledad. I got this as part of a value package from Sephora, which I did a review HERE. For lip swatches, you can view it in this post. It is still availabe for purchase if you are interested, you can find it on Sephora's website. This is a sheer coral lipgloss that feels nice on the lips and looks natural. It doesn't last very long unfortunately. To be honest, I wouldn't have purchased this on it's own due to the sheerness and price ($20).

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Siren. For review and additional swatches of this lipgloss, click HERE. This gloss is fantastic! By far, my favorite red. The formula is extremely pigmented, smooth, glossy, and metallic. I have not come across anything like it. I highly recommend if you love bright bold red lips. This shade is a stand out and I have got so many compliments when I wore this. Available at Sephora for $28.00.

Lorac Tie Dye for Gloss Berry Blender (limited edition). This came out with a set of  5 colors I believe and thet set was around $30. It thought it was such a great value deal. They were all pretty pigmented. I only kept this one. The rest of the shades were given as gifts. It has an interesting marble look in the packaging.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss Hermetic. I love intense metallic lipglosses because they are hard to come by and really make your pout stand out. I haven't come across anything like this shade either. It's a metallic burgundy plum. Gosh I bought a while back and should've done a review by now but still haven't. This is still availabe at Sephora for $20.00.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque Santal 77 (limited edition). I heard through Temptalia that these were being discontinued and I was quite sad when I heard the news because these are amazing! They are technically not lipglosses but more like liquid lipstick. For swatches and review of this shade, please click HERE. Otherwise, this is still available for a limited time on Chanel's website.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque Coromandel 72 (discontinued). I guess this is no longer available since I wasn't able to find it on Chanel's website. This is a very pigmented warm red. For additional swatches and review, check out this post.

Have you tried any of these brands? What's your favorite high-end lipgloss?

Luuux Shared Link

FOTD With Quo Downtown Brown

Not long ago, HD has sent me an eyeshadow palette from Quo, which is a brand only available in Canada. If you haven't seen my previous post and would like to see swatches of this quad, click HERE.
I really love the quality of these eyeshadows. They go on so smoothly, blend easily, and feel buttery.
I chose to do a makeup look using this palette because I was gonna go out shopping and just wanted to wear something neutral. Other than that, I also wanted to post it here so you guys can see how it looks on my face.

Here are the products that I used today...

Eyes

• Urban Decay Primer Potion and Quo Downtown Brown eyeshadow quad (eyelids)
• Stila Smudge pot Black (upper eyeliner)
• Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil Mildew (lower lash line)
• GOGO mascara
• Make Up Forever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector (eyebrows)

Cheeks

• MAC MSF Perfect Topping (highlight)
• MAC Mineralize Blush Gentle (cheeks)
• Sally Hansen Luminous Pressed Powder Deep (contour)

Lips

• Josie Maran Soledad