Angeleno Femme

Product Reviews For DAYS.

Here’s the deal. I got 1. paid for a bunch of freelance stuff and 2. emailed about Sephora’s VIB sale where your entire purchase was 20% for like 5 days straight. I lack impulse control so you fucking bet I went straight into Sephora, inhaled the scent of the store, and went into my product-purchasing zone. Like don’t-fucking-talk-to-me-I’m-doing-swatches zone. I left with lots of new toys, and a hand that looked like it was bruised. So now, review time. Let’s play!

Nails Inc. Holographic Top Coat - Sephora has brought UK-based Nails Inc. into their US stores, and I already showed off my gold glitter nails on my blog last week from one of their polishes (I’ve received tons of compliments, by the way). This polish is a basic top coat, but infused with really finely-grated glitter. It creates dimension to whatever plain color you’re wearing. It’s not chunky, but just a smooth little addition to your nails that gives them a more glam feel. Plus, I think the holidays is just an excuse to put glitter on every-fucking-thing and this is a more demure, pretty way to do glittery nails if you’re not like AJ and don’t like smearing basically craft glitter on your nails.

Clinique Chubby Sticks - I received my first Chubby Stick as a part of a swag bag from The Beauty Social, but I only fell for the product when I picked it up for myself in “Graped Out.” The texture is light, the color just present enough. Graped Out is a neutral, almost mauve tone (3rd from left). Since I’m very much dating right now, I like to have a little something-something on my lips when I’m out with a guy, but nothing that feels heavy, sticky or will rub off when I get kissed. These Chubby Sticks are perfect for a light touch of flattering color. Graped Out is definitely a new staple in my date night makeup arsenal.

Clinique Black Honey Shimmering Tones Powder - Clinique’s Black Honey is one of the most time-tested cult classic shades on the market. I knew about the Black Honey lipstick when I was, like, 12, because my mom wore it when she was my age. Now, Clinique has realized that the color is very flattering and has essentially done what NARS has done with Orgasm and crafted a small collection around the shade. There’s the Black Honey Superbalm which I like, the lipstick, a blush, I believe a shadow palette, and now the Shimmering Tones Powder. The color is definitely a flattering tone — almost a pretty, shimmery cranberry? I like it because I tend to go for mauve tones. It’s also a dense product, so a little goes a long way unlike my other fave shimmer powder, Bobbi Brown’s Shimmerbrick. I’ve been sporting it as a blush for the last few night’s out.

Lorac’s Real Life To Red Carpet Eye Tutorial Kit - I’m always interested to see how companies package their loose products together and see how they recommend we use them. I picked up this kit because I think Lorac does GREAT kits and palettes (I used the Croc palette back in high school, and it’s still a really popular product for the brand). The mascara in this package is decent, but we all know mascara loyalty is the biggest joke ever so I was “meh” as I always am about mascara. The brush included in the package is also cheap and I will never use again — I stick with my gorg Bobbi Brown shadow brush that I’ve had for like 6 years. Mostly I like the shadow which I’ve been using for the last week for both work and nights out — I layer the coppery shade on my lid, and then layer on top of that the champagne shade all over my lid and brow bone. If I’m going out, I smudge the black shade in my crease. The shades are pretty and flattering. The liquid liner is a great liner (though a bit glossy — sometimes I want a matte liquid liner), but I’m still on the fence as to how I feel about liquid liner. On one hand, the wear is incredible — I slept over at the guy’s house (white sheets and pillowcases!) and when I woke up, the liner was STILL IN PLACE. WAT. But, liquid is the most difficult to apply because it’s so precise. When I want the “pop” of liquid, I create the liner shape first in pencil, then trace over it in liquid.

Illamasqua lipstick in Kontrol - THE ULTIMATE PURPLE LIPSTICK! I HAVE FOUND THEE! Finally. Okay, you guys have seen me do variations on a purple lip, but I’m always tinkering with blending different lipsticks, and usually complaining about how MAC lacks a permanent purple shade, and the limited shades are often that “glaze” or “amplified” texture aka NOT DENSE ENOUGH, NOT MATTE ENOUGH, FUCK! But you can count on Illamasqua to put out ridiculous shades that actually COMMIT to the color (like, for example, I’m still in a deep depression over the fact that I never bought the navy lipstick when it was out). This is a true, cool-toned purple. It’s practically matte — think MAC satin texture. It does not fuck around. I can’t wait to wear it with a purple gloss over, or just matte for a weird, high fashion face. So sick.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her fragrance - I have not stopped smelling my wrists. The end.

(And a few non-Sephora purchases…)

Neutrogena Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover - I’m lucky. Ever since I turned 19/went on the pill, acne has not been a problem. Since then I’ve really simplified my skincare routine — I cleanse and moisturize, and exfoliate a few times a week. Sometimes I use a mask. When my skin was breaking out, I had to use way more products to keep my skin under control. But now that it’s consistently clear, I try to keep things basic so to not upset my skin’s natural balance. This cleanser is a great, simple option — the idea is that it uses only “naturally” derived ingredients, but what I like about it is that it cleanses my skin and I feel clean but it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight.

Olay Beauty Fluid - Again, in my quest to keep my skin routine simple, I decided I’d try Olay’s classic Beauty Fluid. I actually like it. I applied it after cleansing my skin last night with the Neutrogena cleanser and was pleasantly surprised to wake up and notice my skin looked smooth and even — not too dry, not greasy, just healthy. And for all of you acne-prone beauty geeks out there, I cruised some of the online reviews for this product and girls with acne raved that it didn’t make them breakout. Might be a new staple? :)

Let me know if you have any questions, beauty geeks!

XoX

This Week’s Favorites

1. MAC Dazzleglass from the limited edition Tartan Tale line in Radiant Jewels

Instant holiday party lip! Get it before supplies run out (the rest of the Tartan collection is a total SNOOZE by the way…save your money for the Champagne collection and Mickey Contractor collection!)

2. Kahina Antioxidant Mask

Even though I have combo/oily skin, my skin still gets parched during the winter. This mask leaves my skin feeling soft and dewy. Usually I go for the “clarifying” or “purifying” masks which basically just translate to drying the shit out of your face. This mask is a nice winter skincare item for all skin types, and is packed with fab antioxidants. I use it 2-3 times a week these days.

3. Whole Foods Oven Ready Orange Ginger Salmon

FOOD REC! Haha, might be a first! But I do like how easy this is to cook — just purchase a filet of this pre-seasonsed salmon, wrap it in foil and stick it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees and voila…fancy dinner! Then again, my “fancy” standards aren’t that high, you could put a Stouffers on a nice dish and I’d be impressed. But anyways…

FINALLY!

Yessss, so pleased with this product. I have this issue where my hands are rough — they look nice, my nails are usually painted, but my palms have always been and will always be rougher than the normal girl’s hands. They aren’t dry, it’s just like the skin on my palms is thick and almost leathery. I know that sounds gross but it’s just a fact. I don’t know why it’s like that, I’ve tried everything, so please don’t say “OH JUST USE A HANDCREAM.” No, that doesn’t alleviate it. I’ve learned to deal with it. It’s always been that way and my other family members have a similar issue. But whatever, it is what it is. The bigger point is that having odd skin on your hands sometimes makes you avoid certain activities. I hate washing my hands in bathrooms where I don’t have access to lotion after because my hands feel so, so rough after. I began using hand sanitizer because of it. However, hand sanitizer is drying too because of all the alcohol in it.

Enter stage left Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Sanitizer! Yes! Finally someone makes a hand cream that also kills germs. No alcohol in it so it doesn’t dry. As a stand alone hand cream it’s decent — there are of course far richer formulations and more effective creams on the market. But you aren’t buying it to use it just as a hand cream. You’re buying it for its combo properties of germ-killery and simultaneously not drying the shit out of your hands. For a girl who was dubbed “captain rough hands” by a rather cruel kid in middle school (who also happened to be my crush, of course), this hand cream is a life saver…or hand saver, I guess.

$4 at drugstores, Target and the like.

I’m Kind Of Obsessed With…

The following products. I figured it was about time I do a quick product post for anyone who reads this blog for that sort of stuff.

Maybelline Define-A-Line in Brownish-Black

Usually I am not a fan of drugstore pencil liners — I think they tend to smear and creep throughout the day. I bought this for when I was doing some girl’s makeup and I needed a liner that wasn’t black. I ended up loving it for myself as a great daytime liner that actually does have staying power. Super easy to apply, glides on nicely, and unlike other “brown black” liners, this one actually is a very dark brown (others seem to be just normal brown which bugs me). Plus, it’s cheap. Can’t go wrong.

Clinique Almost Makeup

This is Clinique’s cute way of saying tinted moisturizer. Usually I don’t wear any foundation, just some spot concealer here and there, but a few weekends ago I relearned the glories of tinted moisturizer — just has a great way of evening your skin out for a nice touch to whatever look. I have Benefit’s Rebel Lite which is actually a bit too dark (but I’ll save it for summer) and it’s a bit greasy. I tried Stila’s (a high school fave) but it ended up being an awkward cool-toned color once I saw my skin in normal light. Clinique’s is PERFECT…creamy texture but not oily, SPF, great neutral/warm shade, lets the skin shine through while still evening out just the right amount. Exactly what a tinted moisturizer should do. Only rec is that you — and I know this is obnoxiously counterintuitive — apply a moisturizer before. Any tinted moisturizer that has anything beyond a smidge of color usually needs a little help being spread on the face, so moisturize a little bit beforehand to ensure smooth application.

Bliss Triple Oxygen+C Energizing Cream

Ahhh I love this moisturizer! It’s just the perfect texture — so light, yet provides just enough moisture. I use it at night since it doesn’t have any SPF (during the day I use either Jergens or Hampton Sun). I mean, I don’t really know what else to say other than that it’s just a really good product. Kind of expensive (about $54 for a tub) but it lasts and doesn’t make me breakout. When I wake up in the morning my skin looks healthy, not greasy. Thumbs up. I use it every night.

Clinique Black Honey Lip Gloss

OBSESSED. I had a store credit at Sephora and decided to blow it all in one trip. I picked this up…I don’t like glosses that much because the textures are usually too slippery or totally thick and can barely smack your lips status. I used to like Black Honey lipstick, but I never used it consistently because it felt a bit greasy and would spread unevenly on my lips. But, I loved the color. So when I saw that there was a gloss/balm with the same color, I figured why the hell not. I got it and was sooo surprised. Great, moisturizing texture and a gorgeous color — super flattering on what I think would be any skin tone, but I love it on my olive skin. A warm, brownish sheer red. Lovely lovely lovely. It’s the perfect touch for a makeup-free day when you just want…something. LOVE IT.

MAC Perfect Cheek Blush

I’ve had this blush for a few months now and tend to underestimate it. I got it because I realized I really really do not like punchy blushes — cheeks should be understated, eyes and lips should be played up (in my opinion). Daring, bold cheeks only look good in photos, editorial spreads and on the runway. Anywhere else they look odd. Perfect Cheek is, well, kind of what it sounds like. It adds just enough color to subtly define the cheek without being noticeable at all. So, after applying a few strokes, you can’t really tell you’re wearing blush — you just notice that you look healthier. Also, it’s matte — and people don’t give matte blushes enough credit. Everyone thinks shit needs to be chalk full of glitter in order to be “pretty.” Wrooong. Matte means a natural looking color. Anyways, for a girl that appreciates an understated cheek, this is the real shiz right here. Also, goes great with Black Honey Lipgloss.

XoXo!

PS: Don’t forget to shoot me your beauty/makeup questions on my Formspring, http://formspring.me/ajmarechal !

Earth Day FYI

“Origins is offering a trade-in program on Earth Day only. Bring one of your current skin-care product bottles — empty or full, from any brand — to an Origins counter and receive a free full-size cleanser. Choose from Checks and Balances Frothy face wash or Perfect World antioxidant cleanser with white tea.”

Sweet.