tarte 100% Pure Cold Pressed Maracuja Oil from the Amazon - QVC.com

tarte 100% Pure Cold Pressed Maracuja Oil from the Amazon - QVC.com So back in November I gave you all a tease about my little wonder product, my latest beauty Ah-Ha!, Tarte's Maracuja oil which I am still clutching in my hands greedily in the early morning of December 22nd 2012, Happy New Years by the way my darlings :D! However back to business Maracuja oil beautifully if I may say presented to us by Tarte. Now most of you are probably going to or are already scratching your heads, what in the heck is Maracuja oil? Well in laments terms ladies and the intelligent gent or two out there, Maracujua oil is simply oil from the seeds of the passion flower fruit. Now I can hear some of you grumbling well I can get Maracuja oil from my GNC for a whole lot cheaper or this other supplement place. Some of you are right and some of you are wrong because what makes Tarte's' Maracuja Oil so special? Where it's harvested! Who is harvesting it! Is it Fair Trade?!  Under what conditions are they being collected and taken to have this amazing oil pressed until they finally fill our gorgeous purple bottles with the bamboo and gold topper batting her powerful eyelashes.....look at me, use me! Let me make you more beautiful my darling!!! Seducing us to use it from out of our vanities or bathroom counters? Well ladies, as anyone who knows anything about Tarte knows the lovely eco-friendly company's founder, Maureen Kelly is a GENIUS!!!! Bringing us all these innovative, pristine, and powerful ingredients from her trip down the long, long, ancient, did I mention long Amazon River? Jewels of the mighty Amazon River and surrounding rainforests. C'mon! No one knew diddly about Amazonian clay before Maureen discovered it's amazing multifaceted powers to benefit ALL skin types in SO many different mediums? Illuminating serums, tinted moisturizers which I will add Tarte's Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer is the best damn tinted moisturizer in the industry right now. None of the powerhouses of makeup can hold a candle up to Smooth Operator and I mean NONE!!!! I had oily skin in my teens to mid 20's that turned to what it is now at 34 combination, one of the most frustrating skin types to have because I now have to tend to both oily girl and dry girl skin issues. But if that's what I have to endure to have 19 year old men asking me out because they think I'm about 24 or 25, I'll damn well take it! HAHA! Now back to the Maracuja oil. It's light golden in color, has a natural slightly veggie/nutty scent about it which I've read some complaints about but come on now. You don't use skincare for the way it smells, and it's not even a strong smell, which dissipates as soon as it's applied to the skin. Did anyone go to use Tea Tree Oil for their acne issues smell it and think "YUMMY! I wanna just drink this stuff!"? Now This oil can and should be used as as a serum under moisturizer except for on very oily girls who can use it alone as moisturizer. Cleanse your skin, I currently use Pangea's cleanser for normal/combo skin or an organic handmade soap. Next tone, as an esthetician it shocks and drives me crazy the amount of people out there that don't get it why they need to use a toner after done washing! Now pay attention ladies.....especially you non toners! When we wash our skin we are throwing the PH of our skin out of whack. Now get some good cotton, organic is best if you can afford it, however spray your selected toner for your skin type onto the cotton pad and wipe the skin clean with it. What you are doing is re-balancing your skin's PH levels, wiping off remaining traces of cleanser or dirt, as well as prepping your skin to receive and absorb either your serum, our Maracuja oil for those of us lucky enough to have it and then moisturizer over it much better so the actives can delve into the deeper layers of the dermis and go to work. If your skin is dry, normal, mature, and/or damaged, you will want to use Maracuja oil as a serum before you moisturize. Combo girls feel it out, what I do is since I now have makeup optional skin since using Tarte on my facial skin exclusively, in the a.m. I will apply my moisturizer or Smooth Operator tinted moisturizer with.....TA DAAA....Amazonian clay after I feel the Maracuja oil sink into my skin. I even apply my Maracuja oil on my eye area making it all the more beneficial before applying my Pangea eye cream and my peepers are smooth, soft, and relaxed with no lines in sight. I've laughed and continue to laugh a whole lot in my life and have very little evidence of it. Now remember genetics plays a large role in that but so does the fact that I have always been on the wagon of PREVENTION! Now how is my skin you ask since I last left off? Smoother. Brighter. Reduction of monthly flareups. Reduction of pesky blackheads. Glowing skin, Comfortable, even happy skin. A marked reduction in sun damage and the pesky marks leftover from the good old 'pregnancy mask' that some of you other ladies that are mothers can identify with. I have....roll the drums.......found an AMAZING looking organic skincare company that I will be trying after I'm done using up all my Pangea called Angel Face Botanicals, if I don't get derailed by another line that is. This off the charts fabulous indie company has managed to get mentioned in Cosmopolitan, as well as Bazaar Magazines. Had the honor of top two finalists for about.com's Best Indie Skin Care People's choice awards. Won Fast Company Magazines Best of Artesian Cosmetics. The list goes on, I mean just numerous notable magazines and beauty and eco-chic blogs. The owner is known as the 'Spa Goddess' for good reason, this amazing creature doesn't utilize one single filler in any of her marvelous formulations. Prices are also very reasonable, a full size starter kit of best selling facewash, toner, and moisturizer goes for only $55.00 while the travel size of the same set is still friggin big is only $35.00. Also the perk of a 1st time purchase discount when you sign up for the newsletter. It just doesn't get any better! Honest, chemical free skincare with some impressive ingredients and makeup from Tarte that is truly good for your skin. Seriously! Skincare disguised as makeup!!!! MUSIC!!!! And I think to myself......what a wonderful world.............

XOXO Till next time my darlings!

Urban Decay Palette Preen Shadow Box

I have been in love with Urban Decay since it's debut 15 years ago......back when I was a skater girl, a raver, you can see where I am going with this, and Urban Decay was the perfect cosmetic line for me. Fast forward to today and I still absolutely love this line as I have grown up with it. They have the most beautiful yet edgy colors. The perfect makeup line to make whatever statement I wish. I love the loud, shimmery duo chrome colors. Silky, blendable, and lasting. I was lucky enough to obtain the Preen Shadow Box on sale. Beautiful packaging that comes with a travel sized primer, which I consider essential to prep the eyes to really make the shadows pop. This palette also comes with a 24/7 eye pencil in Zero which is a black that glides onto the eyelid like no other pencil before. The color combinations are also endless. The shadows in this box contain Snatch, an iridescent golden peach.

To complement Snatch is Painkiller, a beautiful peacock teal blue

Next on the palette is Mildew, a medium/dark shimmering green that is one of my favorites!

To complement Mildew is Smog, a coppery bronze which pairs beautifully with Mildew!

Being a freak for purple colors, to my excitement is Flash, which I am crazy over, I also like to pair Flash with Mildew. Flash is a medium iridescent purple.

Lastly the palette contains Toasted, a coppery, golden brown, peach color which coordinates with Flash.

Here is a picture of the palette as a whole..........

Now here are the swatches which I used Urban Decay primer with......

Snatch & Painkiller

The eyeliner down the middle is in Zero which I cannot get over how it just glides over the skin and has staying power from hell! I would love to play with them on my eyes and post pictures but am recovering from major back surgery and cannot stand in front of a mirror to do my makeup :o( When I am better though I promise to play around, take pictures and share them with all of you! XOXO Stay beautiful my darlings ;o)

The pictures I promised using Preen after being able to move after surgery :D

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Vs. Dior Addict

Chanel Coco Rouge Shine in Royallieu

Bon Jour darlings. Whew, time flies! I intended on posting this entry much earlier but life had other plans, lol. Now I was going to speak solely about Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, however, Dior makes quite a similar product. Dior Addict. Now here's the debate, which to splurge on. I must admit I am in love with both......however Dior offers more colors. The romance of of Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine appeals because each color was created by her life and loves. My personal favorites are Boy, a beige tinged pink, and Royallieu, a cooler fuchsia tinged pink, tres lovely! Also only available online. This is a color to stock up on ladies, flattering on both warm, cool, and neutral skin tones. Gorgeous with Safari Ombre Essentielle soft touch eyeshadow, which is how I prefer to wear it. I also bought Fetiche, the color samples below. Now don't be scared off by bright or dark colors as this is a sheer lipshine. Moisterising as well, yes! There are 19 available shades, bulk of them in the pink family and retail for $32.00, a good investment as they leave the lips soft. Romance and Chance are also lovely universal colors.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Royallieu

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Boy

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Fetiche

 Now onto Dior Addict which comes in a dizzying, wonderful array of 54 luscious colors. Now again with the Dior line, these are sheer colors, don't be intimidated. When I initially looked at the color L.A. I thought "wow, bright" then I tested it and it was just the right punch of color. I fell in love immediately! As per Dior's website, Addict was created with 25% less wax then traditional lipsticks. The formula containing an extraordinary reflecting gel resulting in modern transparency, intense plumping hydration, and a magnifying glass effect which intensifies shine, plumps the lips and enhances color. Literally couture for the lips. Colors names after famed locations like New York, L.A., Tokyo, Miami, Gibraltar.....you get the idea. Aside from L.A. on my little haul, I also picked up Basic, a pinkish nude. Baby Rose which looks bright in the tube but perfect on the lips, nice punch of color. Lastly, Rose Deshabille.....a warmer rose than Baby Rose. I'm so sorry I don't have swatches right now as I need to get a new memory card for my camera and I must admit the colors on the site are a tad different then in your hands. Dior Addict retails at $28.00I really can't decide on a favorite! Color selection wise, Dior wins hands down, but Chanel feels absolutely divine on the lips, it has more slip and dare I say a bit more shine. XOXO

 Dior Addict in Basic

 Dior Addict Rose Deshabille

 Dior Addict in Baby Rose

Unfortunately a color sample for L.A. was not available on the website, however what I do love about the site is that there are quite a few shades that are available exclusively online only.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy

Dior Addict in Basic

Summer Makeup Haul Pt. 1

Lillium Quad

Chanel Eyeshadow Quad in Lillium

Bronzing Palette in Rose

Chanel Moisturizing Bronzing Palette in Rose

The economy stinks, money is tight, but me being me, I just had to have what was hot in cosmetics for the summer. A naughty girl I was having most of my summer color goodies come from the darlings at Chanel. My first purchase for the warmer weather months was Chanel's eyeshadow quad in Lilium. After having seen the model wearing the summer colors on the website I just HAD to get that look, which was inspired by flowers according to the site. Lilium just screams summer! Fresh, dainty colors, glimmering and screaming at me to give it a go. As I viewed all the new items in the collection I had a total Golem from Lord of the Rings moment......."my precious".........I just had to have them all! The base and/or highlighting shade in Lilium is a shimmery light peach/pink. The star of the show, to be applied on the eyelid however is a gorgeous almost pastel lime color absolutely smashing all on it's own if you wished. The other two crease/contour/liner shades are a shimmering green that's almost a medium forest green that of course complements it's elegant subdued lime counterpart. Lastly a dark grayish taupe that completes the summer gem. Now in the makeup tutorial on the website the gorgeous woman applies the lighter green shade wet to increase color intensity all over the lid just into the crease then lines her lash lines with the dark taupe then comes back into the inner corner of the eye with the light green to brighten and freshen up the eye. A coat of Inimitable Intense mascara multi-dimensional Sophistique in Noir and ta-da! Fresh summer ready peepers! Also demonstrated in the tutorial is one of two new moisturizing bronzing palettes, and one of three limited edition lipglosses of the season in Pink Peony. All of which I had to get my grubby hands on. For the eyes there is also the Ombres Contraste Eyeshadow Duo in Khaki Discret once again in fresh shimmery summer green tones, a medium green with gold sparkles and to complement it a VERY light shimmery green both colors nod to the warm side. The eyeliner of the season also limited edition and sold out quick, Stylo Yeux Waterproof Rose Platine a rosey, golden, bronze/khaki color. I'll put swatches up soon as I am brand spanking new to this :o) Now for the Moisturizing Bronzing palettes, they come in rose or coral, since I'm fair I got the rose for those with skin like mine, the coral has darker tones. The rose or coral colors also serve as complementing blush to the three accompanying bronzing colors which can also be used individually to highlight, contour and shape, or all together like I do and apply like a sideways w to the face where the sun naturally hits along with the bridge of my nose. Start out light and gradually build up because while you can deepen it remember you can't go back so remember to build up! Also by all means don't forget it's makeup, play around! Get creative! Try it out on your eyes, go nuts :o) Now as for the 3 limited edition lipglosses, the first that I mentioned before Pink Peony a beautiful, shimmery baby pink/rose with the iridescence of both silver and gold. Then there is Pensee' Glossimer which specifically goes along with the coral color bronzing palette because.......drum roll, lol, it's a light coral shade with gold sparkles. The final summer shade of Glossimer Aurore is a very light shimmery baby pink with golden rainbow highlights. Now when I do my eyes, I personally like my liner a bit darker for a more dramatic, deeper night look and like to line my eyes with Chanel's intense eye pencil in Black Jade along with the Rose Platine, I layer the Black Jade over the Rose Platine very close to the lashes and it's absolutely gorgeous! Also, when I use the Lilium palette and want a more dramatic look I use every shade in the quad. I like to reverse contour using the taupe shade on the inner half of my crease and the darker green on the outer part of my crease and blend into the corners and blend, blend, blend!!!! The finished look is what I'm wearing in the pictures although I'm not wearing my Glossimer lipgloss, I'm actually wearing Dior Addict lipstick :o) In the last picture, I'm wearing the Ombres Contraste Duo in Khaki Discret and  went heavier with the bronzing. Thanks for reading and my next post part 2 will be about Chanel's new Rouge Coco Shine that debuted earlier in the summer and a few more limited edition summer shades. XOXO