Batiste Dry Shampoo Review- Original & Blush

sample pack sent for review

blush scent

original scent

Up for review are two Batiste Dry Shampoo Spray's in scent Original & Blush sent to me for consideration from publicity. They were kind enough to send me two of the full size bottles which is appreciated. Batiste dry shampoo spray is a product I have seen all over the web yet to date have never sampled it so I'm grateful to have been given these to test out. There seems to be a lot of good reviews for this useful little spray and my findings will be posted below after some product information:

Batiste Dry Shampoo Spray: Original & Blush Scent

Batiste Dry Shampoo is the quick and convenient way to get soft, clean and fresh smelling hair, without water. Batiste offers an instant fix by revitalizing greasy, dull and lifeless hair. Batiste thickens thin fly-away hair and adds texture and body for that easy style solution. Simply spray it on and comb it out.Directions:Shake can vigorously,Spray evenly over hair 

Since summer is approaching us quickly this means unwanted oily and greasy hair for some of us. Luckily, Batiste Dry Shampoo can help you say goodbye to those bad hair days with one quick spray. Batiste is ideal for creating body you crave, while ditching the dirt, oil and grease as it freshens hair in minutes and brings life back to dull, lifeless hair!  Batiste works by penetrating the hair shaft to absorb oil, dirt and grease. Have a beach day planned and no time to wash your hair afterwards? No worries, Batiste is the perfect accessory for your beach bag as it is available in a travel size!

Full size retails for $7.99 while the “on the go” size retails for $3.99

Available in two scents: Original and Blush
Batiste comes in 2 sizes:
5.05 fl oz: $7.99
1.6 fl oz: $3.99
Available at Ulta.com, select retail stores and www.BatisteHair.com

 

Pro: eliminates oiliness, instantly refreshes hair, great for travel, great for instant touch ups when you can't shampoo, great for bed stricken people, cruelty free, affordable price points, two scents, adds some volume, no powder residue if massaged in properly

Con: the original scent is too floral for me, I found it strong. Blush scent was more subdued

***Note: This is not a substitute for washing your hair & scalp-just a quick fix***

My results: Before I post my results I just want to reiterate the note above that even though this helps instantly clean up your hair you should not use this in lieu of washing your hair and scalp as the scalp is a living tissue that gets rancid due to the oils if not wash either daily or every other day. This is a great product for those quick touch ups, emergency hair care when traveling, for bed stricken people,camping trips, when you temporarily don't have access to water, after a workout at the gym or just to "clean" up your hair when you have to go outside for a quick trip to the grocery store. This was such a pleasant surprise to use and my results were much more positive than what I experienced with that horrific Victoria's Secret So Sexy Dry Shampoo spray. You guys remember my rant on that post! That link is to be found in the sidebar if you want to read it. Maybe that's why I never tried another dry shampoo. In any case, this brand is ten times better and it actually works!

Packaging: these come in two different sized metal canister spray bottles- a small 1.6 and 5.5 ounce sizes. You have the option of three different scents: original and blush and refresh. Original is in the blue can and blush is in the pink can. It's really easy to use: You shake well and hold about 12 inches and spray into your hair and scalp or anywhere you need to get rid of the oiliness and add some volume. You then massage in with your fingers and comb through after. The can's are travel friendly and can easily be stored in your purse or gym bag.

The formula: The spray comes out in a very light powdery wisp form and it looks like white powder has been applied on your hair when you first spray it. You need to massage in the area you sprayed with your fingers and the powdery film will disappear and leave no residue behind. It really cuts the grease and oiliness leaving your hair with a fresh cleansed look and feel. I tested this over the weekend on Sunday after not shampooing the night before to see how it would work. I need to shampoo my hair every day because the crown part is very fine and falls flat when I wake up the next morning. I also used this again this morning after shampooing instead of using hair spray to see what it would do. It still added a little bit of volume which is always a plus! The hair on my crown is fine in texture and it plumped up a bit so I imagine someone with thicker hair on top would get a better voluminous effect. The spray really makes your hair look and feel cleansed! It's a fabulous handy product!

The scents: I honestly didn't like the original scent because it was a very strong floral and you guys know how I dislike those type of scents. It wasn't as bad as the VS So Sexy scent but still not my type. This of course is purely a personal matter of taste in smell. It might be more pleasant to those who enjoy floral. I was afraid the blush was the same but surprisingly Blush was much better and subdued! I don't know if it's a floral but it just smells fresh and lighter. I'm glad they have different options so now I know to purchase the Blush formula. It also meshes into your hair after a while and dissipates not interfering with your shampoo where as the original scent seemed to linger on my hair all day.

*** Just found out they have a third scent called Refresh***

I'm going to give both scents one collective rating in terms of it's function and usefulness but I want to mention the original on it's own would probably receive a four star rating only because I was put off by the scent. It's only fair that I mention this as to share the info with other people who don't really prefer floral scents. I definitely would recommend Bariste dry hair shampoo spray to everyone because it works as a quick fix for fresh clean looking hair! It get's a 4.5 starfish rating for it's formula, easy function, affordable price, being cruelty free and benefits of use when traveling. it's a must have in your gym bag or hair product arsenal for touch ups! A better scent in the original formula would have gotten this a higher rating but it's still a best pick! Dry shampoo has long been a secret of hair stylists everywhere for giving models that voluminous bow out hair look during a photo shoot and now you know a trick of the trade for yourself! Have you tried this yet? Stay beautiful! XOXO

Availability: Ulta $3.99 - $7.99 1.6 ounce & 5.5 ounce spray

1 OUT OF 5 STARS

1 RATING=WORSE 5 RATING=BEST SUPER STAR=SUPER PRODUCT!

PACKAGING:: 5 stars

CLEANSE & REFRESHES:: 5 stars

EASE OF USE:: 5 stars

FORMULA SCENT:: 4.5 stars for Original  5 stars for Blush

PRICE & VALUE:: 5 stars

OVERALL PRODUCT:: 4.5 stars

Victorias Secret Limited Edition Radiant Face Trio

click for a better image

Today's review is for Victoria's Secret Limited Edition Radiant Face Trio highlighting face powder in a beautiful presentation box which is a fairly new blush. This was another product in my beauty basket that I'm just now getting around to using and perfect timing because I see myself using this product a lot for spring. The colors are light, fresh and very luminous in the shade called Head Turner which I opted to purchase because it was listed as a universal flattering shade as well as being the most shimmery of all of the shades and you know how highlighter obsessed I am. If you have medium to dark skin they also have deeper colors available to compliment any tone. If you have fair olive toned skin like me then you might like Head Turner but that's not to say you can't use Head Tuner it will just be more lighter and more shimmery than the other color choices. Some product info from the manufacturer below before I get to my results:

Limited Edition Radiant Face Trio Powder

Be a dazzling beauty. Unleash your inner glow with three radiant powders that combine to lighten and contour for a beautiful, illuminating effect.

Flirt- medium/pink

Love Glow- light/peach

Revealed- deep/wine

Head Turner- universal shimmer highlighter

Pro: rich pigments-silky formula-lovely trio combination adds nice depth-shimmery but not glittery-blendable-colors to compliment various skin tones-beautifully packaged-well constructed of thick durable plastic-cruelty free-decent price-good fill product weight-long wear-does not cake

Con: none for me- some may consider this pricey

My results: This blushy highlighter is a fabulous buy! You guys know how I often say VS products are either a hit or miss well this one is a hit. The brand is getting better with some really good makeup and the price is still more affordable than the designer department store brands out there. I again apologize for my shi$$y camera but my broke self can't afford a better one as this blush looks way better in person, it's absolutely stunning! Maybe I'll get one for for birthday this summer-fingers crossed! I'll start with the packaging which is a pretty pink box with bows and silvery dots cut into the box to look like diamonds. The compact itself is very thick durable pink plastic with black trim and a bow but no mirror at about two inches all around. The powder is shaped to resemble a woman's silhouette in a bikini and a big giant bow on her backside. Each curve has a different shade with 3 colors in all. It's very cute! You get a trio for the price of one which you can use in combination or with a thin brush apply the color of your choice to highlight. The above photo is for the shade Head Turner which is the most shimmery highlighter of them all as the other combinations have deeper blush tones in the set. Head Turner has this light shimmery pink, pale golden shimmer and a nice dark pinkish taupe shimmer. The formula is very well pigmented, silky and easy to blend on your skin. You can even use this on your decollete area for highlighting as well. I have to mention the pigments are slightly on the sheer side with Head Turner which is great if your worried about the product settling into lines. The radiance on your skin is very subtle and illuminating lasting all day. It didn't cake or make my face look oily but if you have oilier skin try to apply less or choose another shade option because it will make your skin glow. This is a pretty decent deal seeing as you get a generous 7 grams of three different colors in a beautiful collectors box with a feminine design plus it's cruelty free so no little critters were tortured just so you can look good. You might think it's pricy but the powder will last you a  long time getting you your moneys worth, nice job on this one VS. Grab one before it's gone. It gets a full five starfish rating from me. Stay beautiful!  XOXO

Availability: Victoria's Secret Limited Radiant Face Trio ( 4 shades available) $16 

1 OUT OF 5 STARS

1 RATING=WORSE 5 RATING=BEST

PACKAGING:: 5 stars

MATERIALS:: 5 stars

PIGMENTS:: 5 stars

EASE OF USE:: 5 stars

PRICE & VALUE:: 5 stars

OVERALL PRODUCT:: 5 stars

Urban Decay Naked With Good Karma Brush

Here's a look at my New Urban Decay Naked Palette With Good Karma Brush. This isn't going to be a review of the palette because that was done already with my first Naked palette which came with a duo-ended 24/7 pencil which you can read by clicking here for more product info plus photos on that palette. This new Naked is exactly the same with the exception of the Good Karma Eyeshadow Brush, it also includes the mini primer potion. Most of you already know by now what a nude/taupe fanatic I am so you know I had to buy this palette as well! Now I have two and it's an investment for me because these are the colors I use the most plus it's also great to have another set for traveling. Today's review is focused on the Good Karma brush but I will rate it in terms of overall product for those of you you have yet to purchase a Naked palette. It's up to you to decide which palette you would like as I believe Urban Decay is selling the original palette w/ eyeliner in limited quantities to those on lists. Some product info from manufacture below:

New Naked Palette With Good Karma Shadow Brush:

You can look great NAKED! This long, lean, seductive case is packed with TWELVE gorgeous neutrals. Shades range from delicate champagnes to dark, gritty gunmetal, and feature FIVE NEW shades with names like Darkhorse, Virgin and Buck. We've also included a range of textures: everything from glitter to shimmer to matte. The chocolaty velvet case is emblazoned with the word "NAKED" in gold foil lettering. (Just wait 'til your friends see you pull this sexy thing out of your bag. Jealous!) The mirrored case also includes a professional quality, cruelty-free Good Karma Eyeshadow Brush, AND a travel-size Eyeshadow Primer Potion in original formula. This is a shadow palette EVERYONE can use, and a truly spectacular gift. Experiment with office-appropriate neutrals, summertime bronzy looks, or sultry smokiness. With such a diversity of neutral shades at your fingertips, there's more to neutral than meets the eye. Fill Weight:Eyeshadows: 12 x 1.3g e 12 x 0.05 US oz; Eyeshadow Primer Potion: 3.7ml e 0.13 US fl oz 

 

Shadow Brush Details: It's your ultimate eyeshadow tool. Get an all-over sweep of color with the flat side of the brush, or use the fine, rounded tip for more precise shading. Thanks to the tight bristles, this multi-purpose brush picks up a little or a lot of shadow, so you can shade, blend and define. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a novice with her first set of brushes, this is one you'll want in your collection. $26 on it's own

Pro: great value w/ 12 colors-rich pigments-fabulous case w/ mirror-travel friendly-mini primer-cruelty free-synthetic professional good karma eyeshadow brush full size $26 value on it's own

Con: nothing other than me being greedy and would have loved if they also included an eyeliner to help complete an eye look! Or at least a second brush used specifically for a highlighter shade to keep the bristles clean when alternating with darker shades.

My results: This review is for the Good Karma brush, click the link above in red to read about the rest of the palette. Other than my Urban Decay Big Buddha brushes in my collection I'm not really familiar with UD brushes because Smashbox brushes are mostly the ones in my collection so when first holding this brush it felt weird and thought the bristles were off but not the case. After working with it I fell completely in love! The bristles pick up and hold pigments nicely without having to scratch into the shadow pan. You only need a small amount of product anyway because the pigments are really rich. The brush handle is a very comfortable length in your hand at 5.5  inches and it is a full size brush the same size you get if you buy it on it's own which is a $26 value. This was confirmed to me from Urban Decay making it a fabulous value knowing you are not getting a mini version brush. The material is a cool lightweight metal type stamped with the UD logo on the side with flat bristles, rounded tip which appears to look flimsy but it handles nicely! This brush is not only great for shadow but in my opinion for precision lining, blending and smudging. It really is a workhorse so if your on a budget and can't purchase them all, grab this one with the palette! I'm not a makeup artist and even I found it easy to work with so hopefully I'll put up some looks created with this set in the future. Just like the first original naked palette I have no regrets with this purchase and give it a full five starfish rating! Another brush or eyeliner thrown in would have gotten it a super duper jumbo starfish rating! I know...I'm greedy but still it would make sense to make this Naked palette twice the sexy as the first, right?  GRAB THIS NAKED PALETTE! Stay beautiful! XOXO

Availability: Sephora, Urban Decay $48

Awake Stardom Aqua Trans Powder

Hello peeps, hoping everyone had a pleasant and enjoyable holiday. It's finally here! And my obsessive love for Asian beauty finds continues. I have been dying to try this out after reading so many wonderful reviews about this Japanese Awake Aqua Trans Stardom Loose Face Powder from Asia. It's was advertised as some magical setting powder that goes on with a watery sensation then dries down, this was enough to get me to purchase it. And I figured if it was just a boring powder I could use it regardless because it's yellow and being a collector of yellow powders it was a gamble that paid off. Besides my two Le Clerc Model Banane powders and one Agnes B. yellow corrector powder can't last forever... Agnes B. by the way was a highly innovative cosmetic company in France that was discontinued awhile back. For the life of me I don't know why because Agnes B. made some fantastic pro cosmetics which I was able to snag a few. Now back to Awake Aqua Trans... First I have to mention this is not a new product but one I accidentally stumbled across while shopping for Asian cosmetics. I only gave it a second glance because the description said it was a yellow shade then started going through the reviews and the fact that people said it went on "wet" peeked my curiosity. Ive heard of "liquid" powders before but have never had the opportunity to try them, I believe Prescriptives made one awhile back called "Magic Powder" and just recently MAC had a limited edition liquid powder that sold out but I believe Awake was one of the first to make this almost over five years ago. After further researching I discovered Neiman Marcus carried this brand but it sold out right away. I'm doing this review to share information with you so if Awake has a similar product in the future you guys should jump on the bandwagon and grab it! It was just a lucky break for me to find the last one in this yellow based shade which is Moon Glint 01. I mentioned this before but anything that has the word moon on it  in regards to color I buy it because it's usually pale, lemony and yellow based making it perfect for my skin tone. I also found out that these color correcting powders were offered in other shades such as pink with a total of five color options in all for every skin tone. You might get lucky if you search online for this particularly on Asian websites. Now about the actual powder, it's water based color correcting powder that sets your make up to a flawless glowing translucent finish. The formula also contains minerals, natural anti-oxidants and botanical that soothe,calms, nourishes while preventing inflammation. How you use this is by putting the face puff over the net cover of the powder and turn the jar upside down while holding the puff in place. You then shake off the excess powder and gently blend into your skin. You can use this alone or over your foundation. If you prefer you can also use a loose foundation mineral brush but this puff works just fine. This has got to be the worlds best powder puff ever created in the history of useless puffs! I'm dead serious... It feels like total silk sweeping across your face while holding the right amount of product and giving you the best coverage. It's not flimsy at all with it's convenient finger strap and it's own carrying case that has vented panels on the back to keep from getting bacteria. You would have to feel how luxurious this little thick puff is to believe it for yourself. While I was taking everything out of the box getting a feel for everything it dawned on me how certain expensive better known brands don't take the time to put together a lovely versatile practical kit like this and charge triple the price. The inside of the box carton even has this dainty little instructional picture and although it's in Japanese you can follow the illustrated guide on how to use it.They need to carry this brand in more stores as a matter of fact they need to carry more Asian brands in the United States. Now for the piece de resistance! The moment the powder touches your skin it gives you a sensation of cooling moisture. I was completely floored! It feels kind of wet but not really wet then drys instantly leaving a sense of hydration behind. There's no other way to describe it... How do they do it! It's concentrated with over 77% water which is why you get that very moist feel when applying it. Even before I applied it on my face when I touched the powder to swatch it for you my fingers were cool and moist. Another way to describe the feeling is as if a lovely moist mist is being sprayed on your face making this powder not only great but  fun to use. What you have to be careful of is not to layer it because if you do it starts to flake a bit but this only last a few seconds because it dries down again. You really don't need a lot, just a good even swipe to cover your face. It doesn't cake up on you and finishes off to a great semi-matte finish with a natural glow. About the glow, it's really nice and natural looking. There's no glitter in the product only micro particles of fine shimmer but without being a shimmer powder. You can see the radiance under bright lighting otherwise it's barley noticeable making it very soft and sophisticated for all ages. As you can see in the swatch I took your skin surface will radiate. If you notice how shimmery it's in the photo don't worry because the flash made the particles glisten up more, it's less shiny on your face. In a nutshell it provides luminosity to your skin, has excellent staying powder with no touch ups, does not settle into fine lines and has a diabolical eerie yet magical wetness to the touch.What you do have to consider before applying this is if your skin is too oily you should use a great oil-free cleanser first and matte foundation. My skin isn't oily so I can't be certain of this but it makes sense that it might have a different application on oilier skin unless you use matte products before using this. The price point that this was offered at was more incredible to me than the powder itself. You would think it was well over $50 and the size is 28 grams, that's a lot of product in a decent size jar which will last a very long time seeing that you only need one dusting per use. It's also exciting to find something wonderful I just wish I crossed paths with this powder when it was released because I would have gotten multiple jars to save. Now it's sold out but I'm keeping my fingers cross a new version will be released. I really wish you guys get a chance to find this and try it for yourself, it's worth every penny!  Did anyone ever purchase or  try this product?  Please post your findings as I would like to know what others think about it. Stay beautiful! XOXO

Availability: Neiman Marcus $38.50 Sold Out

Edited to add link that sells two of the shades:Kose Awake America

Guerlain Meteorites Poudre De Perles Compact

Since investing in a few of the Guerlain Meteorites Pearl Collection, I'm going to go ahead and review them for anyone interested in buying some. The price point is high but you have to own at least one from the entire collection, it's so worth it.I already reviewed the mini meteorites so next up is my review for my Guerlain Meteorites Poudre De Perles Compact. This illuminating pearl powder compact is in shade Nacre Des Mers which was from last years Guerlain Summer Splash Collection. My French is so off to the left but I believe nacre des mers means shell of the sea. The compact is a full 10 gram size which is pretty generous. The pan doesn't go deep but the pearls are raised somewhat so there's plenty of lasting powder. It's not a traditional compact that flips open but more like a case which you twist the top like you would a container. The case is very sturdy and has the signature faux pearl inlaid design on the top which was actually inspired by a box Marie Antoinette had on her vanity table. When you open the case it has the usual distinct Guerlain Meteorites fragrance of a soft powder floral type scent. The pearls vary in size with larger pearls at the outer rim growing gradually smaller as it spirals into the center pearl. The pearl shades alter from gold beige, pearly pale apricot,  light ivory pearl finishing off with a blue pearl in the center. Guerlains ad campaign stated this was inspired by the Akoya of Tahiti. The tonal palette illuminates the complexion in light while the blue heart pearl hides small imperfections. Of course there are ground pearls in the formula which feels very lightweight on the skin. It makes all the difference using the right professional brush when applying this and you control the intensity. A couple of swipes or pats add a sheer touch of luminosity while more product adds a deeper glow. This isn't glittery but a bit of pearly sheen shows up on your skin. Your face radiates nicely under bright lights. Some people who have used meteorites say it's too shiny on their skin. This could be due to a heavy handed application or oilier skin type but it's nothing I noticed on my skin. I only gently swirl my brush a couple of times and that's it. there are different shades which might be more appropriate for different types of skin tones, you can ask the store consultant or even use one of the store testers to see which one might work best for you. I did notice that the first few applications the powder had a shinier hand on application because the pearls have this extra silvery finish on top but after you use it a couple of times that finish wears off and the high shine is less noticeable on your skin. My skin is yellow based and pale that all the different shades I have, none of them really look that different form each other when applied on my skin and all the shades seem to work fine with me. This shade sold out but Sephora is selling the new collection and I believe that the Beige Lumineux 03 comes closest to this Nacre Des Mers except for the center pearl being lavender. This is the reason why I'm on the fence to get the beige but the lavender pearl is pretty. This would also make a lovely gift for a best friend and a definite must have for yourself. Does anyone have this or any other meteorites shade? What do you guys think about it? Stay beautiful!  XOXO

Availability:Sephora $65 ( beige lumineux is almost similar to the nacre des mers )

Sleek Divine Mineral Eye Palette-"Circus"

This eye palette isn't new but it took me a while to get my hands on as the company is London based but I finally got it! By the time I searched for this it was no longer available at the time  plus I found the shipping fees to the US ridiculous but in the end I caved because I wanted it. I also purchased the "Sunset" palette and will review that when it arrives.As I'm trying to familiarize myself with all cosmetics & skincare brands this is my first experience with a Sleek Cosmetics product and so far I love it.So up for review is the Sleek Divine Mineral Based Eyeshadow Palette in Limited Edition "Circus". The packaging is cute while the actual compact is streamlined credit card thin and about five inches in length consisting of a durable plastic.The inside has a nice lengthy mirror with a dual sided smudger brush which is also lengthy and okay in quality. This case comes with twelve mineral based shadows which are a mixture of matte & sheen's. There mostly mattes with about three colors that have sheen to them. I found the shades had a good amount of pigmentation to them with the exception of the white which felt somewhat dry and hard to get a decent color transfer. It eventually shows up you just need to swipe a lot of it on. The lilac & that first hot pink in the above first row was also on the sheer side. All  of the colors were easy to blend and work with except for that white. I don't understand how the other shades can blend smoothly and not that white.Isn't it the same formula? My favorite shade has got to be that lime green which has sheen to it,it almost reminds me of Urban Decays Acid Rain which I own about a dozen single compacts because it's gorgeous! it's not as wonderful as Urban Decay Acid Rain because that one is way silkier with more color variants to it but it's pretty decent. My next fave is that deep  navy blue also with a sheen which is located next to the orange on the bottom row. It's a perfect  rich hue for this fall. I not only wanted the "Circus" to familiarize myself with Sleek but also to have a compact with super bright & matte shades organized all in one place. I realized all my brights in my collection are pearly,glittery or have sheen to them and could always use flat matte colors. BTW-that yellow  shadow has a nice deep tone but for me I would use in the crease,on the bottom lid  or blended in with other colors. I wouldn't wear it as an all over the lid because it looks clownish although that's probably the point of this "Circus" palette.Let me mention that I swatched these without any primer as I usually never swatch with primer because I want you to get a sense of the color strength of the actual shades. The compact seems versatile with it's shade options,has great packaging and a decent amount of pigments with a decent formula so loving what I've experienced so far with the Sleek brand. Can't wait to get that Sunset Palette in the mail. Stay Beautiful! XOXO

Availability: Sleek Cosmetics Circus Palette $10.00 plus $13.50 International Ship Fee

Too Faced Naked Eye Palette

It's here! my Too Faced Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Palette has arrived! I also have a review for the previous Too Faced Natural Eye Palette-click here and Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette-click here.This new Naked Palette is much softer in tone than the Natural with more nude tones rather than pinks,less brown shades and less glittery shadows.Plus this kit includes a steel gray shimmer which I think is better than all the browns in the last set.The creamy highlighter in this kit is more white based than in the natural kit which was more yellow hued.Also this taupe-Like A Virgin shade-is more intense than in the natural kit.I gather the purpose Too Faced had for releasing these shades are for achieving a more softer focus eye.The palette dimensions are the same as the other two kits(about 5 inches)-so are the three instructional flash cards with step by step directions and finally a pull out draw with a dual-ended brush-smudger.They should of at least added a mirror because it would be nice to have one since this palette is so portable you expect a mirror to work with.The formula for the shadows are decently pigmented but have a sheerness to them.I tried to swatch them but my skin is so fair it didn't hold up to the camera flash.It's nice if you want to control the intensity of your look and I find that I needed a few extra swipes of color.You really need to wear a primer underneath as well and Too Faced makes a great one called Shadow Insurance Primer that amplifies the color shade which would work well in this kit because the pigments are a bit sheer.If you are a nude-taupe fanatic as myself then you definitely want to add this to your collection.It is a bit high priced for a kit that could have had a few minor improvements such as a mirror,larger pans of shadows-they are really small and maybe adding a mini primer to the kit but it's a nice travel friendly box which is heavily constructed and has cards to guide you.I guess it depends on how fanatic you are about collecting eye palettes.Of the two palettes I like these shades more than in the Natural kit-and I seriously loved and raved about that palette when it came out- but either one is fine and you should have at least one of these. I don't think they are nowhere near as great as the Urban Decay Naked Palette and I can't wait to review that palette when it gets here.Urban Decay shadows are way richer in pigmentation and longer lasting.But it's a nice set and packaged in a lovely outer box which makes it great for gift giving.

Availability: Sephora $35

Shades include: In The Buff (matte ivory), Pillow Talk (light taupe sheen), Like A Virgin (matte taupe), Birthday Suit (beige shimmer), Satin Sheets (golden champagne shimmer), Unmentionables (steel gray shimmer), Pink Cheeks (pale pink), Lap Dance (silvery taupe shimmer), and Stiletto (matte black).

CoverGirl Trublend Micro Blush

Here is another product from CoverGirl-Trublend Micro Blush and it's one of two that was sent to me,one I'm reviewing the other I gave as a bonus gift to one of my contest winners. This mineral blush gives you five times the finer texture than the leading blush and allows you to achieve a healthy looking flush of color in one step. If you need more pop of color it's also very build-able. The pigment is very rich and gentle with a feeling of weightlessness, it won't feel weighty on your skin. It really merges with your skin making it appear to be your own natural glow without the caked layer of other powder blushes. The color seemed a bit dark to me at first but it's much lighter on my skin and really blends perfectly. I also love that it comes with a great handy little brush applicator included in the package. It's really nice and affordable, another great product from CoverGirl. Stay beautiful! XOXO

Availability: Mass Market Retail $10