On The Shelf

Overview:

Orange Cleansing Soap

Purchase Price $20 (16oz)

Retailer www.mariobadescu.com (Nordstrom, Ulta)

Check out www.mariobadescu.com  for product info

Product Review:

It has become apparently clear that I have an ongoing love affair with anything orange scented in the skincare world. Most of the products I tend to use or try have some kind of citrus notes. In the morning grabbing this cleansing soap in the shower is a must to concentrate on restoring moisture and just using a gentle product considering the harsh cleaning ritual it goes through most nights from my makeup removal routine. So I figured if this was so great in the morning perhaps I should try it at night as well.

The texture of this product is great, a creamy not heavy soap that lathers slightly with no real feel of grittiness like other cleansing soaps. It washes away leaving no residue behind and leaves the skin so soft to the touch it is ridiculous. By far this is the best my skin has ever felt after washing it with a cleansing product. There is no over powering faux orange scent here just a gentle whiff so your nose is alerted and your eyes widen. With just a large pea size amount you can really feel the difference and realize you have spent you money on the right product this time. This is one of those “it will work for anyone”, unless you have known allergies to the contents, from those with sensitive skin issues to normal.

I can see myself at sixty still buying this and enjoying it the way I do now. With a company like Mario Badescu being around for forty five years so far, I highly doubt I will ever have a problem restocking my shelf with their products.

On The Shelf

Overview:

Spellbound Nail Lacquer

Purchase Price $14 + tax

Retailer www.libertyrepublic.com  

Check out www.libertyrepublic.com  for product info

Product Review:

Since summer is officially here, manicures and pedicures are going to be in high gear. I found this the perfect opportunity to try out a purchase I made from one of last year’s Breakthrough Brands, Liberty Republic.

Vegan and cruelty free there are seven shades of Spellbound Nail Lacquer to choose from housed in a sleek sophisticated squared bottle that gives it a very different look when comparing to other bottles on the shelf. Belladonna just whispered to me, “Take me home…” with its nude pink appearance. Grabbing my wallet I was a little shocked when $14 was the total. But after doing some research I can now see why the retail price is set where it is. Plus the fact this is a private company needs to be taken into consideration when clenching your wallet. Formulas without formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals tend to be on the higher side of the spectrum. Also these lacquers make claims to last up to two weeks which is amazing considering it is not a gel based formula that requires UV setting. My results are within total satisfaction considering I had only one chip on day five of wearing this lacquer without the addition of a top coat. The consistency and quality of this lacquer is comparable to other higher end brands which I have used in home and at the nail salons which have never damaged my nails. Two coats of this applied to the nails and it is exactly a true match when looking at the bottle. Fast drying, no creasing, or smudging, and last but not least… no annoying BUBBLES!

When it comes to looking at what Liberty Republic has to offer with its Nail Lacquer line I am truly Spellbound and will be repurchasing in the future. Now if only a magic wand could be waved and cast a spell on my piggy bank I’d be set.

On The Shelf

Overview:

Urban Decay Electric Palette

Purchase Price $49 + tax (This was a gift)

Retailer Local Sephora

Check out www.urbandecay.com for product info

Product Review:

With all the excitement shifting toward bold bright colors this palette was highly anticipated by all of us rainbow color loving freaks. The packaging gives off an electrified glimmer into what is held beneath the lid of its hard plastic case. Once inside the array of color is most likely not what the average eye shadow palette buyer had in mind. But instead, a choice of ten standard size highly pigmented pans sit eagerly waiting for their turn to be applied in a whimsical or serious fashion creating a very personal statement.

Being a huge fan of Urban Decay products, especially eye shadows, receiving this as a gift was awesome! Sadly it did not have what I would consider to be the best selection of neon charged pigments in this palette. The best example for me would be the almost Gatorade colored Thrash, a pale yellow/lime green that could have been replaced with a true neon yellow and that is simply my opinion. Onto the fun and what electrified me about this palette. Revolt, even though not a neon color, stands out with its silver metallic glitter specks so use it to solo like I have or blend it for a new pop on an old favorite. Savage is the hot neon pink that not only will work for your eyes but chalk some onto your hair for a splash of color on your locks. Slowburn is my favorite in this palette as it is a true color in and out of the pan having a vibrant reddish orange glow it will make you want to try this for sure.

Sugarpill Pro Palette top UD Electric Palette bottom

There have been ample amounts of comparisons made to Sugarpill’s line of colors. Having their Pro Palette I can say for a fact the colors are all matte, the pans are larger, and these are true neon colors when held next to the UD Electric Palette. Remember these are two separate companies with two separate fan bases. So to say one did this and this one is better is somewhat irrelevant.

 

With the world of social media being what it is I have seen so many using the Electric Palette and creating such unique fun and dramatic looks which will definitely mean trying some new looks this summer.

On The Shelf

Overview:

MAC Candy Yum Yum Matte Lipstick

Purchase Price $16 + tax

Retailer Local MAC

Check out www.maccosmetics.com for product info

Product Review:

The perfect name for the perfect color. This lipstick is oh so sweet that after MAC discontinued it the lovelorn fans begged for its return. Finally MAC heard all the makeup junkies united via social media and allowed us to vote it back into production and since then it has been back on our lips. If you are not aware MAC has a penchant for Limited Edition runs, some of these products fall to the way side never to return.

Being a bold neon hot pink with slight blue tones makes this the perfect color for medium, tan, and ebony skin complexions. Do not think this color is merely going to fade or not be as vibrant once applied. Now since I have such a fair colored skin on those “rock” days this makes a big statement that can’t be ignored. Moisture is key when using this matte color as it will definitely pick up those fine lines so use a proper moisturizer first. Surprisingly this is a long wearing product as I have gone all day without losing any color, as a matter of fact it has actually stained my lips until the following day! And as a simple fix to remove a bulk of the color any makeup wipe works great and for the stained bits a quick scrub with GlaMER Lips Scrub and presto all clean.

I’m constantly receiving compliments and being asked where to purchase it, and this is exactly why it will be making my kisses yummy for a long time. For that little extra POW to your kisser add Melt Cosmetics Darling for a blended or ombre effect.

On The Shelf

Overview:

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF15

Purchase Price $22.50 + tax

Retailer Multiple (www.fresh.com , Sephora, Ulta)

Check out www.fresh.com for product info

Product Review:

If you are looking for your next tinted lip balm this IS it. Having always been on a quest for what I considered a beneficial tinted lip balm was next to impossible with the list of brands out there who supposedly have the “best”. Between an obnoxious amount of shimmer that some balms have, or consistency like a gloss I had just about given up my search. Since this was on my 12 Wants of Christmas Mr. Cootie had picked this up as a gift, and I am so glad he did.

This specific lip treatment satisfied all my needs and then some. Anything that has SPF for skin is always a plus in my book but also having nourishing oils that help maintain a lip regimen keeping lips is a key feature. Whenever I don’t want a bold lip and can’t wear gloss on a windy day, because of the dreaded hair smearing into my lip gloss, this is the perfect solution. Just the right amount of color to highlight the rosy color in my cheeks and give me enough shine without looking wet. However after prolonged use I had not seen much improvement in lip moisture until I used other lip products and balms by GlaMer Lips. But this Sugar Rose Lip Treatment has helped in keeping my lips moist after establishing a great foundation. Now like most factors that come into play when I want to purchase or in this case repurchase a products $22.50 + tax is a little steep but for what it is worth the cost to product ratio is fair but other suitable tinted lips balms can be had at approximately half the price.

End result, this is a good product for those who want a subtle color added to a nude dry looking lip who would benefit a moisture barrier from the elements. Or those who already have an established lip scrubbing routine that want to protect with a natural looking tint of color.

On The Shelf

Overview:

Vera Mona Color Switch Duo

Purchase Price $19.99 + S/H

Retailer www.veramona.com  

Check out www.veramona.com for product info

Product Review:

A “million dollar idea”, that sums up this review.

This is a product you wished you invented and one you NEED by your side at all times.  I had seen this on Instagram a few months ago and coveted it instantly. As fate would have it Vera Mona was listed to attend the NYC IMATS so I made sure to pick up mine. When it was my turn to make my purchase at their booth the sales associate was extremely friendly and demonstrated how this magical wonder worked. Out popped a generic silver tin, off came the lid, and held inside an open cell sponge woven into what seem like a million small net-like layers.

With a simple back and forth swiping motion of any used brush it effortlessly will come clean. Of course I would not try cleaning any brushes that had liquid products on them so keep that in mind. As for any powders specifically eye shadows swapping to any color makes that task super easy!  In the center of the black sponge is a second white sponge which is the “duo’ portion. This is meant to be dampened so you can then take a dry eye shadow and make it “wet” by dipping the brush into it before any loose eye shadow or color pigment.

When it comes to switching colors this nifty tool has so far beat any wipe or cleaner with no wait time to dry. As the dirty bristles come into contact with the sponge and are agitated back and forth you can see a little cloud rising to makeup heaven, oh we will miss you colorful particles! To put this to a true test I used a navy blue shadow with shimmer and switched to a white matte shadow. All the claims made came true leaving me speechless. There was no trace of either navy or shimmer in the white matte shadow after application. Truly remarkable! Nothing could be better…well perhaps other colors and a pink tin.

 

 

On The Shelf

Overview:

Glycolic Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion

Purchase Price $26 + tax (16 oz.)

Retailer Local Ulta Store or www.mariobadescu.com  

Check out www.mariobadescu.com for product info

Product Review:

The name may be a little bit of a misnomer by being labeled a “cleansing lotion”, as it is more of a toner in the sense it is a secondary step after your initial face washing. And as far as it being a lotion in the sense you rub it on it is a liquid so it does hydrate and then evaporate off the skin so there is no layer of residue as with some traditional lotions. Having used other Mario Badescu products with great results finding a toner was next on my list. Having choices is great but with so many different products to try how do you know which one is best suited for you? Feeling overwhelmed I used this long running company’s site and found it very useful and easy to find the correct products. With a simple click and answer question system it narrowed down specific details of my skin characteristics making my choice for me. This system took a lot of the guess work as well as the trial and error out of the equation creating a result that has suited me well.

With Alpha Hydroxy Acids (Glycolic, citric acid, etc.) and soothing extracts from seaweed and aloe this toner was a great find. The A-Hydroxy acids help break down old cells and clean pores making it possible to promote new skin cell development. Skin cells will regenerate regardless but by exfoliating the dead cells off it allows for a smoother and healthy appearance to the skin. Application is made easy by way of a simple flip up nozzle which has made spilling it after knocking it over on the counter mess free. By squeezing this liquid onto a cotton ball makes it great for control of how much product you are dispensing. Since this is alcohol free and odorless you do not get that over powering medical prep smell, so hooray! The only irritation I saw was after using a once a week peel with glycolic acid in it as well. If you use a peel with similar ingredient list you may want to skip using this on that day.

The price is comparable to many other toner/astringent/cleansing lotions on the market. This product would work well for those with oily, combination, and sensitive skin however this one has not wowed me as I was hoping for. I will definitely not stray from the Mario Badescu brand and for now this will be on my shelf until I try another one out of twelve possible products.