Product News: Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty

Brand: Calvin Klein
Name: Sheer Beauty
Price:
- Eau de Toilette Spray, 50 ml, $78.00 CAD
- Eau de Toilette Spray, 100 ml, $102CAD

Where to buy: The Bay, Sears, Shoppers Drug Marg, Pharmaprix, London Drugs, Jean Coutu, Sephora and Murale stores across Canada, www.calvinkleinfragrances.com

What it says in the release:
Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty is sparkling and carefree with a pure, sexy confidence.

Top notes: peach bellini accord, red berry extract, bergamot
Middle notes: pink lily accord, jasmine, peony
Finishing notes: musks, sandalwood, vanilla blossom

image:press release

Product Review: Jouer Mini Glisten Up Lip Gloss

Reviewer: Cinnamon Kitten

Brand: Jouer
Name: Jouer Mini Glisten Up Lip Gloss
Size: 0.06 fl oz / 20 ml
Price: $25 USD for gift set

Shade tried: Glisten

Where to buy: Henri Bendel (in New York City) and www.jouercosmetics.com


What it says in the press release:
This 4-piece collection offers brilliant sparkling shine and is loaded with Vitamins A, C and E, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Pomegranate Seed Oil. The glosses also come with a Jouer bronzed card holder for a limited time only.
- Nude Glisten: sheer sparkling nude
- Coral Glisten: sheer sparkling coral
- Rose Glisten: sheer sparkling rose
- Glisten: sheer sparkling pink

Note: I got to try out the gloss Glisten from the gift set, so my review is based solely on my experience with this shade

To Purr About:
- slanted sponge applicator is really easy to use and apply the gloss
- gloss leaves a nice "glisten" on the lips
- not sticky
- no detectable fragrance
- tiny packaging makes it nice and easy to tuck into the smallest purse

Claws Out:
- wish they sold these minis year-round (you can buy full-size versions for $20 USD on their website)
- Glisten is supposed to be a "sheer sparkling pink" but didn't leave me any colour that I could see

Final Comments:
This is a great little lip gloss - it's sheer, fragrance-free, flavour-free, non-sticky and leaves a nice glisten on lips. It's pretty moisturizing, although it doesn't have much lasting power (but then again, most lip glosses don't).

If you're looking for a super-shine, this isn't the gloss you want. Instead, this leaves a really nice glisten (goes with the name, I guess!) on your lips that's quite nice.

I love the tiny size - I can pop this little gloss into my pocket or the smallest of purses with room to spare. I just wish they sold this size year-round instead of having to buy it in the four-pack holiday gift set!

The only thing I can't really comment too much on is the colour. I tried the one that's supposed to be "sheer sparkling pink" but until I read the release again, I assumed this was just a sheer gloss. There's no "pink" that I can see. I know that my lips are generally darker than others, so perhaps the pink got lost, but even when I swiped the gloss onto a white sheet of paper, I didn't see much pink on it. I guess to get some actual colour, you would have to go for one of the darker shades.

Rating (out of 5):





Disclosure: A free sample of this product was received by Cinnamon Kitten
image: cinnamonkitten.blogspot.com

Product Review: Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical

Reviewer: Suziesaurus

Brand: Batiste
Name: Dry Shampoo Tropical
Size: 50 mL / 30 g / 1.6 fl oz
Price: approx. $4.99 CAD

What it says on their website:
"Caribbean heat, coconut aromas and party vibes are locked into this Tropical edition. It’s the instant, deliciously exotic way to get clean, fresh hair full of body and texture. And there’s no need for water!"

To Purr About:
- quick and easy to apply and works fast
- reduces greasy/oily look and feel of unwashed hair
- leaves hair feeling soft
- makes hair feel cleaner
- eliminates itchy scalp from unwashed hair
- doesn’t leave any residue or white stuff in my hair
- “on the go size” is convenient for travelling on taking with you on the go
- product is available in 2 other sizes: normal and extra value size
- comes in 3 scents: original, blush, tropical

Claws Out:
- tropical coconut scent is a bit strong
- since it’s a spray, it is harder to control where product is going

Final Comments:
I’m really into products that make my life easier nowadays and I’ve been really interested in dry shampoos. So far, this is the second dry shampoo I’ve tried. Like the first dry shampoo I tried, Batiste’s Dry Shampoo is the aerosol type (not the powder type).

I’ve used this product a few times now and I’m pretty impressed with the results. I follow the easy instructions and spray it in to my hair, wait a bit and then brush my hair. Instantly my hair is less greasy, less itchy and looks much softer which is great. It doesn’t leave any residue in my hair that I’ve noticed.

One of the huge pros of this product is that it comes in a convenient travel size, in addition to a normal size and a extra value size.

The only major drawback I’ve found to Batiste’s Tropical dry shampoo is that I’m not a huge fan of the sweet scent. The scent lingers for the whole day, and while that may be a good thing for people that enjoy the scent, it is a drawback if you don’t. Also if you are a usual wearer of perfume or other scented products it might cause a weird mix of scents. I wish it had a more neutralizing scent – maybe I should try the “original”.

All in all I’m pretty happy with this product. I can’t wait to use it to freshen up after workouts, etc.

Rating (out of 5):

Disclosure: A free sample of this product was received by Cinnamon Kitten
image: cinnamonkitten.blogspot.com

Beauty Bits - Valentine's Day edition

For all your romantics out there, Valentine's Day is TOMORROW! If you're looking for some last minute gift ideas for your significant other or some single gal-pals, here are a few suggestions...

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This lovely colour would make anyone "blush". Besame's Crimson Cream Rouge ($22 USD) leaves a rosy, natural glow and the weightless formula blends beautifully with any skin tone. Packaged in a vintage styled recyclable tin.

More details on www.UniqueVintage.com.

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A trio of Booty Parlor’s favorites, Booty Parlor's Flirty Little Favourites ($36 USD) formulated with their proprietary pheromone blend. The kit includes Pink Caviar Scrub with Pheromones, Luminizing Body Butter with Pheromones and Perfume Oil with Pheromones.

More details on vailable at www.bootyparlor.com.

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Rae Cosmetics has created two lip kits that will ensure every gal is primed and ready for romance.

The Pink Pout Set contains:
- Long Lasting Lipliner in Berry
- Lip Lust Lipstick in Flirt
- Lucky Lips Lipgloss in Sweetie

The Sinful Kisses Set includes:
- Long Lasting Lipliner in Scarlet
- Lip Lust Lipstick in Bombshell
- Lucky Lips Lipgloss in Naughty

Each kit comes with a red wristlet and is $46 USD each. For more details, please visit www.raecosmetics.com.

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NARS Wicked Attraction set ($52 CAD) is available exclusively at Sephora and is a limited-edition set that features shimmers in a range of NARS shades for eyes, lips and cheeks.

The set includes:
- Single Eyeshadow in Fathom (pink tulle with silver shimmer), 0.07 oz
- Blush/Bronzer Duo in Orgasm (peachy pink with golden shimmer) / Laguna (sheer light brown shimmer), 0.08 oz each
- Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, 0.05 oz
- Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Spring Break (pale golden beige sheen), 0.11 oz

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The Brown Sugar Affair Set from Fresh gives you a chance to create a spa experience at home.

This lovely gift set includes:
- Brown Sugar Body Polish, 7 oz
- Brown Sugar Body Cream, 3.4 oz
- Sugar Passion Lip Treatment SPF 15, 0.15 oz

This limited edition set is exclusive to Sephora and is $50 USD.

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This pretty bottle is Vera Wang's latest scent - Princess Night.

Top notes: wild berries, watermelon and raspberry
Mid notes: Jasmine petals, Orange flower, Passion Rose, Plumeria
Finishing notes: crushed sugar, creamy woods, sensual musk, vanilla

Prices:
- Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.7 oz, $72 CAD
- Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 oz, $75 CAD

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Product Review: George’s Special Dry Skin Cream

Reviewer: Suziesaurus

Brand: George's Cream
Name: Special Dry Skin Cream
Size: 30 g
Price: approx. $4.99 CAD

What it says on their website:
"George's Cream and Moisturizing Lotion were created for lasting dry skin relief. Although there is no cure for many skin problems, George's provides relief from different types of skin symptoms and conditions. It works! That is why it is recommended by dermatologists, pharmacists and physicians. The therapeutic benefits of George's will provide immense relief for those suffering from many different conditions.

George’s Special Dry Skin Cream was created to provide lasting dry skin relief. The therapeutic benefits of George’s Special Dry Skin Cream will provide immense relief for those suffering from any of the following conditions: eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, windburn, cradle cap, winter itch, flaky skin, tough elbow skin,  radiation therapy, sport chafing (runners, cyclists), swimmer’s itch, dry hands and cracked cuticles, foot problems including those associated with diabetes”

To Purr About:
- leaves even the most dry skin feeling soft and supple
- absorbs quickly in to skin
- almost no scent
- nice thick consistency
- easy to smooth in to skin
- convenient travel friendly size
- comes in a “lighter’ version
- available in 3 sizes: 30g, 90g, 450g

Claws Out:
- tiny bit greasy
- doesn’t keep skin moisturized the whole day

Final Comments:
I was quite intrigued when I first picked up George’s Special Dry Skin Cream. The plain white packaging is quite different from other products on the market. When I found out George’s was a Canadian company from Alberta I was super excited. It’s great to try home grown products and who would understand dry Canadian skin better than Canadians?

When I first squeezed some of this product out my first impression was how thick it felt, but was pleasantly surprised when I started applying it to my dry hands. Although it is a bit thick and greasy it doesn’t feel super heavy and is easy to rub into the skin. It absorbed quickly into my skin. It has a very faint plastic smell, but it's super faint and I barely even notice it.

After using this cream for a while I am definitely loving this product. Not only is it almost completely scentless, but it leaves my skin feeling super soft and moisturized. I used it mainly on my body as it is still a bit too heavy and greasy for my face. The only con I found was that I have to re-apply moisturized a few times a day as it doesn’t keep my skin moisturized for the whole day.

Lastly, I love that this product comes in 3 different sized packages. The 30g tube is perfect for travelling and taking with you in your bag/purse.

Rating (out of 5):

Disclosure: A free sample of this product was received by Cinnamon Kitten

image: cinnamonkitten.blogspot.com

Product Review and Giveaway: Julep Maven

As many of you know, there are a lot of "box" programs on the market and more seem to be popping up all the time. I can't say that I hate the idea - for a low price price you get to receive a bunch of beauty surprises every month - it's like a special treat for yourself every few weeks.

But what if you're not really a mascara or moisturizer girl (I know, hard to believe) - what if you're a die-hard nail polish girl? And I know you're out there!

Well, you have GOT to check out the Julep Maven program.

Julep is a boutique nail salon with their own line of amazing polishes and hand, nail and foot care products. Their polishes are free of DBP, toluene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin and come in some pretty eye-catching colours.

Their Julep Maven program is similar to the other "monthly box" programs on the market, but with a twist - their pretty box is filled with Julep products! 

For $19.99 USD a month you'll receive a box specially curated for you. But there's some pretty cool options with this program:
- you can choose to "skip" a month (handy when you go on vacation)
- you can choose to send your box to a friend
- you'll get a sneak peek of your curated box - if you don't like what you see, you can opt for a "shelf pull" of other products.

I received a Julep Maven box to try and loved it. The products come wrapped in a pretty package and this is what I found inside:

- Julep Nail Polish in Nicole,
- Julep Nail Polis in Whitney
- gold star glitter (for nails)
- Julep Age Defying Hand Brightener, 2 ml / 0.07 fl oz
- Julep Glycolic Hand Scrub, 2 ml / 0.07 fl oz
- Julep Facial for Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub, 89 ml / 3 fl oz

I LOVE this box. The nail polishes were brilliant and the colours are vibrant - just what you would expect from a high-quality polish. Even though I didn't get to preview my products, the colours were right up my alley - a shiny, deep red for sexy nights out and a more muted beige.

The products I received were definitely a good value - the Facial for Hands is $32 and each nail polish is $14, so $19.99 is a great deal.

If you're a nail polish junkie, then this program is definitely worth it. It's a little pricier than the other box programs, but I love the extra features of this program (being able to gift away your box or "switching out" products).

THE GIVEAWAY


I know you'll be excited for this! Julep has generously given me one Julep Maven box to give away to one luck winner!

To enter: 
- 1 entry: Check out the Julep website and leave a comment, letting me know what your favourite Julep colour is.
- 1 entry: "Like" the Julep Facebook page
- 1 entry: "Follow" the Julep on Twitter

Notes:
- The contest is open to Canada and USA only.
- Contest ends Friday, February 17, 2012
- Winner will be contacted via e-mail and announced on this blog shortly after.

Product Review: Montagne Jeunesse Green Tea Peel-Off Masque

Reviewer: Suziesaurus

Brand: Montagne Jeunesse
Name: Green Tea Peel-Off Masque
Size: 10ml / 0.3 fl oz
Price: approx. $1.99 CAD

What it says on their website:
"Detox with our Green Tea Peel Off face masque for a deep cleansed, toned complexion. Experience the wellbeing of natural minerals, young Green Tea, root Ginger and reviving properties of squeezed Lemon to uplift and refresh skin.

Deep cleanse your pores, remove impurities and peel to reveal healthier, younger looking skin.

- Suitable For Vegans
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Nut Derivative Free
- No Added Parabens"

To Purr About:
- conveniently packaged for one-time use
- didn’t irritate my super sensitive skin
- left my skin feeling very refreshed and moisturized
- you get plenty of product in 1 package
- peels off very easily and cleanly – no mess
- very affordable

Claws Out:
- scent is a bit strong and doesn’t smell like green tea

Final Comments:
It’s been a while since I’ve used a peel-off mask, so I was pretty excited to try Montagne Jennesse’s Green Tea Peel-Off Masque.

When I first opened the package I was a bit taken aback by the strong scent. It was bit stronger than I was expecting, as green tea is very subtle in scent and didn’t really remind me of green tea. I think I would have preferred if the scent was a bit more subdued. The product itself was easy to apply and you get more than enough to cover your face and neck. The texture is a bit slimy and is clear. Next, I followed the instructions and tried to relax for the next little while.

The product dries very nicely and feels very tight on the skin which is nice. I was a bit skeptical about how easy the package made the peel-off process look, but it was to my surprise a snap! Almost all the product peeled-off my face and neck in one try. I was so impressed.

My skin was left feeling very soft and refreshed afterwards.

I think this is a great product for pampering yourself at home or for a little pick me up. I would definitely use this product again.

Rating (out of 5):

Disclosure: A free sample of this product was received by Cinnamon Kitten
image: cinnamonkitten.blogspot.com