Review | Tarte Poppy Picnic Palette

          This limited edition Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette from Tarte is the perfect new addition to my makeup collection! For months, I've been searching for a matte eye shadow palette but none that I've looked at seem to have colors that I like or would use... until I saw this palette, I knew that I had to have it! Bonus: it comes with an Amazonian blush (aka my favorite blushes ever) so that was such a plus for me because this compact is perfect for traveling!  What made me fall even more in love with this product, besides the adorable packaging, was how affordable it is!  I picked mine up for $38 from Sephora.  Some of the others palettes I've looked at have been much more expensive and come with a lot less product so you can say I was very happy when I found this one :) So now that I got that ramble out of the way it's time to actually see the palette itself and what I truly think about it!

Swatches [from left to right]: Glisten (shimmer golden peachy pink blush), Picnic Basket (brown), Peach Poppy (peach), Barefoot In The Grass (nude), Ice Cream Cone (chocolate), Sweet Tea (tan), and Summer Breeze (cream)

  

Before I get started on the review, can we just discuss how cute the names of these shadows are?! Ok,  now back to what you came here for, just like all the other Tarte products I have tried, the eye shadows & blush are SUPER pigmented.  You just need to go into a Sephora or Ulta and test this product out for yourself because my swatches don't do this palette any justice!  The eyeshadows are very creamy, apply beautifully, super blendable and are very easy to work with.  The blush, Glisten, really stays true to it's name; it gives off the most beautiful glow to your cheeks and would look espeically great with a summer tan!  Just like a lot of Tarte's products, these eyeshadows & blush are very long lasting which is perfect for the hot summer months when all you do is sweat (gross, I'm sorry!)  Another thing that I like about this palette is that you can do an extremely natural to very dramatic look just by changing out a few colors.  My favorite shadows in this palette are Sweet Tea- great for crease, Picnic Basket- a beautiful warm tone brown, great for a smokey eye and Barefoot In The Grass- a beautiful nude that is a great base to start of any look with.  I seriously could not recommend this palette more and can't wait to use it for the upcoming summer months!

If any of you guys have this palette, let me know what you think about it!  Any other palettes you think I should try? Leave suggestions down below! :)

♡ Alia

Review | Dessange California Blonde Illuminating Shampoo, Conditioner & Correcting Creme #JadoreDessange

       As a member of Influenster Nation a.k.a influenster.com, I receive complementary products (voxboxes) in the mail from time to to time to test out and review.  The voxbox I am reviewing in this post is called #JadoreDessange, featuring Dessange hair care products which have now launched in the US, having originated in France! I was super excited to receive this box because 1) who doesn't like free things 2) I love French anything, and 3) I recently just re-colored (or should I say bleached) my hair and I was in desperate need of a new shampoo & conditioner to help nourish it.  Anyway, I think it's about time I get to the review, so here are the products & what I think about them! 

I would like to think I am kind of an expert in the blonde hair care department; I have been a (fake) blonde for many years now, and have gotten the hang of how I should treat and take care of it.  With that being said, I have tried out numerous products that claim to do it all for blonde hair.  While some have succeeded greatly, others have failed miserably.  By the way, I do have SUPER thick, wavy (getting curlier) hair so keep that in mind because that does factor into my review and how the products work for me and how they will work for you!  

          This line of hair care, California Blonde, from Dessange is designed for color-treated blonde hair, and includes 4 products (I am only reviewing the 3 listed above).  First, I really enjoy the smell, the second you take off the cap you get a floral scent, but at the same time it smells fresh.  The shampoo & conditioner share the same scent.  It is not overwhelming at all, which I like, if it is going to be on my hair all day I prefer to enjoy the scent.  Now getting down to the real 4-1-1, the shampoo itself has a great formula, not to thick but lathers really nicely.  On the other hand, the conditioner is a bit thicker, yet still very manageable and lathers easily too.  It always leaves my hair feeling silky and soft… yes please!  After rinsing, my hair feels extremely clean but does not feel striped of its natural oils and moisture, something that I prefer.  I loved the idea of the last product, the correcting creme and was most excited to try it out.  The job that it claims to do, illuminating your hair to give your a color a boost and maintain it, actually does work!!! Woohoo! I have used this a couple of times now and my color is definitely not dull; the color is maintaining and does not look brassy at all.  Truthfully, for products that you can buy at Target ("drugstore level"), I would say Dessange is worth a try; not only for the price, but the quality as well.  The shampoo & conditioner retails for $9.99 and the correcting creme "CC' is $11.99…a bargain for salon quality products!

          If you try any of the Dessange products out, let me know what you think below!

                     I received these products complimentary from Influenster for test purposes.  

Review | the Balm MARY-LOU MANIZER aka "The Luminizer" REVIEW

Can we please just talk about how cute this packaging is?! 

        my thoughts:

           The second I took this product out of the package, I knew I was going to be in love with it.  First of all, the color of this product is beautiful, the sparkle is amazing.  I quickly swatched it and could not believe the pigmentation; one little touch and I had this beautiful, opaque champagne powder on my finger.  This highlighter gives the most amazing glow to your face; I usually just brush it on my upper cheek bones and a smidge going down my nose.  A little secret, only highlight places you want people to notice, not places that you DON'T want to draw attention to!  When the sun hits this product your face just instantly lights up, and gives the most amazing finish to your makeup.  I have a very tiny face so I tend not to highlight a lot of places because I feel that it could easily overpower me and all the other makeup I have on… for people with normal sized faces, some other places that are great to highlight are your eyebrow bone & cupids bow.  Just be careful of how much product you use, you can always add more.  I would start with just a little at a time; I recommend maybe one or two brush strokes… you don't want to start to look like a disco ball! 

extra info:

         The Balm considers this product to be a highlighter / shadow / shimmer, so therefore it has multiple uses! The Mary-Lou Manizer retails for $24 on the Balm's website; I do know that other stores sell the Balm products as well.  Hautelook, where I scored mine for $12, often carries the Balm cosmetics, so if you are interested keep your eyes out!


♡Alia