Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder

I was on the hunt for a great powder compact to have available in my travel makeup bag, just to have on hand for slight touchups throughout the day.  I made many visits to various makeup counters and purchased (and returned) many different powder until I found myself falling in love with none other than my Mom's Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder.

The color was a bit too dark for my Mom's skin tone, so she asked me to try it out before returning it to see if I would like it.  And boy was I happy that she had passed it on to me before getting the chance to return the compact.

The Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder is a natural matte powder (with an SPF of 10).  The texture of the powder is very silky, and applies smoothly onto the skin.  The formulation of the powder is a wet/dry formulation, so you can use a huge fluffy brush and lightly apply it onto your face, or use a wet sponge for that extra coverage.

I absolutely am in love with the finishing and lasting power of the powder.  For days where I just don't want to go through the whole liquid foundation routine, I will just apply some concealer and then powder this all over my face for the more natural look.  Even with the light weight feeling, the powder offers enough coverage to even out any redness.

I also love just using this as a finishing powder over liquid foundation is I feel like I need to reduce any shine.  And witht he application of the Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder on top of a liquid foundation, I still find the look very natural and light weight),  I love that I can layer the powder without it being too cakey or chalky looking.

This has not left my makeup bag since it was passed onto me and have really been my go to powder everyday.

xoxo,

Eve

DDF 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Wash

One of my favorite beauty experts in the cyber world has to be Raeview, she has an amazing YouTube channel and blog where she goes into in depth reviews on the products she has tried.  Because I have been trying to really clear up my skin, I decided to try out a few of the products she recommended for acne prone skin.  One of the products she had mentioned that she loved, and I really wanted to try, is the DDF 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Wash.

I have facial cleansers that I love, but they are more of a makeup remover and regular cleanser type of washes.  The DDF 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Wash is definitely more of a treatment cleanser; when paired with my Clarisonic, it really gets deep down into the pores and clears away all of the dead skin cells.  Even though it is a glycolic wash, it is a gentle foaming wash and isn't too abrasive.

After two weeks of continuous use, I really saw a difference in the texture of my skin and the appearance of my pores.  I usually have enlarged pores around the nose area, but by using the cleanser at least once a day I noticed a reduction in my pores.  Using the wash with my Clarisonic really gets a deep, exfoliating wash and gives my skin a refreshed feeling.  Because this is a treatment cleanser, I would highly recommend that you remove your makeup before giving your skin that treatment wash.

The only thing I noticed when using the DDF 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Wash was that I did notice a little dryness around my mouth and nose area.  But after generously applying a hydrating night cream, the dryness quickly went away.

I have to thank Raeview for her amazing recommendation.  I definitely think the DDF 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Wash is definitely going to be a keeper in my night time skin care routine, and hopefully it'll continue to keep my skin healthy and beautiful.

xoxo,

Eve

Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc

I had recently picked up a Laura Mercier kit from Sephora as one of their 500 point perk, and I was mainly looking forward to trying this Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc.  I am a huge fan of convenient quads that are perfect for traveling, and this Shimmer Bloc is perfect for both the eyes and the cheeks.

The Laura Mercier Shimmer Blocs are a baked formula that works both on the eyes and cheeks, mainly as a color illuminator.  The finishing of the product gives the eyes and face a nice, light glow, giving the face a natural pearly look (rather than a shimmery or overly frosty finish).

The Shimmer Bloc included in the set was Golden Mosaic, which is just a beautiful golden copper set.  There are four individual colors: pearly champagne, rose gold, copper, and golden brown.  As individual shades, they work very well as single eye shadows, allowing you to create a beautiful, golden bronzed look.  Altogether, the colors blend into a golden copper with a beautiful pearl finish.

I am a huge fan of the finish and the texture of the Laura Mercier Shimmer Blocs.  I have read other reviews describing the texture of the shimmer blocs as being chalky, but I did not have this experience with any of the shimmer blocs that I have swatched at the Laura Mercier counters.  The texture is smooth and I find that it blends beautifully on the skin.  The shimmer blocs are extremely pigmented (as you can see from the swatch), so a little product goes a long way.  By using a large, fluffy brush, you can pick up all four colors and apply the product ont he higher points of your cheek for that "illuminating" look.

I mainly wanted to try out the Laura Mercier Shimmer Blocs because I wanted to compare it to the infamous Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks.  I have always been a fan of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks.  Just like the Laura Mercier Shimmer Blocs, the colors in the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks can be used as individual eye shadows, or as an all over color.  I have to say though, that I might prefer  the finish of the Laura Mercier Shimmer Blocs a little more than the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks.  Laura Mercier Shimmer Blocs have that natural, pearly look that I love more, whereas the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are a little more shimmery/frosty.

Overall, I am so glad I was able to try out the Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc and would really recommend this to anyone out there looking for a color illuminator that is less frosty.

xoxo,

Eve

BCBGMAXAZRIA Misha Flats

Black Friday was definitely a crazy one this year. I was out with a few of my cousins, taking them to the mall at around midnight to see if they can find anything at the few stores that were open at that hour.  After coming home at around 2am, I woke up and was back at the mall with one of my friends at 8am to go to the rest of the stores that decided to open "later."  There was only one place I wanted to go to, BCBGMAXAZRIA, because of the great promo they were having (on top of visiting a few of my friends who work there.

I was able to pick up a few gifts for friends and family members for a great price.  Seeing how everything in that store is insanely price, taking advantage of their doorbuster deals definitely helped me save.

Along with the gifts that I picked up, I decided to pick up a pair of flats for myself.  I have seen these BCBGMAXAZRIA Misha Flats around, but for their $200 price tag, I just could not justify the purchase.  However, when I saw them on sale for $40 (along with a little employee discount that was given to me), I decided it would be a nice pair to have around for the Holidays.

These BCBGMAXAZRIA Misha Flats are a beautiful studded flat, designed with sparkly studs throughout the flats.  I especially love the short golden wedge detailing, giving it a little something more to the design.  The shoes look and feel extremely well made, so I don't think I'll have to worry about any of the studs falling off.

I thought these would look great with just a pair of skinny jeans and a basic top for that effortless glam look on those days/nights I really want to dress up my shoes.  Or, pair these with a glamorous dress to really finish off that perfect Holiday outfit.

xoxo,

Eve

Aldo Hanh Booties

I am a shoe lover, and I admit that it might be a problem.  But anyone that knows me knows that I love shoes! So when I received these babies for my birthday a few weeks ago I just fell in love!

These are the Aldo Hanh Booties, designed with a comfortable wedge that gives you that added height (which I can always use more of) without taking away any comfort.  I am absolutely in love with the sleek leather look of these booties, making them very appropriate and chic for the season.

Pair these babies with a simple outfit to bring that effortless edge to any look and you'll be ready for any special event, day or night.  I love wearing these with simple black jeggings or skinny jeans with a basic top and a nice jacket for that casual chic look.  You can also go glam and pair these with any dress and black opaque tights.

I could not believe how incredibly comfortable these shoes were, especially with how high they were 5.25").  But they are incredibly lightweight, making them easy to walk in, and I can spend an entire day in them without having to massage my feet at the end of the day.

These has to be my most worn shoes for the month of November, even though I've only received them about two weeks ago (aside from my gym shoes of course).  I take any opportunity I have to wear these, and have received multiple compliments about them.  Definitely look more expensive and absolutely love it!

xoxo,

Eve

Nails Inc. Autumn Winter Collection

Instead of doing a single polish review today, I thought I'd just review a whole set that I had picked up a little while ago at Sephora.  Because my first experience with the Nails Inc. polish went so well, I decided to pick up their Autumn Winter Collection, which consists of six mini nail polishes from their recent collection.

I thought all of the colors were just beautiful for the season, and loved that they came in mini polish bottles since I rarely ever finish a full sized bottle.  It's a great way to try a bunch of nail polishes without paying an obscene amount of money for them.

                                     Chelsea Bridge                                Bruton Mews

                                     Sloan Gardens                                Jermyn Street

                                    Chester Street                               Richmond Terrace

The set consists of polishes with glittery, pearly, and high glossy finishes, which is a great mixture.  I absolutely am in love with their high gloss finishes; they are the perfect opacity and apply extremely smoothly.  

As for their glitter polish, Sloane Gardens, it is meant to be a top coat polish because it has a clear base.  So apply it over any silver or regular navy blue polish and it'll definitely bring some Holiday spirit to your look.  

I was not a huge fan of their pearly polish, Chester Street, because of it's uneven application and color. I thought they could have made the consistency of the formula a bit better, but the color is quite beautiful.

My absolute favorites from the set has to be Chelsea Bridge, Richmond Terrace, and Jermyn Street.  So if you were to purchase these polishes individually I would recommend those three.  Overall, I am quite impressed with the entire set and think that Nails Inc. did a good job of representing the Autumn and Winter seasons with their color choices.

xoxo,

Eve

Laura Mercier Flawless Best Sellers Kit

I love that Sephora has a rewards system, allowing their customers to save up points to redeem perks such as this 500 point perk that I recently picked up during my VIB Haul a little while ago.  They always have new and interesting sample sized items int heir 100 and 500 point perk picks, and I love that they give us a chance to try new products for free.  However, I don't always pick up their perks just because I have the points.  I usually wait until they offer a product I really want to try, so because of that my point usually add up (allowing me to pick up the bigger perks).

This is the second time Sephora has offered a 500 point perk from Laura Mercier, which is great because I love the brand.  The kit includes the following items:

- Foundation Primer
- Tinted Moisturizer
- Shimmer Bloc - Golden Mosaic
- Eye Basic Primer

I have tried three out of the the four items in the kit, and I love the all, but I mainly picked up the perk for the Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic.  The colors were just so beautiful that I couldn't help myself. I also wanted to be able to compare the Bobby Brown Shimmer Bricks to the Laura Mercier Shimmer Blocs, and this would give me a great opportunity to without dishing out the money for it.

I was able to pick up this 500 point perk through my online Sephora purchase.  A lot of Sephora locations offer different types of perks to their customers, but the am usually attracted to the perks offered online.  I believe that this is still available if you have an adequate amount of points, so definitely consider this as a great pick!

I have already reviewed two out the the four products, the foundation primer and the eye basic primer, which can be found at the following links:

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
Laura Mercier Eye Basic Primer

Keep an eye out for reviews of the other products, I will definitely get them up as soon as I get the chance to play around with them some more.

xoxo,

Eve

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

I absolutely love getting these mini perfume samples, especially when they make the packaging a smaller version of the full sized bottles (absolutely adorable!).  Makes it more fun to test out the samples when they come packages this way, rather than the usual little tubes.

I had picked out this Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb mini perfume sample as one of my 100 point perks from Sephora a few weeks ago, and I am so glad I am able to try it out.  I have heard a lot of great reviews on this particular scent and because I have a few other full sized perfumes to finsih up, I wanted to be able to give this a try before I am able to make another fragrance purchase.

The notes in the Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb fragrance are the following:
- Sambac Jasmine
- Centifolia Rose
- Cattleya Orchid
- Ballerina Freesia
- Patchouli

As you can see from the notes in the fragrance, the name Flowerbomb is quite appropriate for the fragrance.  At first I was worried about the scent being too powerful and too floral, however, the balance of the notes are perfect and I absolutely love how light the scent is (making it very wearable for the daytime).

I think I love this scent so much because it is a little similar to my all time favorite, Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle.  So because of that I am not such in a rush to pick this particular scent up, that is until I run out of my Coco Mademoiselle.

xoxo,

Eve

Francesca's Collection Gifts

By now, everyone in the blog world must know one of my newest favorite shops is Francesca's Collections.  It's rare for me to walk in and be disappointed with their selection of clothes and accessories (and fun gadgets).  And because of that, one of my dearest friends gifted me with a two pieces from their shop.

I was excited to see another statement necklace when I first opened the gift.  I had recently purchased two other statement necklaces from Francesca's Collection, and she was with me at the time, so I guess she noticed how excited and into the trend I was.  I absolutely love that she picked up another neutral statement necklace.  This one specifically goes with just about any outfit I can put together because it's not too in your face.  I actually put it on right away, after opening the gift, because it was perfect with the red dress I was wearing.

The second gift was definitely a shocker! I guess I kept mentioning about these adorable Holiday skirts that were in the store, and she picked up on it and decided to calm my excitement by picking me up this beautiful tulip skirt.  I am in love with the color and pattern of the piece.  It's feminine, beautiful, and just screams Christmas.  While out for one of my birthday dinners, I paired this skirt with a nice long sleeved basic top, with opaque leggings and cute pumps to make the skirt the statement piece of the outfit, and it worked out perfectly!

Thank you so much for being such an amazing friend, Alyssa! Love you!

xoxo,

Eve

Nails Inc. Hampstead Gardens

My closest friends would probably describe me as a nail polish addict if they knew me well enough.  Because I live close to a nail supply store, I am lucky enough to try out new collections from various brands at a discounted price (making it hard to justify paying full price for any polish).  However, because I have never tried Nails Inc. before, and have heard such great reviews on the brand, I decided to pick up my first Nails Inc. polish when Sephora was offering a few shades at a discounted price.

The color I chose to pick up was Nails Inc. Hampstead Gardens, which is a dark mustard yellow.  I was drawn to this color because it just seemed Fall appropriate.  I have been in love with mustard yellow for this season (I even picked up a pair of pants in a mustard yellow), and I thought it would be a fun color to have in my collection.  It was about 60% off of the original price, and what made it even better was that it was a color that I did not have in my collection already.

After first applying the polish I can say that I quickly fell in love with the formula.  Because this is my first Nails Inc. experience, I am not sure if this is true for their entire line, but the formula of Hampstead Gardens is extremely creamy.  It can apply opaque in one coat, and the shade is true to color when applied onto the nails.

I've had the polish on for about a little over a week now, with OPI top coat on, and it's lasted fairly well, with no chipping.  Hampstead is definitely a color where you will either really like or don't like.  I was actually surprised I have received numerous compliments on the polish since I've worn it and I think it's definitely one to pick up.

xoxo,

Eve

Sephora VIB Haul Pt. 2

I have been so occupied the past week that I haven't had the chance to post about my second Sephora VIB Haul.  I had made a second online purchase during their VIB promotion since I was unable to find everything I wanted in store.  It was a great opportunity for me to pick up a few gifts and goodies for myself, seeing how the higher end brands rarely go on sale.

So with that, I picked up the following:
- Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial
- Sephora Professional Natural Powder Brush
- Nails Inc. Autumn Winter Collection
- Nails Inc. The After Party Set
- Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish
- Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip Set
- Tarte The Stand Outs Set
- Tarte Eye Essentials Amazonian Clay Kit
- Clinique Whole Lotta Colour Set
- YSL Pure Chromatics Quad #8
- YSL Pure Chromatics Quad #11
- Laura Mercier Flawless Best Sellers (BI 500 Point Perk)

Definitely one of the bigger hauls that I've ever made from Sephora, but saved a crazy amount of money with everything I wanted to pick up.  I am most excited to try the YSL Pure Chromatics eyeshadow quads because I have heard such great reviews on them, and it's my first YSL shadow experience.

These Sephora promotions happen about twice a year.It was strange that they didn't have the promotion for all of their customers this time around, but I aam sure they will have something in store once the new year arrives.

Keep an eye out for reviews and swatches of these products in the near future (once I get some time to play around with everything).

xoxo,

Eve

Michael Kors Large Hamilton Tote

I have been eyeing the Michael Kors Large Hamilton Tote for a while now.  The great construction and structure of the bag is very classic and just beautiful to look at.  Also, because of it's structure, it some what reminds me of the ever desired Hermes Birkin bag.

So when I walked by the store and saw this beautiful, sky blue Michael Kors Large Hamilton Tote, on the window display I just had to walk in a take a look at it.  I fell in love with the color and just thought that it would be perfect all season round.

What was even better was when I found out that they specific color and bag was on sale for a hundred dollars less than the retail price.  There was something inside me that just told me I had to take advantage of the sale before the item sells out, but I walked away to avoid making any impulse buys.  I had to make sure I really wanted it and just had to take some time.

Well the weekend after seeing it I had planned on going into the shop to pick it up because I couldn't get it out of my mind.  But my sneaky Aunt had met me at the store and already picked it up for me as a gift.

I am absolutely in love with the quality of the leather and the silver hardware accents.  The top handles are the perfect size, and the removeable chain strap is the perfect length to let the bag hang on your shoulder without being too uncomfortable.  Although it is a big, deep bag, I have been good at utilizing all of the little pockets inside the bag to avoid losing the little items to the bottom of my bag.

Even though it's a big bag, it's not just an over statement because it is a solid color with a classic construction.  I absolutely love that I can carry just about everything I want and need in this, and definitely think it would be my go to travel bag.

xoxo,

Eve

Tiffany Pearl Earrings

I have always been a fan of the more simple stud earrings, for the more classic look.  Studs are just easier to pull off and can be worn in any work environment.  And for a few years now I have been eyeing the Tiffany Pearl Earrings, it can't get anymore classic and timeless than a pair of Tiffany Pearls.  So you can imagine my excitement when I found this little blue box in my bedroom on my birthday weekend. It was definitely unexpected.

My parents had went out and picked up a pair of the 8-9mm Tiffany Pearl Earrings, and I could not have been happier.  I am so grateful to them for picking these up for me, because they have definitely been too generous.

These are the classic freshwater cultured pearls with the sterling silver backings.  They are the perfect size, and I absolutely love that they have the beautiful finish to them.  Pair these with any outfit and you'll look even more special.

My favorite way to wear pearls is actually with a more casual outfit. Put together a pair of jeans and basic tee, and put on these earrings to make them the focal point of the outfit.

What makes them even more special to me is that they were a gift from my parents.  I adore all of the pieces my parents give me, and they really become special pieces that I treasure.

xoxo,

Eve

Sephora Gifts

I woke up the to cutest package from my little cousin today.  Apparently she felt like she wanted to be able to pick out her birthday gift to me on her own, so her Mom took her shopping to put together a little gift bag for me.  They stopped at the perfect store, Sephora.  Who knew the little one (10 years old) would know me so well!

She was definitely reading my mind because she decided to pick up a few of the Sephora Professional brushes that I have been eyeing.  These are the older version of the Sephora brushes, but the quality is just as good.  I love that they are all eye and precision brushes, because that's something I needed more of.

The last two items in my gift bag were these two nail polishes, which I was shocked to see because I definitely have not tried polishes from either brands before.  The first is a mustard yellow polish from Nails Inc. and the second is a blood red from Illamasqua.  I am definitely excited for the mustard yellow polish because it is one of my favorite colors of the season, so I think it'll be appropriate for Thanksgiving festivities.  I am also looking forward to testing out and reviewing the Illamasqua polishes, because I've heard so many great reviews on their line it would be great to be able to compare their polishes with their competitors.

I absolutely love all of the effort and thought she put into my gift! She's too cute and I can't wait to be able to give her thank you hugs later.

xoxo,

Eve

Philosophy Holiday Set Giveaway!!!! (CLOSED)

It's been a while since I've had a giveaway, and because the Holiday season seems to be quickly approaching, I decided to pick up this Philosophy The Gingerbread Girl Holiday Set to get everyone in the Holiday mood.

The set comes with a Body Lotion and a Shampoo/Bodywash/Bubble Bath mixture that looks and smells great.  I love the packaging of this because it's definitely festive, and you can enjoy this set for yourself, or gift it to a friend or family member (because it's wrapped up so nicely already).

With that being said, here are the rules to enter.

RULES:

1. Must be a follower of mine here on Blogspot (you can follow me by clicking on the follow button on the top left hand side).

2. Must be a follower and friend of mine on Luuux.com (My Luuux Page)

3. Must leave ONE comment on THIS POST.  You can comment/ask anything you'd like.

4. Must re-post this on either your blog, luuux, tumblr, etc. (LEAVE THE LINK TO YOUR RE-POST IN THE COMMENTS ALONG WITH YOUR COMMENT).

5. Must be 18 or older (or have your parents permission to provide me your mailing address).

This giveaway is open to BOTH International and U.S./Canada residents and will last until the end of the month (ENDING ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th). 

Good Luck!!!

FTC: This is not a sponsored giveaway.  I am not getting paid or receiving anything for hosting this giveaway, and everything was purchased with my own money.

xoxo,

Eve