April's Hits and Misses

I know I am ever so late with these, but I actually did write this post a couple of weeks ago - its just been hiding in my drafts!  This month, I've fallen in love with a few new products and rediscovered a couple of old favourites.

KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray

I discovered this through the now defunct Carmine box and its become a staple of my blow dry routine.  I'm not going to say too much about it as there will be a review coming up this week, but suffice to say, I have been very impressed.

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey Cologne

This is so fresh and summery and feels very light, making it the perfect daytime perfume for warmer days.  It is sweet but not cloyingly so and lasts throughout most of the day for me.  I've been wearing it constantly and have had quite a few compliments on it!

Nars Orgasm Blush

This is much-loved as you can probably see!  Before I was properly into makeup, this was the only blush I owned and I wore it every day.  I've had this one for about three years and, although I now have lots of other blushes in my collection, this is always the one that I reach for if I am unsure about which blush to wear with a look.  It really does go with anything!

Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Fruitti

 

I'm jumping on the Lip Butter bandwagon here but it is totally justified with this colour!  I reviewed it here, along with Lollipop and Creme Brule and although I adore all three shades I own, this tangerine is so flattering and just screams Summer.  

Dr Hauschka Facial Toner

I reviewed this last week here as part of the Dr Hauschka Cleansing Ritual and for me, this was the stand out product.  Refreshing and cooling, helping to close my pores after I've cleansed, I have been really enjoying using this toner on a  daily basis.  I never really understood the need for a toner before, and whilst I wouldn't say it is an essential part of your beauty routine, it is a nice addition and it has certainly left me skin feeling a lot softer as of late.

And now, over to this month's misses...

China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy - review here

 

'Chiptastic' is probably the best way to describe this polish!  It took several coats, applied streaky and the formula was very difficult to control, and after the time and concentration I took to apply it, it chipped the following day!  Love the colour but it is very high maintenance!

Alpha-H Handcream - review here

 

I think I may have been expecting miracles with this handcream for the price I paid (£22!) but I was disappointed to find it couldn't compete with my trusty L'Occitaine hand creams.  You don't always get what you pay for!

What have you been loving recently?  Have you tried any of these products?

Review: Nars Orgasm Illuminator

On the whole, I really enjoy Nars products, but I do wish they would stop with the silly, juvenile names. I get that they are trying to be cheeky and provocative but it honestly seems a bit like they have asked a 13 your old boy to name some of them. But enough about their naming policy, how does their fabled Orgasm Illuminator measure up?

I first tried this product just after it was released as I received a very generous sample with another purchase from the Nars website. The sample lasted for ages and I immediately bought a full-size version which is still going strong.

Nars Orgasm Illuminator was launched to much fanfare around 18 months ago as the newest product to grace the ever popular Orgasm line. I already own the blusher and a mini version of the multiple (review here) and I was very eager to try the Illuminator to complete my trio of products. 

The first thing that struck me with Orgasm Illuminator was the scent which reminded me of chocolate orange. It was gorgeous! Thankfully it doesn’t stick around too long, otherwise my cheeks would smell good enough to eat, but it does smell rather delicious. The second thing I noticed is that it is quite runny and that you only need a tiny, tiny amount. A little goes a long way, and a tube will last you a long time. As you can see from the unblended swatch, it does look like a pretty pigmented peachy-bronze shade but when sheered out and blended in, it gives you a lovely glow and I find it is much more subtle than the Orgasm powder blush with less obvious sparkle, just a more underlying glow.

I apply it one of two ways:

• I squeeze a little onto the back of my hand and taking a tiny dab, blend it onto my cheeks with my fingertips for a gorgeous glow. You can leave it like that and use it as a blusher, but I prefer to layer a powder blusher over it in a similar colour, either Nars Orgasm powder blush or Benefit Coralista is very similar. This ramps up the intensity a little and sets the illuminator, meaning your healthy glow will last much longer.

• I have recently started to mix it in with my liquid foundation (Mac Matchmaster at the moment) on the back of my hand before applying all over the face. This gives a much more subtle effect and doesn’t in fact make you look like a discoball, as you may have imagined! This would probably look a little too sparkly on those with paler complexions but if you have a tan, it just enhances your glow.

Verdict

A useful addition to the Orgasm family, this Illuminator is the perfect pairing with the powder blush and it a good way of adding a little sparkle or glow to your skin. For those who are expecting something akin to a crème blush, this is not the same, it is merely a liquid illuminator which you would use in a similar way to a powder one, and it is good to have additional formulations at your disposal. I personally love it, although I know some people have been disappointed with the pigmentation, expecting it to be as pigmented as it looks in the tube, but if you enjoy using the Orgasm powder blush, I think this would be a good purchase. Since I purchased it, I believe the packaging of the illuminator has changed slightly to a wider bottle and a flip top lid and the range has now expanded to include Super Orgasm, Copacabana and Laguna illuminators.

5/5

Price –£21.50

Where to purchase -Nars, Space NK, House of Fraser, HQ Hair   

My Nars Multiple Collection

Luxor, Malibu, Orgasm

I was browsing through my makeup collection the other day when I realised that I hadn't posted anything about Nars yet, despite owning quite a few items from the brand, so I thought it was a good opportunity to let you see my small, but perfectly formed, Nars Multiple Collection.

I bought all of these about a year ago, in a Christmas Gift pack.  I love seasonal gift packs that allow you to try smaller versions of permanent products as its a great way of discovering more items from a brand, and as it takes me forever to finish a product, it doesn't really matter that they are smaller than the full size.  If you do want to purchase a full sized product, Multiples are available in a large 14g size, which is quite a difference from the 4g ones I purchased, and to be honest, I don't think you would ever manage to get through a full-sized product unless you used it every day.

Multiples are intended to be worn on your eyes, lips and cheeks, however I only use these on my cheeks as I find them too drying for my lips and they tend to crease easily when worn on the lids.  They are cream products and can be used in a similar manner to cream blushes.

The pack included what I think are three of the mainstays of the Nars Multiple collection: - 

Luxor - a light, shimmery pink / white highlighter

Malibu - a dark brown / pink which I have found needs to be used sparingly to avoid looking like I have been windburned!

Orgasm - the winner of the trio for me, the famous peach with gold shimmer running through it

L to R: Luxor, Malibu, Orgasm

The swatches above are heavy so that you can see the colours more clearly.  I tend to apply a quick swipe on my cheeks directly from the tube, and then blend quickly with my fingertips for a subtle glow.

I have found Luxor to be a little pale for my warm colouring and have had some difficulty in using it as I don't feel it suits me.  Malibu is useful in winter although a little goes a long way and only a tiny dab is needed to avoid overdoing it.  Orgasm is my most frequently-used multiple as I often use it in conjunction with the Orgasm powder blush over the top to set it and increase its lasting ability.

Verdict

Although not terribly long-lasting on my combination skin (I get a maximum of 4-5 hours wear), I love Nars Multiples for their ease of use and their foolproof application.  I apply these with my fingers, although you could easily use a stippling brush for more control.  Nars often brings out special limited edition gift sets which are a perfect way to try some of their best known products so it is well worth keeping an eye on their website.

Price - sets are usually around £25-30, I'm not sure how much I paid for this one.  Full-sized multiples are £29

Where to buy - Nars, Space NK, ASOS