Prom Essentials

Prom season is just around the corner and a girl can get lost in a tizzy of sparkles and up do’s as she tries to find those “must have” prom essentials!  Knowing you have the quaint essential makeup products that will make you the most beautiful woman in the world (move over Beyonce!) will make it easier to prep for your special night.  Here are some of this season’s absolute necessities:    

Stila’s new One Step Illuminate from their 2012 Summer Collection: For Radiant Light from Day to Night” is a total necessity this season.  It is a lightweight blend of 3 bronzers: pale pink, champagne and kitten.  Combined together they serve as a fantastic primer for all skin types that instantly brightens skin.  Made with vitamins A and E to minimize pores, even skin tone, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles, it nourishes your skin.  I applied a small amount all over my face and found it went on extremely light and dried immediately.  As I examined my skin, I saw my cheeks were a warm pink while the rest of my face had a warm golden hue.  My skin tone was even throughout with a beautiful, sun kissed glow that I don’t think I’ve ever achieved with any other product.  It seemed to actually enhance my natural undertones and made my skin look healthy and radiant.  Retail: $36.00 at Sephora         

Once your make up is complete, the next headache is keeping it in on (ugh).  The last thing a girl wants to worry about is her perfectly done makeup melting off as she dances the night away.  Urban Decay and Skindinavia have created the all nighter Long Lasting Make up Setting Spray, which has proven to be this girl’s newest bff. Oil free and appropriate for all skin types, I found it stayed true to its name.  I carried out my daily makeup routine: primer, powder eye shadows, mascara, eye liner, bronzer, blush and lip gloss.  After I finished I closed my eyes and spritzed my face 4 times.  I felt a cool, refreshing mist with a very clean scent.  It sprayed evenly and had virtually no dry time.  Showing no mercy I put it to the test as I headed out into the rain, followed by a full day of errands and a cat nap (hey a girl needs her beauty rest!).  By the time I woke up, the only thing that needed a touch up was my hair.  My eye makeup was intact, even my blush and bronzer had survived.  A definitive prom must have, it was soothing on my sensitive skin and I plan to work this into my daily make up routine.  Retail $29.00 at Sephora

No prom look would be complete without that delicious fragrance that makes your date totally swoon.  XOXO’s Mi Amore Eau de Parfum contains notes of sugar crystals, pink raspberry, orange oil, pink jasmine, pink amber, juicy plum, fresh vanilla, and white woods.  At first glance it looks sweet and innocent in its pink and purple, heart shaped package but beware as this fruity floral takes on a life of its own.  While it has a soothing sweetness, it has a musky twist that challenges its sweet notes and gives it a totally unique dimension.  When first sprayed, its potency is strong, but tappers off leaving behind and airy breath of mystery.  Setting you apart, this intriguing scent is the final accessory to make your prom sweet and memorable. Retail around $40.00

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche leGloss

Glosses = bosses!  At least that’s how it felt when I wore L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche leGloss in Plum Rush.  Even though these glosses have been out for while, this was the first opportunity I had to try one.  For starters, I tried the Plum Rush shade and at first glance I was not exactly turned on.  In the tube it is a brownish, purple mixture that just looks hopeless (I'm not sure why it looks so pink in the picture).  BUT my curiosity got the better of me and now here I am so impressed I felt obligated to spread the word to all my fellow lovelies.  The line is available in 16 shades ranging from nudes, pinks, corals and purple variations.  Important to note is they are made with omega 3, vitamin E and argan oil- all of which are fantastic moisturizers.  When I first applied it, right away I noticed the vanilla scent, and a light sweet taste to match.  The texture was so incredibly smooth that it glided on with such ease; I was amazed it wasn’t runny or watery like other glosses (yuck).  The pigmentation kind of surprised me.  I was actually expecting it to be stronger, but instead it left just a suggestion of color.  Personally I found this to be better because I ended up falling in love with it.  Plum Rush turned out to be a flirty mixture of a berry-like purple with playful pink undertones.  It gave my lips a subtle yet noticeable pop of color with a sexy shine.  I noted that even after the shine had worn off, there was still a rather attractive looking stain left behind.  I’d definitely try another shade and remember: looks can definitely be deceiving!

Victoria's Secret Angel

 

Retail $75.00

So maybe we can't all be official Victoria's Secret  Angels and adorn the iconic wings, but Victoria's Secret Angel Eau De Parfume fragrance certainly makes a girl feel "angelic" if you know what I mean.  This hot, sexy scent will make you feel as though you’re strutting your stuff down an imaginary catwalk every time you wear it.  The bottle itself is absolutely divine with a light to dark pink gradation starting at the top, a set of opaque wings on its back, and a clear, diamond shaped topper.  This fruity floral is composed of sparkling plum, violet gardenia, pink pepper and amber notes.  It’s very feminine yet has a seductive edge.  I was pleased to find that its scent was long lasting even though I had only sprayed it two or so times.  Not only does that lengthen the lifespan of the bottle, but I adored being able to catch hints of its scent as I moved throughout my day.  It has an addictive allure that draws you in and will definitely give you the confidence that every runway angel has! 

smashbox Be Discovered eye palette

With spring finally here it’s time to lighten the mood and brighten the eyes!  Smashbox’s new Be Discovered eye palette for spring 2012 suggests a playful, yet natural look for the season.  It comes with eight flirty shades including a creamy ivory for brow highlights, a shimmery, velvety beige and breezy lilac that will liven up your lids in no time.  With two shimmers and six mattes in both warm and cool tones, the palette offers a variety of looks. Its colors are cheerful with gentle hues, leaving the eyes looking soft and whimsical.  Each shadow is lightly pigmented which calls for a little extra on the lid, but makes blending easier.    It’s a sweet palette for the season, housed in a sturdy plastic case with a decent sized mirror.  For those of you who have the app on your phone, it comes with a QR code as well.  Retail $44.00 at Sephora

Shades:

Bliss: matte beige
Rosewater: pink sheen
Opal:  opalescent sheen
Mist: shimmering silver mauve
Adobe: matte warm light brown
Champagne: shimmering peach beige
Pebble- matte neutral brown
Lilac- soft lilac sheen

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre

I was given this fragrance as a gift and was inspired to write about it because it’s not only divine but has become one of my favorite scents to date. Third in the Chance series, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre is a stunning fragrance that comes to life for anyone partial to a classy, fruity floral scent. Composed of iris, white musk,Virginia cedar and amber for a base, hyacinth and jasmine at its heart, and a top note of grapefruit, melon and quince. While Chanel is known for its older, mature scents: ex: Chanel No. 5, master perfumer Jacques Polge has created a fresher, more youthful scent in Chance. At first spritz you breathe a snap of a clean, brisk floral with a hint of citrus, that tapers off to become lighter and more delicate. It lasts consistently throughout the day, and has a subtle, ladylike aroma that just exudes style and sophistication. It is wearable for both daytime and evening, but I find myself trying to save it for special occasions. It is very feminine, with simple yet elegant packaging. The clear, circular bottle with silver trim around its circumference shows off the soft pink fragrance inside. With a contrasting square, opaque topper, it sits beautifully to display the exquisiteness that is Chanel.

eos Lip Balm Smooth Sphere in Summer Fruit

It may not look like your ordinary lip balm and you know what? It’s totally not. The eos Lip Balm Smooth Sphere is completely in a league of its own. Certified USDA organic, it is made with 95% organic ingredients, is 100% natural and dare I say- perfect? It’s made with shea butter and jojoba oil to moisturize and soften, and antioxidants like vitamin E that help soothe and heal. I began using it in Strawberry Sorbet and noticed its light, sweet taste was as addictive as its fruity scent. Being someone who insists on having her lip balm with her at all times (including by her bed at night when she sleeps) I can honestly tell you I’ve gone through countless balms and this is by far one of my favorites. Eos glides on clear and doesn’t leave any heavy film or build up by the corners of your mouth. It absorbed really well and my lips always felt soft and hydrated, without reapplying a million times. It comes in 6 flavors: Lemon Drop, Honeysuckle Honeydew, Medicated Tangerine, Sweet Mint and Summer Fruit (the one I’m eyeing next) and is available at CVS, Walgreens and Target. It’s a fantastic balm for any season and its fun packaging makes an adorable little gift for Easter!

L' Occitane En Provence

We ladies know true beauty starts with hydrated, glowing skin, which is why finding a reliable moisturizer is so important.  It’s been my experience that no matter which moisturizer I use, or how often I use it, my skin just doesn’t respond well.  The results are either nonexistent, minimal, or of course- I’m hit with a break out.  I was introduced to L’Occitane En Provence’s Hypoallergenic Ultra Comforting Cream, and I think my search is over.   Being a fair skinned redhead, I’ve always had sensitive skin that is often dry with splotchy redness.  So needless to say I was psyched when I began using L’Occitane and noticed not only less redness, but that my skin actually looked moister.  The cream is light and absorbs well so you don’t feel it lingering on your skin, and it’s gentle enough to use both in the morning and the evening.  It’s made with NO fragrance, NO preservative or alcohol, hence- NO breakouts!   Made with shea butter, cotton, and rosemary, it leaves skin feeling calm and relived.  Retail $38.00 and it’s worth it if you’ve had as much trouble with moisturizers as I have. 

Nivea Touch of Smoothness Moisturizing Body Wash

I’m usually not impressed with the body washes on the shelves today, but Nivea's Touch of Smoothness Moisturizing Body Wash in Tea Rose Blossom Scent and Almond Essence by FAR exceeded my expectations.   It’ll sound odd but I’ll admit I actually look forward to using it every day.  Its delicate scent of tea rose blossom takes your senses through a world of sensuality, while its silky cream lathers with ease.  An added benefit is that only a small amount is needed as a little goes a long way in this case, making the bottle last longer.  Made with Nivea’s hydra IQ technology and an almond essence, it gently cleanses and keeps skin feeling continuously smooth after showering.  My skin felt refreshed and soothed throughout the day, not to mention softer after a week or so of usage. The most shocking part is that it is in expensive- yet effective.  Available at Walmart with retail of $4.00, I can’t help but say it puts many of those higher priced washes to shame. 

Sally Hansen HD polish in Blu

YeeeOWza!! Those are some bright BLU nails my dears!  So to begin, I picked up a bottle of Sally Hansen HD polish in Blu for $1.00- yes- $1.00 at a store called The Christmas Tree Shop.  (I know the name is bizarre especially since it didn’t have much to do with Christmas when I went inside) but anyway, what caught my attention was that little bottle of ever so vibrant, electric blue.  I sat down and began applying my electric blu mani, when to my dismay, the color was MUCH sheerer then I anticipated.  I dismissed it at first knowing that many polishes need that second coat to bring it to life.  Two additional coats later, I was finally able to achieve that show stopping blue that had originally caught my eye.  So all in all, it took 3 coats (not two) to get the shade displayed in the bottle and being as it isn’t exactly quick drying polish, it took a while.  While the color is fun and flirty, the fact that 3 coats are necessary will quickly shorten the bottle's life span.  Ultimately, I can’t complain since it only cost me a dollar, but had I paid the retail $5.99, I would have been disappointed particularly since Sally Hansen is a pretty reputable brand and I like many of their other products. 

Disclosure

These thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone. They are open and honest and I do not receive compensation of any type for these reviews.

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