Tarte - The Miracle of Maracuja Collection Spring 2012

When I received my last installment of Tarte's Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Set, I was so disappointed.  I then learned that Tarte had something new coming in the way of a QVC special collection so when I was offered the pre-order opportunity, I jumped at it.  I received the collection and am happy to share additional information with you.


This set, unlike previous collections, did not include a cosmetic bag but the collection included 8 great items and a 2 bonus extras that I did not expect.

• Beauty & the Box Amazonian Clay Eye Shadow Quad (6.8 g) - Includes Pink Cloud, Silver Mist, Purple Fog and Dark Ash shadows in a lovely floral-patterned box.  Shadows apply very smoothly and have good color payoff and work nicely together.

• Cashmere Waterproof Gliding Liner (0.28 g) - In Black Magic - I am a big fan of the SmolderEyes liners but it's nice to try a thinner liner.  The pencil has some staying power once you give a bit of time to set.  I wore it layered under Dark Ash Shadow and I liked the effect.

• Airblush Maracuja Bouncy Blush (5.3 g) - In Shimmering Poppy - I will be honest, a panicked when I read "bouncy" in the blush description as I immediately thought of Maybelline's marshmallow-like blushes which had very little color payoff (boo-hiss) though the texture was interesting.  Tarte, in my opinion, got it right, in that the texture is smooth and the pigmentation is perfect!  I would have liked the ability to pop the pan out of the compact like their Amazonian Clay blushes but the mirrored compact is sleek enough to throw in my purse and it's in my favorite color....PURPLE!

• Airbrush Finish Bamboo Blush Brush makes for perfect application of Shimmering Poppy just where I want it.  I love the soft, duo-fiber bristles!

• Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss (3.6 ml) - Peaceful - A nice, sheer, universally-flattering color, I just love the floral packaging.  It took a while for the product to "click up" through the bristles but I love the formula.  The mint-scented gloss includes maracuja oil for hydrating your pucker while glistening your lips with a nice gloss.

• Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara (7 ml) - Black - The same tube offered in the Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Sets.  Would love to try the Waterproof formula one of these days.  (Tarte!  hint!  hint! - Any chance you will include in your next collection?)
• Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (8 g) - Medium - The collection can be ordered with any one of 4 shades of concealers.  A little of this concealer goes a long way so don't fret the fact that not a lot of product comes out when you squeeze the tube.  Personally, I like that the product doesn't easily ooze out of the tube so there's no waste and I can build the coverage as I need to.
• Pure Maracuja Oil (50 ml) - This oil is absolutely awesome!  I have used it as my night-time moisturizer since I first received my first Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Set.  It has definitely improved the condition of my skin.  I carried the smaller vial in my purse for use on my cuticles, hands, and face during the harsh winter weather and have been known to smooth a drop or two in my palms for a nice shiny, lustre to my hair.  This same size retails for $46 on QVC.

Here are some swatches:

From top to bottom: Pink Cloud, Silver Mist,  Purple Fog, Dark Ash, Amused Blush,  Black  Magic Liner on the right

And now for the bonuses:

• Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self-Tanner (15 ml) - I am not one for self-tanners as I didn't like the orange hue that many turned my skin.  I did try this my leg as a test and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the nice, natural-looking bronze results.  Will definitely have to try this on my face.  This is a "Sneak Peek" item that, according to the enclosed pamphlet, has been in the making for the past two years.

• Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Eye Base ( 2.6 ml) - I have never tried tarte's eye shadow primer so I am happy to try it.  I did wear it under the quad shades and loved how it hydrated my lids while keeping the shadow in place.  Tarte boasts that their primer is waterproof and works equally as well on oily and dry lids.  I love the clear tube so I can see how much product I have left.

Overall rating:  Booyah!


This set is well worth the $59.96 price tag.  If you get a chance to snatch one up, I highly recommend it and can't wait until the Summer 2012 set.


Have you tried any of these items?  What are your thoughts?

Tarte Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Set #3

It all started with my selection of auto delivery with QVC.com for Tarte's Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Set.  This is the third, and sadly, the final installment of this selection.  All items are completely different as the previous two installments with the exception of the mascara, sharpener, and concealer, which were the same as the last two kits.

The set comes in a quilted, purple satin in Tarte's signature purple with a gold-tone zipper closure featuring the Tarte logo.

The complete set includes:

1. Maracuja creaseless concealer

2. Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dazzled

3. Amazonian Clay Cream Shadow emphasEYES in Pink Champagne

4. smolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Brown

5. Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

6. LipSurgence Lip Luster in Obsession

7. Double-ended eye brush 

8. Fluffy Face brush 

9. Sharpener

As in previous kits, the shades go very well together.

The shadow is a lovely pinkish champagne shade (true to its name) which again is very easy to apply and budge-proof. The brown liner glides on well, sets quickly and smudges nicely with the smudger end, as long as you don't wait too long.

The blush is a lovely medium rose blush which looks more shimmery in the pan than it does applied.  Lastly, the lip pencil is a sheer berry shade, which is perfect for those of us that want to try deeper shades but shy away from ultra-pigmented dark lipsticks.

The domed-end of the eye brush works great to apply the cream shadow and blend it into the crease.  I also used the liner-end of the eye brush to apply the brown liner in a more precise and thinner line than I could ever achieve with the pencil itself.  As I have stated before, I am not a fan of double-ended brushes as they are difficult to store, I do like both of these brush ends.

The booklet that's included has "Get the Look" instructions.

Again, the items in this kit go nicely with those of previous kits.  The price tag was the same, $49.92, which is about the cost of the blush and lip pencil alone.

For those of you that do not own any of the Amazonian clay blushes, you should note that these blushes are easy to depot as they have a little indentation in the back where you can insert the tip of a large paper clip or safety pin and gently push it up.  I have been storing mine in a large Z palette which is already magnetized so I just pop them in.  Don't throw the compact away though as you can easily transfer it back in and carry it in your purse for travel.  No need to carry it for touch-ups though....this blush has staying power.

Overall rating:  Booyah!

Looking forward to see what QVC and Tarte have in store for future Special Value kits.  If they're anything like the Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Kits, I am happy to opt for Auto-delivery.

Fifty Shades Trilogy: by E. L. James

It's been a while since I've read a series of books that hooks me from the first page.  E. L. James has done just that with her Fifty Shades Trilogy, starting with Fifty Shades of Grey, followed by Fifty Shades Darker, and lastly Fifty Shades Freed.  From the moment Anastasia Steele meets Christian Grey, Ms. James brilliantly combines romance, erotica and suspense.

All three books are available electronically and in traditional form.


Overall rating:  Booyah!


For more information on E.L. James and her works, please visit:  www.eljamesauthor.com.  She can also be followed on Twitter @E_L_James.


Have you read any of the books in the Fifty Shades Trilogy?  Am curious to learn if you enjoyed them.

Edward Bess Deep Shine Lip Gloss

Every once in a while, I find a great bargain on nomorerack.com.  Recently, they offered several Edward Bess Lip Gloss shades for $14.00, more than half off its original $30 price tag (0.19 fl oz./5.8 ml).

Having never tried EB glosses, I opted for 1 shade, Sweet Dream, a sheer raspberry-pink shade.  The gloss itself has a berry scent to it, but no flavor.


BergdorfGoodman.com says,

• Lavish your lips with seductive, brilliant color.
• Luminous finish provides radiance and hydration to the lips.  Nourishes and protects with an exclusive treatment to ensure fullness.

Here's a close-up of the shade on the doe-foot applicator:

Here's the shade on my lips:

Overall rating:  Booyah!  


This has decent staying power for a gloss and I definitely like the shine!


Have you ever tried any EB glosses?  Would love to hear your thoughts.

Birchbox March 2012 Shipment

Two days in a row, I am surprised with a beauty sampling package, this time from Birchbox.  This month's package included some new items that I have been wanting to try.  Without further adieu, here is a picture and a description of the contents.

The topic of this month's shipment was Spring Training with tidbits and samples of items to help us get through March Madness, not of the basketball kind, but of the seasonal kind.  This month's shipment included:

• Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrien (0.06 fl. oz; 1.75 ml) -- Inspired by Tuscan citrus groves, this bright scent features a winning combo of lemon, grapefruit, and green mandarin notes.  (Regular size: 50 ml,  $85)
• Color Club Nail Lacquer in He Loves Me (0.25 fl. oz., 7 ml) -- Jazz up blah fingers and toes with this lovely pink polish.  (Regular size: 0.5 fl. oz., $8)
• Eve Lom TLC Radiance Cream (0.49 fl. oz., 15 ml) -- Dull skin no more: this cult British facialist's intensely hydrating moisturizer brightens your complexion with vitamins A and C. (Regular size: 50 ml, $68)
• Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water Cloths (0.23 fl. oz., 7 ml each - two cloths) -- Made with mineral-rich spring waters, this Japanese brand's travel-friendly cleansing cloth wipes away a day's worth of dirt and makeup in a few seconds.  (Regular size: 3 packs of ten, $39)
• Traditions by Nick Chavez Yucca Root Shampooing Cream (2 fl. oz., 60 ml) --  Hollywood stylists rave about the restorative abilities of this silky cleanser, which is made with fortifying wild yam and yucca root.  (Regular size: 250 ml, $20)
• Lifestyle Extra: Tea Forte Skin-Smart Teas (3 tea bags - Honey Yuzu, Cherry Marzipan, Cucumber Mint) -- An antioxidant tea that tastes amazing and helps our skin look more radiant?  Yes, please.  Editor's Note:  Honey Yuzu - Green Tea for Natural Renewal, Cherry Marzipan - Green Tea for Corrective Repair, and Cucumber Mint - Green Tea for Youth Recovery. (Regular size: 16 tea bags, $6)

Overall rating: Booyah! for the wonderful variety of items including Japanese and British products that I am dying to try, not to mention the tea!  Yum!!!!

Are you looking forward to Spring?  I like to think of Spring-time as a time for renewal and a time to break out new shades of eyeshadows, polish, lipstick and fragrance.  Thanks Birchbox for getting me started!

Glam Bag Shipment March 2012

Hi Beauties!


Just received my Glam Bag March 2012 shipment and wanted to show you what was in this month's goodies.

The green-motifed glam bag contained the following items:

• Keracolor Color Enhancing Leave-In Treatment in Natural (5 ml) -- Includes an exclusive offer to Glammies -- Keracolor Natural enhances dimensional highlights for all hair types -- adding volume, luminosity, and vibrancy to all tones.  Infused with our C.E.T. Complex to Enhance, Protect, Strengthen, and Hydrate.
• Pur~Lisse Pur~Protect Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 (0.14 oz/4ml) -- Includes 20% savings from Dermstore.com on Pur~lisse Pur-Lip Comfort and Pur~Protect SPF 30 -- Hydra-shield Complex provides balanced UVA/UVB sun protection, while Vitamin E and Soy Proteins let skin's softer, supple side shine through.  White Tea calms sensitive skin.  Absorbs quickly for grease-free application.
• Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher (.5 oz/15g) -- Comfort dry, chapped and cracked lips with our exclusive petroleum-free lip moisturizer.  Formulated with fruit butters and vegetable oils.  Provides amazing healing benefits for soft, moist and youthful-looking lips.  This is a full-sized product that retails for $22.
• Murad Eye Lift Perfector (.015 fl. oz/0.44 ml)  -- Increase your skin's firmness by 50% in as little as 15 minutes with this revolutionary product, which relies on exclusive firming and illuminating complexes to address dark circles, both instantly and long-term. A subtle tint adds just the right amount of coverage.
• Dermstore.com Coupon Code -- $25 off orders of $50 or more
• My Glam Brush Brush Case --  Includes My Glam Classic Crease brush in case with magnetic closure.

Overall Rating:  Booyah! considering receipt of a full-sized product, coupon codes and My Glam Classic Crease Brush and case.

Have you subscribed to Glam Bag yet?  So glad I got in before they closed membership to address popularity concerns and service.  Here's hoping they open up again soon.

Beauty Army March 2012 Shipment

For those of you contemplating beauty sampling, here are some photos of the contents of my Beauty Army March 2012 Shipment.

This month's contents:

• CellCeutical Extreme Defense Anti-Cell Damage Skin Treatment (0.33 fl oz; 10 ml) -- This powerful anti-oxidant fights skin-damaging free radicals, diminishing wrinkles, reduces redness and improves texture.  Fight skin damage all day long with regular use of this treatment.  (Regular size: 1 fl. oz; $70)
• Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil (0.25 oz) -- A naturally occurring oil that promotes elasticity in the skin. (Regular size: 1 fl. oz; $24)
• Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion (0.17 oz) -- This all natural face cream is a light, fast-absorbing cream that regulates your natural moisture balance and provides long-lasting protection against drying out. (Regular size: 1 fl. oz.; $20)
• Befine Night Cream (0.5 fl. oz.; 15 ml) -- A rich, nourishing treatment that helps your skin recover, repair and recharge as you sleep.  Bio-available nutrients moisturize and soften skin while natural estrogen works to reduce wrinkles and prevent premature aging. (Regular size: 1.7 oz; $30)
• Eye Prep Fx (0.16 fl. oz; 5 ml) -- Eye primer for concealer, foundation and eye shadow application.  Instantly smooths fine lines and creases to enhance color blending. (Regular size: 0.67 oz; $43)
• Babor Argan Cream (1/2 oz.; 15 ml) -- 24-hour cream with argan oil, Morocco's liquid gold.  The cream will stabilize your skin's natural barrier and maintain collagen fibers.  (Regular size: 1.6 oz; $125)

Overall rating: Booyah!  When you compare the value of the samples to the retail prices, this beauty sampling program is well worth the $12 price tag, especially since you can select the samples you want each month.