Case of the Mondays - 6 Beauty Products To Help Tackle The Week

Today was a very busy Monday for me! I'm finding that all of my weekends are jammed packed all the way up to Christmas Eve. I'm not sure if it's just the end of the year finally catching up or just wanting to spend more quality time with my family. The jammed packed weekends leave less time for errands, so Mondays is my get things done day! Here are the products making me feel more put together for this week's Case of the Mondays.

Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London, Smokey Suedes Eye Palette, $39

Olivia Palermo's Ciaté London collection is basically what my own makeup collection would probably look like. The collection is perfection with shades for the ultimate smokey eyes, bold cheeks and sultry nude lips. This new palette sold at Sephora is perfect for day to night eyes. You can soften it up in AM for the office and darken your crease in PM for a night out.

Dove Nourishing Pump Body Wash with NutriumMoisture, $8.99

There's only body wash I always have in my shower and that's Dove. This creamy, nourishing body wash is my ultimate fave. Skin is left luxuriously smooth and the scent is even better. Now this favorite body wash is available with a pump (#mydream) and in a 34 fl. oz. bottle!

DESSANGE PARIS Purifying Clay Balancing Pre-Shampoo Mask, $11.99 

The DESSANGE PARIS Purifying Clay Balancing Pre-Shampoo Mask is the first clay-in-mask pre-shampoo regulating treatment to help oily scalp! The 30% mineral green clay concentration works to absorb excess and regulate oil production over time. You can use once a week on dry hair, applying it generously to the roots with the application brush. Leave on hair for 5-10 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Best if used followed by the DESSANGE PARIS Purifying Clay Balancing Shampoo. Fresh hair on a Monday morning is always a good idea.

NARS Cosmetics Audacious Mascara, $26

It's rare that a new mascara comes along and blows me away like the Audacious mascara did. The wand is the magic! It was designed with over 200 molded bristles. The bristles evenly grips and coats lashes from root to tip while simultaneously separating, lengthening and amplifying with every stroke. Hello lashes! 

Rodial Instaglam Compact Deluxe Bronzing Powder, $57

I recently discovered the new Rodial Sculpting Makeup collection and fell head over heels! It launched in July and features a full collection of makeup products designed to sculpt and define the face. Founder, Maria Hatzistefani, sought to create a collection of products that were easy to use to achieve the desired sculpted look. The formulations are buildable and suits all skin tones. The Instagram Compact is my go-to everyday bronzer to define areas of my face easily.

Dolce & Gabbana Sophia Loren No. 1 Lipstick, $37

This signature red is just what the doctor ordered with the temperatures drastically dropping in NYC. Sophia Loren's lipstick collection with D&G is creamy and beautifully scented. It's a combination lipstick and lipgloss for ultra shiny lips. After all, Sophia Loren knows best!

bareMinerals READY Bronzer in 'The High Dive' Review & Swatches

Well, hello there! Happy Wednesday. You're halfway through the week and the weekend is closer than you think. I'm gearing up for a busy week filled with events, massive swatching and spring makeup cleaning. I've got to tackle my beauty stash and see what is missing (or overflowing) for spring. On my must-have spring list this season is bareMinerals READY bronzer in 'The High Dive'. This bronzer is everything perfect for my complexion and adds that sun-kissed look all of us ladies are looking for. I would call myself quite the bronzer hoarder, but lately I find myself reaching for this compact. I'm a big fan of the READY series from bareMinerals. The powders are long-wearing, silky, and offer skin nourishing benefits, what's not to love?

Australian Gold Summer Suncare Must-Have Products

Via Vogue Russia

Summer is all about beach days and it's the most important time to make sure you're using enough SPF. Australian Gold makes it simple with their extensive line of sun-care products. From tanning sprays to soothing aloe products, they've got you covered. Here are three of their must-have products that I recommend for summer.

Lorac Cosmetics Wild For TANtalizer Summer Set Review + Swatches

Beauty in Las Vegas: Rain Cosmetics Review & Swatches

Be Sexy. Be Seen. Be Different.

LORAC Spring 2012 Collection Review & Swatches

Lorac Cosmetics: Meeting Carol Shaw & A Sneak Peak At Spring Collection

I had the fantastic pleasure of meeting the lovely Carol Shaw at a Spring Collection LORAC 2012 preview at a gorgeous hotel in the city. It was a cozy affair with a select handful of bloggers chosen to get a sneak peak at the Spring collection. LORAC is one of my favorite brands, so I was ecstatic when I got the invite. I was greeted by the lovely Carol Shaw who is beyond amazing and humble. She is an incredibly talented woman who took her love of beauty and created a gorgeous brand.

LORAC (pronounced LA-ROCK) is widely known as the "Red-Carpet Authority" and it's no wonder. Carol has done the makeup of many stars like Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Debra Messing, Nicole Richie and Ashley Greene. She created a fantastic brand and continues to create products every year that wow beauty lovers worldwide. I took a few photos to give you guys a sneak peak of whats to come. Get excited...

Vincent Longo New Essentials Collection for Fall/Winter 2011 Review & Swatches

I really adore when a brand launches a collection and I love every single product. That's usually the case when it comes to Vincent Longo products. I'm constantly blown away by the pigments, long-wear and the gorgeous colors of his line. His new essentials collection for Fall/Winter 2011 is no different. You can read about that launch here. Let's take a closer look...

Seen above are the velour pressed powders ($28). I tried Light #2 and Warm #4. These colors are definitely shades for me. Light #2 is a bit too light for me now, but I'm sure once we get more into winter, it'll be perfect. Warm #4 is almost perfect, but just a tad too yellow for my complexion. I used it a setting powder and for touch-ups throughout the day. I find that the shades are quite light, so I'm hoping for more shades in the future. I believe they are not meant as a foundation to be wore alone, but as a setting powder. They wore really well on me. It's really meant to add radiance and create a smooth finish, which it did.

An Oldie But Goodie: NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo

I been rummaging through my cosmetic stash lately and came across my NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo ($40). Most of us cosmetic junkies know that this product is a cult favorite among beauty lovers. Orgasm blush is an iconic shade that works for every skin tone and most women have owned it at least once in their lifetime. Most will repurchase and some won't even finish their first one. It's described as a "peachy pink with golden shimmer."

Laguna bronzer is another cult favorite. It was named "Best Bronzer for Light Skin" 2011 in InStyle's "Best Beauty Buys." Laguna is the perfect bronze shade--never orange looking and delivers a natural bronze glow. It's described as a "brown powder with golden shimmer." If you've never tried these products, you definitely need to run out to your local beauty store and try them out. These are staple products that should be in every woman's stash.

Do you own Orgasm or Laguna?

Become A Bronze Goddess With The Balm's Betty-Lou Manizer

I picked up this beauty during my TJ Maxx run the other night. I've been eyeing it for a few months trying to contain myself from purchasing yet another bronzer. If it's one thing I don't need in my cosmetic collection, it's bronzer. It may just be the product I have the most of. I was intrigued by this bronzer because it seemed like the perfect, bronze-y kind of Jennifer Lopez glow. I'm also obsessed  in love with luminizer, so this seemed like a great combo.

I'm so glad I decided to pick this up. It's gorgeous on the cheeks (very pigmented & heavy though--so only use a small amount. Gently tap your brush in the pan) and even stunning on the eyes. Another must have in your collection. I'm pretty sure I only paid $15.99 for this baby. That's a steal! You pay that for some drug-store brand bronzers. Don't miss out on this one. You can still purchase it at Sephora for $24 or find it at your local TJ Maxx for $15.99.

Have you picked up any must-have products lately?

IMAN Cosmetics Gives Back With Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is upon us and some of our favorite brands are teaming up with organizations to make a difference. IMAN Cosmetics is one of those brands. IMAN Cosmetics will be donating $1 from every purchase of Sheer Bronzing Powder in their best-selling shade, Afterglow, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Proceeds will be going to The Intercultural Cancer Council (ICC) which promotes policies, programs, and research to eliminate the unequal burden of all cancers, including breast cancer, among racial and ethnic minorities and medically under-served populations in the United States. 

The bronzer is actually really beautiful when swatched. You can use the colors mixed for one color or individually. I found this bronzer to be unlike anything else I have in my collection because of how different the color pans are. The color on the left is a peachy pink. The color on the right is more of a plum red and the color at the bottom is a true bronze.

(Product seen above was sent for consideration)

IMAN Cosmetics chose ICC as their mission is “Speaking with One Voice” which embodies the power of uniting a diverse and representative membership to raise issues, propose solutions and most importantly to affect change that benefits all regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or geography.  The ICC organization aligns perfectly with IMAN Cosmetics’ commitment to multicultural women and diversity. Chosen as the featured “pink product,” Sheer Bronzing Powder in Afterglow is universally flattering to all skin tones and can be used year round as a blush or bronzer to give women a sheer wash of color and a healthy glow. 

I definitely recommend picking this bronzer up this October. It's for a great cause and definitely worth the price. Participating retailers include Target, Drustore.com, Sears, Wal-Mart and Ulta stores.

Retail Price: $16.00 USD

Vincent Longo Products Review & Swatches

(Disclosure: All products seen above were sent for consideration by Vincent Longo)

I've become a bit obsessed with all of Vincent Longo's line. Every product I try is absolutely stunning, super pigmented and long-lasting. Woot Hoot. Onto the products.

First thing I tried was the Water Canvas Base/Primer. It's a non-greasy gel formula that helps maintain skin's moisture, form a barrier that won't crease of flake foundation, allow skin to breathe, fills-in enlarged pores, fine lines, & creases, smooths over acne spots/rosacea, extends the wear of all makeup and it suitable for everyone. I actually really liked the consistency of this product and felt that it delivered what it promised.

Retail: $44

The foundation sent was probably the BEST product I tried. They sent their best selling foundation: Water Canvas Creme-To-Powder Foundation Oil Free in Natural Tan. The coverage is natural and flawless. I've always wanted to try a creme to powder foundation but hadn't found any worth trying. The best thing about this foundation? It contains Vitamin E that helps protect the skin from free radical damage, it has 100% natural botanical seaweed polymer and silica that help maintain skin's moisture balance and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. Sign me up!

Retail: $57

I'm always on the prowl for some new amazing blush. I was super excited when I saw the set up of this next beauty. This is Day Play Duo Compact Blush in Innocence. I love that it comes with two shades: a bright pink for day & a fun orange/peach for night. The color pay-off is beautiful and a definite must try. Don't worry if these colors are two bright for you because it comes in six other duos that vary from bold to natural!

Retail: $36

You already know how much I love bronzer, right? Vincent Longo's bronzer is the same fun packaging as the blush, which had me excited to try it out. I was sent Sole Mio Duo Bronzer in Cooper Kiss. The sides read: Sun & Fun. Sun was a tad lighter than fun for this duo. Both shades had a hint of shimmer, so I was able to skip the highlighter.

Retail: $38.50

Once my primer, foundation, blush & bronzer were on -- I decided to try the new lip products they sent me. I received Velvet Rich Lipstick in Pure Demure & Perfect Shine Lipgloss in Dolce. Talk about the PERFECT nude lips. I totally fell in love when I opened the package--I actually squealed in delight when I saw the color (my girlfriend laughed and said I was crazy haha) because it's exactly the kind of color I flock to in stores. It reminded me a lot of MAC Myth once on my lips but when swatched, it was very different. The gloss is easily duped BUT definitely longer wearing than most. I also was glad that the sparkle in the gloss wasn't too much but just the right amount.

Lipstick + Lipgloss:

Retail: $23 (Lipstick) & $22 (Lipgloss)

Lastly, I received a Duo Eye Pencil in Rich Topaz/Aura Chic. The colors here are perfect for natural or smokey eyes. Aura Chic was more of a golden shimmer and Rich Topaz was a deeper brown shimmer.

Retail: $26

All products used in this post can be purchased at Vincent Longo

Have you ever tried Vincent Longo? Would you be interested in a giveaway?