Aveda Brilliant Universal Styling Creme Review

I recently wandered in to the Aveda store because it was opposite my favorite clothing store, Express, and this product called out to me:

Aveda's Brilliant Universal Styling Creme is described as:

Rich creme formula defines texture and seals in moisture on medium to coarse hair. Apply to dry hair to create definition. Add brilliant shine with help from certified organic aloe and other plant humectants.

• Defines texture
• Seals in moisture
• Adds shine

Since my rebonded (chemically straightened) hair has grown out, I have been wearing my hair both curly/wavy and straight. Thus, I thought this product was going to be perfect for me since it works for both curly and straight hair that is dry (which mine is).

I used this for the first time last week. It was also the last. Brilliant is like using glue in your hair! It is a white creamy product that feels EXACTLY like the glue you used when you were a child. None of the reviews I read stated this. In any case, once it was in my hair, it did add some softness, but it didn't smooth my hair at all. Nothing I try can beat Moroccan Oil. I think I need to stop trying.

I am going to take this back, so do you have any good recommendations for Aveda products?

Bipasha Basu Makeup Breakdown - Jodi Breakers Music Premiere

Every now and then I get down with my Bollywood self and watch AVS (Asian Variety Shows) on Sunday mornings. I was watching yesterday morning when the show featured the music premiere of the upcoming movie Jodi Breakers. The lead actress Bipasha Basu made an appearance and I was pleasantly surprised by her new look.

Source

She is always so sultry, sexy and gorgeous, and she always has on very glamorous makeup. Her signature look involves very thick kohl liner rimming her eyes and more neutral lip colors. However, for this premiere she went for a ultra-winged out cat eye and a bright lip.

Source

I think it is a fresh look to see on Bipasha and here's how I would re-create it:

Face:

• Medium-Heavy coverage foundation of your choice and shade
• MAC Pro Longwear concealer under eyes and on blemishes
• Translucent powder to set (I like MAC's Prep + Prime loose powder)
• Light dusting of MAC Peaches blush on apples of cheeks

Eyes:

• Nars Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base to prime lids
• MAC Patina shadow on lids
• Black Gel or Liquid liner of your choice to line upper lids and create the cat-eye effect
• MAC Carbon shadow on top of liner (except on the wing) and smudged slightly
• MAC Smolder or Feline kohl pencils to line upper and lower waterlines
• Mascara of your choice
• False lashes (I like MAC 7 lash, but Bipasha's are more like MAC's 2 lash)

Lips:

• MAC On Hold Lipstick
• Clear gloss of your choice

What do you think of Bipasha's look? 

Beauty Blog Link Love

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed thinks size does matter and tests out her theory with Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara - check out her results and see if you agree!

My Funny Valentine is proud to present...A vain person's guide to water sports: how to waterproof your makeup and deal with chlorine.

Nail bling strikes again! Musicalhouses shows you her silver and blue nail art with pearls and hearts!

At Lipstick Musings, Shannon embarks on her first-ever fragrance review with the all-natural artistry of Aftelier Perfume's Cepes and Tuberose.

With the BB cream craze in full swing, Rae takes a moment at theNotice to review (and swatch) the much-hyped Marcelle BB Cream. Find out it if this new wonder-product is all it's talked up to be!

New year calls for new product launches! Miss Beauty Nerd tests out Maybelline's newest - their SuperStay Lip Colors and EyeStudio Color Tattoos.

Beauty In The Mirror has been reviewing the very popular OCC Lip Tars. Pop over for some great pictures and advice.

Kajal Couture shares her tips on preventing eyeshadow fallout.

Prime Beauty is dreaming of spring with the Nordstrom Exclusive Dior Garden Party Milly Garden Clutch.

Looking for some double duty beauty products? Check out Krasey Beauty's recs!

Kimberly at Kimmie Karma Love shows her New Years Eve makeup and the day after pictures!

Phyrra presents a variety of lovely lipsticks and pigmented lipglosses from Morgana Cryptoria.

Tracy at Beauty Reflections has a new PRECIOUS called Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites.

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Join Anita in celebrating reaching 400 followers and win yourself a gorgeous Accessorize Eyeshadow Palette!

My New Eyeliner Obsession - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Corrupt (Review and Swatches)

I've mentioned many times recently that I have been using MAC's Sable eyeshadow non-stop, and another product that's been getting a lot of love from me is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Corrupt:

This is a dark brown liner that has tiny bits of sparkle in it. The sparkle is subtle enough that you can wear this during the daytime, as I have been recently (often times with Sable). I like this shade because it is darker than UD's Bourbon, but not as harsh as black liner.

Swatch of Corrupt in Natural Light

Swatch of Corrupt with Flash

Here is a quick look I recently wore with MAC's Orb shadow on the lid and Wedge shadow in the crease.

Isn't brown liner lovely? I even lined the lower lashline....just halfway, not the full lashline...to give some emphasis to the bottom lid without closing in the eye too much. What do you think?

How to Prevent Eyeshadow Fallout

Ladies, you know how frustrating eyeshadow fallout can be. You finish your eye makeup only to look down at your cheeks to find traces of eyeshadow just sitting there glaring at you. And most often than not, this happens to me on days when I do my foundation first then my eye makeup, AND I am running late for an event.

Hopefully, these next few tips will help prevent that nasty fallout in the future:

1. Do your eye makeup first, then do your face makeup. That way, if you have to clean up any fallout, you can do so on clean skin and won't have to rub off and reapply foundation, concealer, poweder, etc.

2. When using brushes to apply eye makeup, swirl your brush in the shadow, then tap the handle against your hand to let the loose, excess product fall off the brush on your hand instead of on your face. I do this with almost all powder products (blush, powder, etc.) so that excess product does clump in one are of the skin or fall all over the place.

Brush right after swiping in shadow

Tapping brush on back of hand

Brush after tapping - all excess shadow has fallen off

3. Try using your finger to apply eyeshadow. When picking up product with your finger, excess product will not adhere to your finger, so you don't have to worry about that product falling out on your face. Of course, ALWAYS use your ring finger, as it is the most delicate on your skin, and ALWAYS wash your hands before and after.

Finger swiped in shadow

4. Try using a shadow shield. I picked these up at Sephora a few months ago, but I think similar products are available at other retailers as well. They work pretty well, but are somewhat annoying because there is an adhesive part on one side of the shadow shield and it is annoying to peel off. Plus, this can get pretty expensive if you use them everyday, but might be worth it when doing bright eye makeup or super heavy shadowing.

I'm a Bahama Mama! (Ok, not a Mama, but I did just return from the Bahamas!)

Hello dear! How are you? I am back from my vacation and it was WONDERFUL! My husband and I went on a Bahamian cruise with another couple who are good friends of ours here in Philadelphia. It was so nice to get away from the cold and enjoy the warm, sunny beaches of the Bahamas. Here are a few pics from paradise:

The beautiful lounging area on a private cruise-owned island

My friend and I testing the temperature of the Bahamian beach water

Akward photo yes, but the water was so clear you could see my feet!

Outside the MAC store in Nassau...I was surprised they had a MAC so I had to take a photo of course!

The towel monkey our cabin steward left for us! This is made of one bath towel and one hand towel. Everyday we had a different towel animal waiting for us.

I absolutely LOVE cruising because it is so relaxing and the food is so delicious! No worries about carrying around money because everything is charged to the room, no worries about food because you can eat whenever you want and don't have to search around for a good restaurant, and everything is convenient.

In other news, if you are still thinking about getting the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, right now it is discounted on the Urban Decay website from $64 down to $44, and if you use code SEVENTEEN11 then you save an additional $15. That means the $64 palette is only $29! 

Vacation!

Hey Lovelies! I just wanted to let you know that I will be going on vacation so I won't be posting for the next few days. I will update you with all my holiday fun when I get back!

Finished in December 2011

I didn't do a Finished in November post, as I didn't really finish anything, but I did finish a few things in December and I wanted to share my thoughts on those products.

1. The Body Shop Body Butter in Passion Fruit - This isn't a permanent scent, but I think it comes around every spring and summer. I usually like the formula for Normal/Dry skin, but this was a bit greasy and took a few minutes to absorb in the skin, which is why I didn't use it up in the summer and waited till winter to finish it. I do like the scent of tropical fruit so I loved the passion fruit fragrance. I really enjoy Body Shop's body butters so I will continue using them, but will skip this one due to the greasy texture. 

2. MAC Lightful Ultramoisture Creme - Do I really need to explain my love for this? I have raved about it many times on the blog. 

3. Bath and Body Works Ile De Tahiti Moana Body Wash in Tiare Flower - This is one of those discontinued lines from Bath and Body Works that occasionally pop up during the semi-annual sales. I LOVE the scent of Tiare Flower, more so after I smelled it everywhere during my honeymoon to Tahiti, but it is just so fresh, floral, and exotic. I think I have one more of these in my stock, but I will be using that preciously as it is my last.

4. Bliss Body Butter in Lemon + Sage - This is the most moisturizing body butter I have used....and I have used a LOT. It is quite pricey, at $28 for 6.7oz, but it really does lock in the moisture in the skin and keeps the skin soft until I shower the next day. That being said, I think I would only re-purchase this as a treat, or if I was loaded, since I think Body Shop and other brands make good body butters that are more affordable. My original review is here. 

5. Stila One Step Correct Face Primer - I have used this in many looks both here on the blog and for others and I have talked about it many times. In summary, I really enjoy this primer. It is my favorite non-silicon face primer and you can read my original review here. 

Did you finish up anything lately? If so, what was it and would you repurchase?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2012 brings you and your family lots of happiness, love, prosperity, and laughter! Personally, I don't have any resolutions because they are so hard to keep, but I wish you lots of luck with yours!

Did you do anything fun for New Year's Eve? I went to a friends place for a intimate party with good friends. Here is the look I wore for the evening:

Almost finished look, i.e. no lipstick and hair undone

Face: 

• Stila One Step Primer
• MAC Face and Body Foundation
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer under eyes
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer on red spots and blemishes
• MAC Cream Color Base in Bronze to contour
• Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Citrus Spark 
• Victoria's Secret All-over Shimmer Powder in Candygirl to highlight

Eyes:

• Nars Primer on lid
• Laura Mercier Foiled Eye Colour in V.I.P. Gold on lid
• Victoria's Secret Shimmer Shadow in Golddust on browbone
• MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack to line upper lash line
• MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved to liner outer half of lower lash line
• Victoria's Secret Triple Drama Mascara in Blackest Black on top and bottom lashes

The above photo is the finished look, with MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Most Wanted on my lips. I didn't do anything too fancy or complicated, just a bit of gold on the eyes and a peachy-maroon lip. 

How was your New Year's Eve? What are your resolutions for 2012?