[ENDED] Yet Another Giveaway @ The Velvet Rose Petal!

Anne over at The Velvet Rose Petal blog is having a giveaway for the Wet 'n' Wild 2011 LE Holiday Palettes plus a lip gloss. Enter here for your chance to win!

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY, TOO!

New Dawn Eyes Cosmetics Chrome Collection: Duochrome Metallics!!!!!

I swear to the dear Lord above that I almost wet my pants when I saw the preliminary swatches of the new collection from Dawn Eyes Cosmetics: Chrome Collection. They are DUOCHROME METALLICS (yes, I'm yelling, LOL)! I cannot wait to swatch, photo, and try these and then report back to you :-) They will be available next week, but here are some photos to tide you over until then.

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY, TOO!

1. Blue to gold to green; 2. pink to lavender to blue; 3.  green to pink to lavender; 4. coral to lavender to bright green; and 5. lavender to pale orange to blue

6. Light blue with traces of lavender; 7. medium blue undertone, purple mid-tone, pink/gold overtone; 8. bright pink overtone, deep fuchsia undertone; 9. bright copper with a rose overtone and a green/gold undertone; and 10. fawn undertone with brilliant blue/teal overtone

11. Fawn undertone with brilliant green overtone; 12. medium blue undertone with golden overtone; 13. light blue to lavender to bright pink; 14. light bright pink/lavender to copper/orange to coral

<Hyperventilates> Be still my rapidly beating heart!

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY, TOO!

Linnaeus Cosmetics Update

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY, TOO!

From Marin Blythe at Linnaeus Cosmetics: "I just posted a little update about LC and an upcoming sale! Click on this link for deets: http://linnaeuscosmetics.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-was-that-i-think-i-saw-it-move.html."

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY, TOO!

[ENDED] The Grand-Opening Giveway is LIVE!

OK, my grand-opening giveaway is now LIVE! You can see the prizes under the "BFF GIVEAWAY!" tab on the far right, but I've provided some photos below to whet your cosmetic appetite :-)

First, for your perusing pleasure, there are two (transferred; partial) magazine subscriptions -- SPIN and Martha Stewart Living:

SPIN magazine

Martha Stewart magazine

Next, for yumminess in and after your shower or bath, there are two full-size Sugarcandie Beauty Bar items: Bella Body Creme and Midnight Monster Mash Body Scrub:

SCBB Midnight Monster Mash and Bella closed

SCBB Midnight Monster Mash and Bella open

Last, fun for your face: lots of miscellaneous eyeshadow samples from various indie cosmetic companies plus a mega-load of large Aromaleigh samples:

Miscellaneous indie eyeshadow samples

Mega-load of large Aromaleigh samples

And here is your Rafflecopter by which to claim you official entry. Even if you pre-entered, it/they won't count unless you do this official entry. All people who pre-entered my giveaway by following me and leaving a comment on my blog have earned one and two extra entries, respectively :-) Because the prize is large, I'm allowing the giveaway to last for 3 weeks.
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Please note that I purchased all of these products except for the magazine subscriptions, which were Facebook "freebies."

Aromaleigh v.2: First Collection is Up!

The first collection from Aromaleigh v. 2 is up, and it's called "Fall Tapestry." You can see it here (and order full sizes or a full sample set):

http://www.aromaleigh.com/nefataliedey.html

Have fun! Personally, I hope they offer single samples soon. Hopefully she is sending sample sets to bloggers for review :-)

Huggies Naturally Refreshing Green Tea and Cucumber Baby Wipes

BTW, don't forget to pre-enter my giveaway!

Item: Huggies Naturally Refreshing Green Tea and Cucumber Baby Wipes

Web site: http://www.huggies.com/en-US/products/wipes/naturallyrefreshing

What? Baby wipes on a beauty blog? Yep. I first read about them being used as facial wipes (i.e., to remove makeup) on Makeup Alley. I read several positive reviews on using Huggies wipes in this manner, and I was looking for some good (but not too expensive) wipes anyway, so I decided to give them a try. 

Before this, I had been using Korres Pomegranate Cleansing and Make Up Removing (gotta love the lack of punctuation there) Wipes for Oily and Combination Skin (neither of which I have, but I got them with a Groupon certificate to a cosmetic site; $12 for 25 = $.48/wipe). Although they burned my sensitive skin just slightly, I liked the way they smelled as well as their convenience. That's how I got hooked on wipes and went searching for a cheaper alternative to the Korres wipes; hence, the Huggies Wipes. 

The wipes that started it all

 I got 184 Huggies wipes (!) for about $7.99 ($7.99 for 184 wipes = $.04/wipe) at the Giant Food Store where I grocery shop, but I imagine that you could buy them just about anywhere. They didn't have them in the cute pop-up dispenser like other versions, but the green tea wipes were specifically recommended on MUA for make-up removal purposes, so I just got the refill pack. 

The better (and cheaper) wipes!

Well, I'll tell ya: They work great for removing regular (not waterproof [WP]) makeup! I wear WP makeup only once in a while, so if you're a WP gal, you'll need something stronger. But these also work well for wiping away cleansing oil used to remove eye makeup without having to wash your face all over again :-) They have a nice, light fresh scent and leave my face feeling as smooth as a baby's buttockular area :-) In fact, I figured they'd have to be safe and gently beforehand because they are made for baby arses. They are also great for, er, personal cleansing.

If you're interested, here is some safety information about them from the Huggies Web site:

Product use: Skin/personal cleansing [Ha! See?]

Product description: Clear, colorless liquid with a pleasant odor on a white polypropylene/cellulose wipe.
Emergency overview: May cause mild eye irritation.
EU Classification (1999/45/EC): Not classified as a dangerous substance or
preparation.
US OSHA Classification (29CFR1910.1200): Not hazardous
Canadian WHMIS Classification: Not a controlled product.

Guess they're safe enough for a . . . baby :-) So, clean up, gals (and stay that way!)
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Please note that I purchased this product for my own use.

BTW, don't forget to pre-enter my giveaway!

(My) Darling Girl Fall Picks + Halloween Preview Colors + SALVation Review!

 BTW, don't forget to pre-enter my giveaway!

Susan Woodall, the owner of Darling Girl Cosmetics, is the epitome of a “darling girl” (from Webster's: "very pleasing: charming"), so I’m assuming that the store name is eponymous :-) She’s a kind and classy lady who has a good business head, a kind and generous heart, and a creative imagination. I am glad to have gotten to know her through purchasing and through The RAT Pack Facebook page. So, without further ado, I give you . . . 

Company name: Darling Girl Cosmetics

Web site: http://darlinggirlcosmetics.ecrater.com/

The Web Site Itself: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve never dealt with an eCrater store before or since my shopping experiences with Darling Girl (DG), so I don’t know how similar or different they may be from store to store. One is always limited by the design constrictions of whatever store “engine” one uses. The landing page has the adorable DG geisha logo on it as well as some product photos. I had almost no trouble navigating the site to place my order(s), but I must say that it is a rather skin-and-bones, bare-basics Web site. It gets the job done, but seems somewhat dry in doing so . . . until you start looking at all the loverly (a bow to My Fair Lady) product photos and swatches contained within. The products can be found in outline format under the tab “Categories,” and the list of products is impressively comprehensive! Susan is one prolific woman :-) Because I mainly crave, collect, and use eyeshadows, I buy them the most. You can look DG shadows up by collection or by color. However, the complete range of products ranges from eyeshadows to the well-regarded Hologloss lip glosses to body salves. Her Glitter Glue eyeshadow fixative is highly spoken of, although I haven’t tried it myself . . . yet. Theoretically, you could get just about everything you need for beauty and skin care at this one e-store!

Pricing: 5 of 5 stars

Pricing is uber-reasonable, plus you have three, rather than just two, sizes to choose from: sample (1/8-teaspoon in a 2" x 2" zip-lock baggie for $.70), mini (1/4 teaspoon in a 3-gram sample jar for $2.25), or full size (3/4 teaspoon in a 5 gram sample jar for $5.50). The only thing I thought was a little "off" is the pricing/size difference between the sample and the mini sizes. The mini is exactly twice the size of a sample, yet it costs quite a bit more than twice the price. Maybe it's because the minis come in a jar rather than a baggie? Whatever the reason, if you prefer your loose shadow in jars, it's worth it because these shadows are so good. If you prefer your shadow in baggies (like I do), you can save a little money by getting two sample sizes and combining them in one baggie.

TAT and Shipping: 5 of 5 stars

Most of the samples I'm reviewing here were purchased by me more than a year ago (I know; shame on me for taking so long to review them) or were received more than a month ago as payment in kind for some writing work I did for Susan. However, I *did* reorder some of the colors I swatched below, so I do have a "representative" TAT to report.

Ordered: 08/27/11 (Saturday night during a sale)

Shipped: 09/08/11

TAT:9 business days (but I've had faster TATs from DG during non-sale periods)

Shipping: Don't remember exactly, but it was reasonable (i.e., between $2 and $3)

Actual shipping: Not designated on eBay shipping label
Sale refund posted : 08/27/11

Personal shipping email: No

DC/Tracking:Yes

Invoice:Yes, through PayPal payment confirmation

Packaging/presentation: Samples were each in a 2" x 2.5" baggie, which was then enclosed in cute 6" x 4" zebra-print bag

Extras: Yes: DG geisha sticker, 2 Halloween preview colors (Witch & Famous, Pretty Plasma),  free mini w/ $10 purchase (Peacemaker])

Packaging: Standard bubble mailer

Product: 5 of 5 stars

Colors ordered (formulator's description after colon, then my take in italics and my favorites bolded)


Photo key (left to right, top to bottom): Landry, Resolute, Santa Baby, Tragic Romance

Indoor with flash

Natural light, no flash

• Landry: Grapey brown metallic with pink shimmers This appears a bit lighter and brighter in real life; it's a great fall neutral  NOT A REPURCHASE :-(

• Resolute: Coppered brown with interesting metallic sheen I'm not sure how I feel about this shade; I didn't get metallic from it at all, but that's relative isn't it? The tone on me was a warm camel satin. NOT A REPURCHASE :-(

• Santa Baby: Copper with pink undertones and if you look closely there is delicate blue shimmers Finally! A warm red I can pull off; it's not too cool-toned and not too orange. I REORDERED :-) 

• Tragic Romance: Warm purple with loads of gold interference Something about this shade leaned too "grapey" for me even with the gold interference; it made me looked bruised, but it may work for gals with different skin tones than mine. NOT A REPURCHASE :-(

Photo key (left to right, top to bottom): Chaos, Chi Chai Monchan, Dr. Pepper Cake, Faren Hite, Fireside, LaLa

Indoor with flash

Natural light, no flash

• Chaos: Coppery brown pearl with purple undertones and subtle blue shimmers This shade made me look like I had been punched in the eyes; there's something about brown and blue that make my eyes look bruised (even MAC's Blue-Brown and Aromaleigh's

• Chi Chai Monchan: Metallic pink copper with gold flecks Hot damn; this color is a Barry White love song poured into an eyeshadow, smooth, silky, satin pink bedsheets and all! I REORDERED :-) 

• Dr. Pepper Cake: Metallic plummy brown with red and multicolored shimmers This color makes me feel good just having it in my arsenal even if I never wear it (which, of course, I will). It's the kind of color you can just swatch and get lost in, it's that beautiful and complex. Great fall shade. I REORDERED :-) 

• Faren Hite: Warm bronzey pink with subtle sparks of red Another great fall color for me. I'm a whore for anything pink and warm-toned, especially if bronze is mixed in, LOL. This shade is what I *wanted* MAC's Pink Bronze pigment to be, but this DG color is less "sharp" and gaudy and more well-blended. I DIDN'T REORDER BECAUSE I LIKED SANTA BABY AND CHI CHAI MONCHAN BETTER :-) 
• Fireside: Earthy maroon with shimmering glints of metallic sparkles Again, too grapey for my liking but nevertheless a beautiful shade. NOT A REPURCHASE :-(

• LaLa: Sheer cool blue-ish purple with pink iridescence Although I can't usually pull off anything blue-toned, this gorgeous shade worked on me. The blue and purple were so nicely balanced with the pink iridescence, I liked despite my usual prejudice against such colors!  PROBABLY NOT A REPURCHASE :-(

Photo key (left to right, top to bottom): Jeweled Taupe, Peacemaker, Pretty Plasma, Witch & Famous

Flash

Natural Light

 • Jeweled Taupe: Metallic bronzey taupe with multi-colored shimmers like jewels Despite the fact that this shade is not, IMHO, a taupe at all (taupe is a mix of grey and brown), it *is* a shimmery straw/hay shade that looks very nice on my eyes. Think of a sparkly hayloft at twilight, all a'glint in the setting sun, and you'll get the picture POSSIBLE REPURCHASE :-)
• Peacemaker (color of the week): NO DG description due to it's limited nature This color looked purple on my monitor, but it swatched as a lovely almost-navy blue. Not my color, but a unique one; you don't see too many navys out there. CAN'T REPURCHASE :-|

• Pretty Plasma (extra): Aqua blue pearl with contrasting black glitter. Not my color, but gorgeous nonetheless! NOT A REPURCHASE :-(

• Witch and Famous (extra): Plummy taupe with gold reflect DEFINITE REPURCHASE!
Skin Care Product Received

• SALVation: Susan sent me an adorable little tin of this balm, and I've been using it on my cuticles (almost) every night before bed. If I had had my wits about me, I would have taken some before-and-after photos. Take my word that it has worked well for me for this purpose. No longer dry and overgrown, my cuticles are smooth and tame :-) The only thing I would change is to offer it in a swivel-up tube as well as the tin because the tin's lid is hard to remove, especially if you have hand arthritis, deformed wrists, and a bumb thumb on the left hand! DEFINITE REPURCHASE :-)

Salvation

FINAL SCORE: 5 OF 5 STARS

Would I buy again?

Can't you tell yet after reading this glowing review, LOL?
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Please note that I purchased all of these products for my own use.

BTW, don't forget to pre-enter my giveaway!

Aromaleigh is Making a Comeback!

This post from Miss K.'s blog is so exciting, it deserves to be copied and pasted AND linked, so here is it:

A new Aromaleigh, under new management, that is…

This is a time of change and transition, which you’ll see happen gradually as so much is happening behind the scenes in order for Aromaleigh V.2 to grow and blossom…

During this transitional phase, you’ll find many products available from Aromaleigh’s former collections, as well as great deals on ingredients such as the cosmetic glitters and Pure Hue mica pigments. You can also expect to see a few Limited Edition eyeshadow collections rolled out as we work towards developing, testing and releasing a line of fresh, innovative and new Aromaleigh products with the same quality and value you’ve come to expect in the last 13 years.

To conceive this new product line, we’ll be setting up a series of polls because your input and feedback is very important to all of us working together in this new venture. These polls will help the new team understand what you desire out of the new Aromaleigh.

Aromaleigh’s founder, Kristen Leigh Bell, will be acting as the Creative Director, and Director of Product Formulation for the new Aromaleigh. With all the amazing, improved pigments and ingredients that are available now, the opportunity to work for Aromaleigh in this capacity is very exciting!

We’ve been working hard to get the transitional site up and running, but here’s what you can expect in the coming months:

1. A series of polls and feedback forms for you to offer your input, feedback, wants and needs

2. Availability of current collections and other possible previous inventory.

3. Some new LE collections to carry us through while your input is analyzed and the new product lines are introduced.

4. Good, positive changes spanning many aspects of business at Aromaleigh.

We’re very excited for what the future holds for Aromaleigh V.2… and hope that you are as well!

Here's the original link: http://dormantdream.com/2011/10/02/big-changes-new-directions-aromaleigh-v-2-new-management-and-more/

WHOO TO THE HOO!

Because I'm Far Too Lazy to Do It . . . A Halloween Post From The Velvet Rose Petal!

Since I'm not a huge fan of Halloween and because I'm far to lazy to compose a list of special and limited-edition Halloween collections, I'm pointing you to Anne of The Velvet Rose Petal, who had composed a comprehensive list, including Altered Ego, Black Rose, Brazen, Dark Heart, Darling Girl, Dawn Eyes, Evil Shades, Lucky 107, Meow, Moi Minerals, My Beauty Addiction, My Pretty Zombie, Noella Beauty Works, Persephone, Rock-A-Betty, Stella Starish, Sweetpea & Fay, Tick:Tock, Venomous, Virus Insanity.

 Anne's link is here:  http://thevelvetrosepetal.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-limited-edition-offerings.html. 

 My head is swimming! How about yours? Have fun, ghouls (ummm . . . I mean girls)! 

 AND DON'T FORGET TO PRE-ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!