When my copy of Allure magazine arrived with an ad for Chanel’s new Rouge Coco on the back cover, I knew I had to have it. That color! What is it? It’s so beautiful!

The shade is Mademoiselle. I can’t really put my finger on just what it is that fascinates me about this particular shade of lipstick, but I just love it. Chanel describes it as an “intense and coppery rosewood” and I guess that’s good. I don’t really know what rosewood looks like though. I think it’s just an excellent shade of pink, not too pinky, not too tawny, not too anything… just perfect!

The wear is excellent. It passes the “apply at start of work shift, talk for four hours” test and was definitely still there by lunchtime. It’s suprisingly tenacious for a hydrating lipstick! I like that I don’t get crusty lips after a few hours, like I do with less moisturizing lip balms. This one has good pigmentation too! Only a swipe or two is necessary to have perfect coverage, and it doesn’t try to bleed or feather into any lines around my mouth.

This lipstick is definitely a splurge (It’s Chanel! Of course it’s expensive!) but I think it’s totally worth it. If the shade Mademoiselle isn’t your thing, there are 29 other shades to choose from.

This post also launches a new category: Splurge Worthy. I’ll be going back and trying to tag older posts for this category as well! Happy Reading!

Badger Balm, one of my favorite companies ever, has some new lip products that I really want. They also have a newer Headache Balm that I’m totally loving, and I still want to try the newer Body Butters too.

The new lip products are Tinted Lip Balms with a tint on one end and a shimmer on the other. They are so pretty! There are four shades – Copper, Garnet, Red Jasper, and Rose Tourmaline. I want them all! The formula is their super-awesome Cocoa Butter Lip Balm formula, tinted with mineral colors. I can’t wait to try these! I think I’ll have to place on order…

The Headache Soother balm is perfect for calming down a wicked tension headache, and has the additional benefit of helping to clear your sinuses (for those sinus headaches!). I’m finding that a dab on each temple, and little under my nose, and a generous amount rubbed on the back of my neck to be very helpful in sending a headache packing – or at least a pounding headache to a dull roar. This balm was great during the last nasty cold I had. Now I carry it with me in my purse. It also does double-duty as a cuticle balm!

I also want to try the Every Day Moisturizers… one or two might find their way into that Lip Tint order…

I love fig fragrances. I haven’t really met a fig scent that I didn’t like, actually. You can guess, then, that I was quite excited to see that Bath & Body Works has introduced another fig scent, this time Sandalwood Fig, as a part of their aromatherapy line. W00t!

The last time BBW did a fig I had to have, it was the True Blue Morocco Sweet Fig & Argan Body Lotion (which is still available on the website, half off!) and at the time I wished they made a body spray in the scent. The Sandalwood Fig is quite close, with all the wonderful figgy scent mixed with the warmth of sandalwood. I was pleased to see the new roll-on size, as this is perfect for trying out the scent, and keeping in the purse.

I wish the fragrance had more staying power, but it isn’t meant to be stronger than a body spray. A person could probably layer with the matching lotion and body wash to make it last longer (and since they are currently 2 for $20, I may just get them too!). In the meantime, I’m enjoying the roll-on a lot.

The candle smelled pretty awesome too, and might require further investigation… (All in the name of science, of course!)

Two Thumbs Up!

I love lipstick, especially highly pigmented lipstick that doesn’t make my lips feel dry after an hour or two. With that in mind, say Hello to Avon’s newest lipstick Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact!

Here’s what Avon says:

Color goes brighter, bolder, more brilliant than ever before. Lips look fuller and come alive in vivid color and hi-def drama! Mega sexy lips…day or night.

Hmm. Mega sexy is a pretty big claim, is it true?? I put it to the test.

First, I really like the smooth texture of the lipstick. It’s not gritty like some can be, but is super-smooth. I really like the chiseled shape, it makes it much easier to apply and stay within the lip line. It’ll wear down, of course, but while it lasts I will enjoy it.

I have the color Magnified Mauve, which really seems a little too red to be mauve to me, but setting that aside, is still a great color. The formula has good wear. My test is applying lipstick at the start of my shift, and seeing if there’s anything left by lunchtime, four hours later – with a lot of chatting with customers in between. It’s not the longest-lasting formula I’ve tried, but there was still color left on my lips by lunchtime. Win! Plus, they weren’t dried out or crusty like some lipsticks leave them. Extra bonus!

What I like the best about it is the color is nicely pigmented, with a bit of some cool reflective pigments that Avon calls “Chromapixel technology” to enhance shine and color. It works!

Do my lips look mega sexy? Well… I like to think so.  If I was going to select other colors, I think I’d get Charged Cherry or Pink Pop. I give Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact lipstick two thumbs up!

Hey Readers! Good news!  I’m giving away a $150 gift card to use as you please, courtesy of SkinCareRx, a company whose mission is to make dermatologist and spa-grade skincare products accessible to everyone.  If you check out their site you’ll see that you can shop by skin type, skin condition, or brand name.

This is seriously awesome, folks. SkinCareRx has a LOT of cool stuff, including some great natural and organic brands, as well as makeup. If I won, I’d be picking up a Clarisonic MIA or maybe a bottle of Skinceuticals CE Ferrulic, which is a great serum BTW.

On to the important stuff: to enter this giveaway, leave a comment on this post!

Do you want extra entries?
Please leave a comment for EACH entry.

Follow @clairesbeauty and @SkinCareRx1 on Twitter

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For 2 extra entries (Leave 2 extra comments):

Tweet about this giveaway (be sure to leave me the link to your tweet).Retweet any of my tweets about the giveaway or Copy/Paste: RT: @clairesbeauty Win a $150 SkinCareRx gift certificate! @SkinCareRx1 http://bit.ly/aJCNvZ

For 7 extra entries (Leave 7 extra comments):

Blog about this giveaway and link to Claire’s Beauty and SkinCeuticals Skin Care (leave me a link to your post).  Blog post must contain at least 100 words, and please don’t cut and paste mine!

At the end of the contest, I will be printing out all comments, putting them in a hat and having my sister draw a name. Winner will be posted here!

Giveaway is open to US residents, age 18+
Ends 3/10/2010 11:59 PM PST

I hardly ever write negative reviews. It’s because I try to select products to try that I have a good likelihood of actually LIKING. I just tend to avoid products that I’m quite confident aren’t going to work with my skin, or that have a formula I know I don’t like (I rarely review cream eyeshadow, for example). But sometimes I try something, expecting to LOVE it, and it’s a major FAIL. This is what today’s report is all about!

Urban Decay’s regular Primer Potion for eyeshadow is one of my Holy Grail products. I don’t apply eyeshadow without it, ever. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. So it was with no small amount of anticipation that I purchased a tube of Urban Decay’s newest, Primer Potion Eden. Eden is supposed to be Primer Potion with the addition of yellow pigment, to brighten the eye area and correct any purplish discoloration. And I quote:

An eye prep product that provides smoother, longer-lasting, and absolutely crease-proof eyeshadow—and is now offered in a very-wearable, tawny, matte hue.

And thus begins my tale of woe. Regular Primer Potion ROCKS MY SOCKS. My eyeshadow will stay crease-free for up to 12 hours, more if I don’t sweat much. Last time I flew to New York City I had applied eyeshadow the morning before the flight, for work, and it only needed light retouching when I landed, 24 hours later. It’s THAT GOOD. But Eden…

I want to love this product. I like the color-correcting effect, and my shadow looked lovely on top of it this morning. BUT! It barely made it past my lunch break for it all devolved into crease city on my eyelids! SOB! Yep, not even six hours later… Whatever they did to the formula, it definitely doesn’t have the same anti-crease magic of regular Primer Potion.

I may give it another try, or perhaps try it on my dark circles instead. But it was a FAIL at performing its primary function, keeping my eyeshadow in place. Perhaps someone whose lids don’t get as oily as mine do will find it ok.

Hello Lovelies! Today we are giving away an EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set to two lucky winners!

I love these smaller-sized eye makeup brushes, both for every day use and for travel. They work great for both mineral (loose) eyeshadows and pressed shadows, and the quality is great – as is true of all the EcoTools brushes I’ve used.

Entering the giveaway is easy. See my blog entry with the tutorial videos created by EcoTools, then enter by telling me your favorite tip from the videos. Please use the contest box – entires left in the comments will not be counted.

Have fun!