Power to the Petal

Happy May Day!! May is my favorite month and not just because it's the one I was born in but really because everything comes to life! Gone is the crappy weather and in rush the new flowers and vibrant colors of Spring. Are you ready for all this delicious change? I am cause I've got the new Sugar Petal Tinted Lip Treatment from Fresh and it's a beauty!

Fresh Sugar Petal Tinted Lip Treatment

Ordinarily, I would never go for something this shade as I like nude, deep lip tones rather than something soft and feminine. However, whilst perusing around Sephora a few weeks back, I noticed this new shade had been added to their already impressive lineup. There was no way that this mauvey pink could look good on me. I already own almost every shade as these truly are universally flattering but at some point, there has to be one that just doen't work, right? Wrong! Its a warm but subtle pink - not really bright or striking but still gives that great balance of tint and treatment that Fresh is known for.

Pretty Petal Pink

All of the Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments have SPF 15 along with a blend of various oils like jojoba, oli, and avocado. They really do contain sugar which is a natural humectant that stops moisture from leaving the lips. I love them ALL - I just can't get enough! A quick swipe puts a spring in my step which is quite appropriate, given the season.

Juice Beauty makes CC Cream Silicone-Free

When BB creams first hit the US market last year, I was ecstatic. As a beauty junkie enthusiast, all-in-one products are as tempting as they are plentiful - needless to say I jumped right in. Alas, this "enthusiasm" led to a silicone allergy discovery as many BB Creams are made with a lot of silicone in order to create that smooth, flawless look. After months and months of searching for an alternative, Juice Beauty skipped the line and debuted its Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream. At first, I thought it was a typo but as "BB" stands for "Beauty Balm" or "Blemish Balm", "CC" means "Color Correcting" and is designed for people are hyper-pigmented or those with sun damage. There are ingredients that lighten those dark spots while also protecting from further damage with SPF.

Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream in Warm Glow

I am very familiar with Juice Beauty and their use of organic ingredients and juices as the foundation for their entire skincare lineup. Personally, I enjoy using this creme as a primer under a mineral power or my MUFE Pro Finish as it is a tad on the thicker side but really smooths things out nicely. I also wear it alone for sheer coverage day to day; its not pigmented enough to cover like a foundation but it definitely evens skin tone. But the BEST part of this CC cream is that it really does fade all my old acne scars - naturally! Pretty soon, I might not need this product at all! Just kidding, Juice Beauty, I'm hooked on this multifaceted product as it just continues to find ways to make my skin happy.

What about you - do you have a favorite BB or CC Cream?

Earth Day is every day for OCC!

There has never been more eco-friendly, vegan, and organic products on the market so don't be shy - try something new! I for one am flipping over the Lip Tar and Concealer from OCC or Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. Your eyes and lips are the most delicate parts of your face - not to mention the most fabulous! It feels so good to treat them right and show them just how beautiful they can be. OCC's products are 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free and the range of shades is outstanding.

(l to r) OCC Lip Tar in "NSFW" and OCC Skin: Conceal in "Y2"

Choosing just one Lip Tar seemed unfair but with "NSFW" a "True, Balanced Red", I feel like I made the right choice. It's light in texture but saturated with color. Made with castor seed oil, hemp, peppermint and Vitamin E, its also surprisingly moisturizing.

Silicon-free concealers are very hard to find - especially in a shade that's perfect for me. OCC Skin: Conceal has it covered on two fronts, incorporating skin undertones (Red or Yellow) as well as your shade (0 is the palest, 5 is the darkest). It gentle but long-wearing - a new staple in my makeup bag.

So today, in addition to papering yourself, do something nice for Earth - she works hard for us but she can always use a little help. Any little bit counts so even is it's installing a smaller garbage bin in your house for recycling, always leaving a reusable tote in your car so that you don't have to use paper or plastic ones when running errands, or buying a reusable self-filtering water bottle instead of another case (one filter saves 300 plastic ones!!) There are so many things but I feel like these are easy to incorporate into anyone's routine. Start something today and stick with it tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. Change starts with you and so why not say thanks by showing you do care.

Make Up For Ever + Pantone Color of the Year = LOVE

I have huge - scratch that - MASSIVE love and respect for Make Up For Ever ever since I was first introduced to the brand over a year ago. What started as an idyll fascination has developed into an active, working relationship based on learning and developing skills that no other make up brand has taken the time to teach. How does that old saying go - something about teaching a man to fish instead of just giving him one and sending him on his merry way? Well, though different programs like one-on-one Make Up School and weekly Make Up Mastery Courses, MUFE has put education first, ensuring a loyal customer base that includes make up artists and beauty enthusiasts alike.

Last night at the "With Flying Colors" Event at the Robertson Blvd boutique in L.A., the focus was obviously on color and how to incorporate it into your makeup repertoire. What a great excuse to play with my favorite shades including, by some celestial coincidence, Pantone's Color of the Year: Emerald. I could not have planned this better as it was an ideal pairing of the new Technicolor Palette and Aqua Shadow 8E to create a look that is 100% me!

Eyes by Make Up For Ever
Products used: Technicolor Palette and Aqua Shadow in 8E

The lovely duo: Technicolor Palette and Aqua Shadow in 8E

 What is so unique about the palette is that it combines neutrals with brights, ensuring experimentation and wearability. To achieve this look, almost every color was used, starting with the white in the inner corner, all over the lid (white under a color makes it POP) and to highlight the brow bone. Then the lighter champagne color was swept all over the lid and the darker brown concentrated in the crease. A touch of the black added depth when placed in the outer corner. (For an everyday smokey eye, I could have stopped here but where's the fun in that?!) Next came the color in the form of that light green. With color this bright, it is very important to place the color by patting it on the eye, not swiping or blending. You'll be much more color payoff and won't diffuse the color all over the place. The green is placed in the middle of the lid, where it will have the most impact. The yellow is added to the inner corner and blended in towards the green so that it comes off golden. The blue was added on the outer lash line before adding the green Aqua Shadow pencil in a diagonal shape towards the middle of the eye. This sounds like a lot but the whole thing took less than 5 min including mascara (blue makes eyeballs look whiter!) and brows (Aqua Brow is da bomb!!) The result is totally wearable, emerald green smokey eye that begs to be taken out for a night on the town.

Color is EVERYWHERE this spring so don't be afraid to play and have fun! I, for one, can't wait to try some other looks even though this combo might be a hard one to top.

Nailing it: butter London Spring 2013 Nail Lacquers

Spring is my favorite season so when it came to looking for new nail hues, I wanted colors that were fun, flirty and mirrored my excitement.  There was no shortage of collections to choose from - everyone from Essie to O.P.I. to Zoya attempted to catch my eye but the best shades seemed to come from across the pond. butter London's Lacquers may all be pastels but they seem to have popped right out of a pretty box of delectable macaroons. Aptly named Sweetie Shop, the collection includes (from left to right): Fiver (the prettiest mint you ever did see) Fruit Machine (a true bubblegum pink) Molly Coddled (a lovely lavender) and Kerfuffle (very cantaloupe-esque).

butter London Spring 2013:
(l to r): Fiver, Fruit Machine, Molly Coddled, and Kerfuffle

Having tried butter before, I know to expect a smooth, shiny finish with none of the bad stuff. Their 3 free formula and über pigmented polishes make them a guilty-but-actually-good-for-me pleasure.

(l to r): Molly Coddled, Fruit Machine, Fiver, Kerfuffle

Two additional shades that I did not purchase are Cuppa (yep, its coffee colored) and Jasper (a bright, sunshine yellow). Both are cute but not as fab as the other four - I had to have them! Could. Not. Leave. Them. There. The summer collection is about to debut in stores but this Sweetie Collection will be a tough act to follow.

Goodebox - The Subscription Beauty Box That's Actually Good For You

My favorite Goodebox samples from my last five boxes

It is sooooooo difficult to resist the temptation that is the subscription beauty box. Birchbox, Sample Society, Ipsy, Beautyfix - there are too many to just choose one! I had finally resolved to abstain completely as each box would most likely contain products that I could not use due to my silicone allergy UNTIL I stumbled upon Goodebox. For a reasonable $16 a month, 6-7 beauty, health, and wellness samples are delivered to my door from companies that are conscious of what we are putting into our bodies. Products are usually all-natural, organic, vegan or all of the above making silicone rare and me a happy girl. What's really great is that there are new and upcoming companies as well as already well-established ones like Pacifica and Weleda. After reflecting on six month's worth of boxes, here are some breakout stars:


Sugared Beauty's Happy Face Foaming Scrub Cleanser - This was in my first box back in October. It's a multitasking wonder that cleanses, polishes and leaves your face soft and naturally moisturized. At first it was confusing to think that this little pot packed with sugar could do all that but I was pleasantly surprised. Sugared Beauty combines the healthy benefits found in nature with with the joy of dessert and the result is definitely sweet.

Bar Beleza Multi-Use Beauty Bar from Me and The Girls - In the spirit of multitaskers, this organic bar can do anything - no seriously - ANYTHING! Its a cleanser, moisturizer, primer, and conditioner all in one twist up tube that makes it super portable. The secret is Cupuacu Seed Butter which melts from a solid to a liquid on contact. It could replace half of the items in my medicine cabinet...which is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

Sweet Libertine Cosmetics' Mineral Eyeshadow in Dragonfly - It's not all that common to find makeup in this box (one of my only complaints) so it was a surprise to finds a versatile mineral eyeshadow in the holiday box. It's subtle iridescence was perfect for the season but also natural enough for everyday. The vegan darling is sadly discontinued but there are plenty of other shades to choose from.

Lavender Whipped Shea Butter from Metropolis Soap - Lavender is my weakness so this vegan whipped shea butter from Brooklyn, NY was bound to become a quick favorite. Made by hand from only 4 ingredients this is perfect for my seriously dry skin. It really doesn't get any better than this!

Moom Hair Removal Kit - Last but certainly not least is a certified organic, heatless sugar wax that is honestly the least painful hair removal system hat I have ever tried. When it came in last month's box, I was super skeptical  I have had one too many bad eyebrow waxing experiences that have left me looking like a surprised cartoon character (my sister's words, not mine). So, we decided to let sleeping dogs lie and test this product on our upper lip. Neither of us have ever waxed or threaded our ladystaches but we were surprised by how easy it was to render our lips virtually hairless. This is something I would definitely repurchase even though the sample will last me a loooooooong time.


Overall, Goodebox does a great job of elevating lesser known brands and keeping their boxes fresh. While I'm sure everyone would like a little more say as to what is in their boxes, I am looking forward to what new brands the next box will introduce me to.

Does anyone have a subscription box they really love? Let me know in the comments section below!

Review: Make Up For Ever

I'll admit that I have been wanting to try this brand for a while but let's face it, walking into Sephora one gets a little distracted. Thank goodness I live in LA where there is a freestanding boutique in Beverly Hills that gives the brand the home base it deserves. Last week, I took a class and learned soooo much from their incredible team that I literally drove right home to make this video.

Basically, their HD makeup looks phenomenal on camera and I cannot tell you how light it feels. It's really something you have to experience for yourself. I am hooked and cannot wait for my next pro class!! Here are the products I picked up:

HD Microperfecting Primer in 4,
HD Invisible Cover Foundation in 153,
& HD Concealer in 340

Eyeshadows: 131 (mauve), 4 (black), and 28 (brown)

 Ready for a Close-up?

I am looking forward to exploring more of Make Up For Ever as a brand. Their dedication to new technology really stands out and makes sense for this ever changing industry. Hope to have some more goodies to review soon!

Ta Ta For Now,
the mixx chic

Say "Yes" to Carrots

This week (more like last week,) I did a review on the AMAZING San Francisco-based skin care brand Yes to Carrots. All of the products from their four fantastic lines are more than 90% natural because they are made with organic fruits and vegetables. They are also paraben, SLS, and petroleum free!! Here's the line up:

Yes to Carrots - Nourishes Normal to Dry Skin

Yes to Cucumbers - Soothes Sensitive Skin (also hypoallergenic!)

Yes to Blueberries - Arms Maturing Skin with Necessary Antioxidants

Yes to Tomatoes - Clears Troubled Skin (my fav!!)

I have been using the Daily Clarifying Cleanser and Daily Balancing Moisturizer from their Yes to Tomatoes line and I cannot tell you what a difference it has made on my skin!! I almost wish I would have done a before and after but I has no idea these products would work wonders like they have. I think its the Lycopene from the tomatoes that really did the trick.

I also tried the facial towelettes from the soothing Yes to Cucumbers line and I think they are the BEST makeup removing cloths EVER. They do their job AND they're moisturizing too!

I started picking up other things from the original line like the the body butter and color lip balm and I have to say, so far I love everything. It's very rare when this happens, folks, as I am VERY picky and not afraid to return things I dont like. I think this is an phenomenal company with a great mission and excellent execution. Check out their website at www.yestocarrots.com but you should be able to find most of the products at stores like Ulta, Walmart and Target in the natural beauty/skincare asile. Happy Shopping!

Glowingly Yours,
the mixx chic

Let's Get Naked!

The New One

The Classic

Urban Decay's

Naked (right)

vs.

Naked 2

Much like the palettes themselves, the wordplay possibilities are endless so forgive me for indulging a bit with my title. I am VERY excited to finally be reviewing these beautiful palettes in their entirety. I have been playing with the colors a lot as of late and hopefully this post and subsequent video will help express just how wonderful I think they are.

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette

Naked2 is the cooler, sultrier sister to the first palette with twelve pigmented eye shadows and a fabulous, cruelty-free, dual ended brush. There are 5 palette exclusive shades and one duplicate from the first palette, Half Baked, which is OK by me because I love it! The palette also comes with a sample of Lip Junkie in, what else, "Naked."

 Swatches 

Starting from left, here are the shades included with palette exclusive shades in italics and matte shades in parentheses: Foxy (m), Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease (m), Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, and Blackout (m).

Urban Decay Naked Palette

The original Naked palette is a bit warmer in tone and comes with a sample of Primer Potion. Don't be deceived by its age, as this palette still packs a powerful punch. Similarities are bound to be drawn and I think that whether or not you by one or the other is entirely up to you. I enjoy them both and believe that the versatility is equally great in each.

Swatches

Starting from left, here are the shades included with palette exclusive shades in italics and matte shades in parentheses: Virgin, Sin, Naked (m), Side Car, Buck (m), Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal.

Overall, I love both of these palettes and think everyone should consider adding at least one to their makeup repertoire. Again, the choice is ultimately up to you but be sure to check out the video review below!

Easy Beach Makeup

Hello all! I've been wanting to post this one for a while mostly because of it's fabulous guest star: my little sister!! Sel was gracious enough to sit down with me for a short makeup tutorial that is specifically for the beach. Not that you can't wear it anywhere else - it's a great, simple natural look that features five of my favorite products:

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation in Medium Dark

MAC Pro Longwear Eye Shadow in Carefree

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara in Very Black*

CoverGirl Professional Natural Lash Mascara in Clear

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Whole Lotta Honey

Little side note: since we filmed this, CoverGirl launched a new, smudge proof mascara that I LOVE called LashBlast 24 Hour Mascara. I highly recommend it!! 

xoxo,

the mixx chic

My Brief "LUSH" Affair

I had heard London calling from across the pond for quite some time and just had to try LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. I mean, how could I resist? Mixing those dashing Brits with all natural ingredients, packed with love by people with names and guaranteed fresh, fresh, FRESH? Amazing!! So I spent the last few months testing out a variety of skin, hair, and cosmetics including those pictured below. In general, I like these products however I find that the prices are high for how little product you get. I understand that they are selling "freshness" but honestly, most of these have comparable products that are organic or mostly natural if you need your nature fix. Take a look at the video for my product breakdowns - Enjoy!