September 30, 2014

TATCHA The Ritual Discovery Kit for Normal Skin: swatches, reviews!

Hello, Beautiful!

If there is one word I could think of to describe the skincare brand TATCHA, it would have to be glow. I feel like my skin always has a healthy glow whenever I use TATCHA products. I've been a fan of TATCHA for over 2 years now. I published my first review back in August of 2012 of their POLISHED Deep Rice Enzyme Powder - which I actually still have some of, and still love!

They now offer a discovery kit for $59 - which is available in four skin types: Normal, Oily, Sensitive, Dry. I chose the kit for combo skin -- which turned out to be for Normal Skin (so ignore that the photos say Combo Skin... when I told the TATCHA people combo, they sent me this one; they don't have a combo skin option).

The discovery kit is a perfect way to try the TATCHA brand. You may be thinking that $59 is a lot for a 2-week discovery kit, but if you add up the value of each individual item it comes out to about $97.12! Plus, I did get more than 2 weeks of use out of this kit (in fact, I'm still using some of the products - I'll explain in my reviews).

Check out my review for each product and all the product info after the pics!

TATCHA - The Ritual 
Discovery Kit: Normal Skin
(choose this if you are combo skin)
Includes: deluxe sample sizes (enough for a  2 week + supply) of PURE One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, POLISHED Classic Rice Enzyme Powder (14 single use packets), RADIANT Deep Brightening Serum, and SUPPLE Moisture Rich Silk Cream
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual product.


This kit comes really cutely packaged! Would make a great gift - to someone special or to yourself!









TATCHA - PURE
One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
 






 TATCHA - POLISHED
Classic Rice Enzyme Powder







TATCHA - RADIANT
Deep Brightening Serum
 






TATCHA - SUPPLE
Moisture Rich Silk Cream






TATCHA The Ritual Discovery Kit Info & Review:
Cost/Availability: $59.00 (for the discovery kit). Available on the TATCHA website.
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Product Info...

A two-week introduction to your essential four-step ritual. The Cleansing Oil removes makeup and melts away the day, while the Enzyme Powder exfoliates to reveal polished skin. The Brightening Serum evens out complexion. Nourish Skin with the anti-aging moisturizer tailored to your skin type.

The Ritual Discover Kit is available in four skin types:
  • Normal (also choose this if you are combo and not too dry or too oily)
  • Oily
  • Sensitive
  • Dry

Each Ritual Discovery Kit includes:
  • 25ml PURE One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
  • (14) 1g packets of POLISHED Rice Enyme Powder (you will receive "Classic" if you selected Normal skin, "Deep" if you selected Oily skin, "Gentle" if you selected Sensitive or Dry skin)
  • 10ml RADIANT Deep Brightening Serum
  • 10ml SUPPLE Moisture Rich Silk Cream

Value Breakdown:
  • PURE One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil - Full Size is 150ml/5.1 fl oz @ $48 -- deluxe size is worth $8
  • POLISHED Rice Enzyme Powder - Full Size is 60g/2.1 oz @ $65 - all sample packets together are worth $15.12
  • RADIANT Deep Brightening Serum - Full Size is 50ml/1.7 oz @ $185 - deluxe size is worth $37
  • SUPPLE Moisture Rich Silk Cream - Full Size is 50ml/1.7 oz @ $185 - deluxe size is worth $37



My Review...

I love TATCHA! It is one of my favorite skincare lines, and although it can be pricey, it's worth every penny! Yes TATCHA did send me this discovery kit to test drive, but that in no way effects my opinion, especially when I have been a long time fan of their products.

If you're new to TATCHA or maybe just haven't tried more than one of their products, then their Ritual Discovery Kit is a great way for you to get started on an amazing skincare regime. It is $59 for a 2-week kick start, but I found I got way more use out of mine than 2 weeks - but then again I did slack on using this routine twice daily just due to my crazy schedule.

First, let's start with the PURE One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. This stuff is great! Doesn't contain mineral oil and no double cleansing required! It melts away all your makeup, even waterproof makeup, leaving skin fresh and pure. Great for all skin types.

I love it because it's such an easy, quick and effective product. You apply it onto dry fingers and onto a dry face, massaging it all over your face. Be warned it will feel like a greasy oil slick all over your face - so if you're not used to cleansing oils that may freak you out a bit. But don't worry - after you've massaged it into your dry skin you'll add water and it will lightly froth up a bit, turning into a gentle cleanser that takes away all your makeup, dirt and excess oils - leaving your skin soft and clean. You don't need to follow up with a cleanser or any other double cleanse; it just won't be necessary. You certainly could, but you'd just be wasting product.

I have tried several cleansing oils, and this one from TATCHA ranks up there as one of my favorites. I still have product left in this bottle - so this lasted me far longer than the 2-weeks of use. I find I use this once a day on average. I love it to remove my makeup, but if I don't have any makeup on I usually use another facial cleanser just so I can make this product stretch even further. Once I'm out I definitely want to purchase the full size - which is $48, I have fallen in love with it as my makeup remover cleanser!! Just very, very effective!


Next, let's talk about the  POLISHED Rice Enzyme Powder.

I did a review on this powder over 2 years ago; at the time I had the one for oily skin but my skin is more combo now so I have the one for normal skin in this post. I do love this product!  It's a just-add-water type of powder exfoliator. You don't feel anything harsh on your skin, yet it magically works to remove dead skin and leave you soft and smooth.

The single use packets that come in this discovery kit make it really simple to use, especially if you are traveling. I travel from time to time for my job, and these were especially handy in the more recent months to just throw in my bag and go. For those that don't know, aside from being a beauty blogger I also work for a hard cider company and I'm often working outdoor events - which leaves my face feeling really icky and gross at the end of the day. After I use the PURE One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil I'll just use one of the little packets and they make my skin feel amazing - almost like the entire hot, sweaty day of melting makeup never happened!

I personally couldn't feel a difference between the one for oily skin and the one for normal skin, but I'm sure it's all in the ingredients and how it benefits your face. I don't have any more of the packets left but I certainly loved them while I had them!


Now let's talk about the RADIANT Brightening Serum. This is brightening serum of time-tested Asian botanicals +HADASEI-S Bioactive Complex for radiant looking skin. Hydrates while making the skin appear more luminous. For all skin types. Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing.

This serum sinks into skin quickly and gives you that signature TATCHA glow! It has a noticeable effect, and my skin just seems to love this serum; no negative effects at all! I'll be honest and say that I'm a slacker when it comes to keeping up with skincare, especially serums - since I mostly use them at night, so I actually still have some of this serum left. But I love to use it. It really does give you a glow.


And finally, the SUPPPLE Moisture Rich Silk Cream! Luminous yet weightless feeling gel-cream of liquid silk, squalane, royal jelly and HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex. A long lasting anti-aging moisturizer without heavy oils. Ideal for oily and normal/combination skin. Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing.

This moisturizer is so lightweight yet packs some heavy duty moisturization! I love the texture - very silky smooth, gel-cream. Sinks right into my skin and leaves it perfectly hydrated all day!

I did find that one super hot days when I had to work outside and wanted my makeup to last the an extreme length of time, this moisturizer was a bit too heavy to wear - but normal day to day was just fine, and I especially love to use it at night! I don't have anymore of the moisturizer because I did use it up completely, but it was great while it lasted. I don't have any plans to purchase the full size at the moment, only because I have several other moisturizers I'm trying to work through, but it's one that I'd consider re-purchasing in the future -- although it does have a steep $150 price tag, so that is something to consider as well.



Overall, I think this discovery kit is a great value and an amazing way to try the TATCHA line of products. You just may find some favorites just from this 2-week kit! I know I found a new favorite cleansing oil!


Now let me know what you think...
What do you think of this skincare discovery kit from TATCHA? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Have you tried any of the individual products within this kit? Discuss in the comments below.

September 26, 2014

NARS Audacious Lipsticks: Brigitte, Anita, Natalie - swatches, pics, review!

Hello, Beautiful!

After watching and reading multiple rave reviews on the NARS Audacious Lipsticks, I couldn't fight the urge any longer and I treated myself to three of them. Narrowing down to just three was really difficult, considering the shade range is gorgeous. There are also 10 shades exclusive to Barney's New York (but you can buy those from the NARS website). In this post I have the shades Brigitte, Anita, and Natalie. Yes, these are expensive lipsticks at $32 a piece.... so the big question is, are they worth it? Read my full review below to see my thoughts!

NARS Audacious Lipsticks
Shades: Brigitte, Anita, Natalie
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.







NARS Audacious Lipstick
Shade: Brigitte







NARS Audacious Lipstick
Shade: Anita







NARS Audacious Lipstick
Shade: Natalie






NARS Audacious Lipstick Info & Review:
Cost/Availability: $32.00 (0.14 oz full size). Available on the NARS website, at Sephora, Barney's New York, and everywhere else NARS is sold.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses

Product Info...

Its luxurious, pigment-rich formula glides on intense, full-coverage color in a single stroke. A specially embossed bullet, dressed in a matte-black metallic case, reveals a strikingly sculptural design. House in a modern, matte-black metallic case with a magnetic closure.

One stroke to unstoppable impact. 40 shades of charismatic color.



My Review...

Everyone went crazy over these, and for good reason. People I think are getting too hyped about them though, and saying they are the most amazing lipstick formula in the world. While I do think these are amazing - especially at first application - I personally don't think they are the best lipstick formula in the world. In my humble opinion, the Sensai Lipstick was the most luxurious lipstick my lips have ever met.

The NARS Audacious Lipstick formula is really amazing though - especially upon first application. They go on incredibly pigmented and super creamy. They truly are one-stroke color. They also feel great on the lips.... at first.

However, after about an hour they start to feel drying on my lips - to the point that I want to re-apply or use a lip balm over top. Not everyone may feel that way though, because I do have extremely dry lips, but I couldn't write my review without mentioning that.

Regardless of how they may start to feel a bit drying, I still am in love with these lipsticks. They also stain the lips slightly, so the color will stick around for a very long time.

Out of the three shades I purchased, Brigitte and Anita are definite winners in my book. The shade Natalie, however, is just a bit too neon for my liking - especially at the moment. Maybe in the summer I'd wear it once or twice, but it's not a shade I'd wear often enough so I'm going to exchange it for a different shade of NARS Audacious Lipstick --- probably in the shade Juliette or maybe I'll go for one of the exclusive ones on the NARS website; I love Julie, Marissa, Kelly and Dominique from the exclusive shades.

Please excuse my lip swatches this time around; they're not the best because I just jumped into swatching these as soon as they arrived and my lips were super chapped/dry before hand. They look a lot better when your lips are not dry and chapped like mine, lol.

The packaging is really nice - it's all magnetic, which means you won't need to worry about the cap coming off in your makeup bag/purse. But I wonder if the magnetic case will mess with my phone... hmm, probably not but it's food for thought. I really like playing with the magnetic packaging though... it can be entertaining if you're bored, lol.

Overall, I think these lipsticks are super hyped up and within good reason. But I didn't really see a lot of people mention the dryness factor and I really wanted to make sure I mentioned that in my review. I feel like for a $32 lipstick it shouldn't feel that way, especially after an hour or so. Certainly not the most hydrating lipsticks - I actually think the Too Faced La Creme Lipsticks are far more hydrating, especially for longer - but it's a problem that is easily worked around. I either apply more lipbalm before applying these or I apply a lip balm whenever I start to feel the dryness coming on.... or I'll just re-apply the lipstick because I like how they feel upon first application!

Do I think these are the lipstick to end all lipsticks? No, certainly not. But do I like these? Absolutely!! And yes, I'd even recommend them!

Now let me know what you think...
What do you think of these lipsticks? What shade do you like best? Have you tried them or are they on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.