Givenchy - Iconic Stud palette (QVC exclusive): pics, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

Givenchy created two limited edition palettes for QVC, the Iconic Stud and Leatherette. I decided to get the Iconic Stud because the palette compact itself looked prettier to me and so did the shades inside. This quad is a beauty - from the shades to the feel to the performance, it's a real winner!

Check out all the product info, along with my full review, after the pics!

Givenchy Iconic Stud Palette Info & Review

Cost: $39.00
Availability: Available on the QVC website.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

PRODUCT DETAILS & CLAIMS...

Couture coordination. Elegant and luxurious, this eye shadow palette from Givenchy includes four specially selected shades to give you plenty of styling options. The couture-inspired case infuses a bit of luxury into your everyday.

Givenchy Iconic Stud Palette

The actual compact this quad comes in is very weighty and well made. It's a little piece of art, if you ask me. I chose the Iconic Stud palette for how it looked. The Leatherette looks pretty too, but this one called my name.

Inside are four gorgeous, wearable shades. You get a blue based gray matte, a deeper brown matte, a tan matte, and a rose sparkle shade.

They also include a mini duo-ended shadow brush, which I honestly never used and already lost.

The shades are really pretty, but look different than what QVC shows on their website.

Here is what my palette looks like (left) compared to what the QVC palette looks like (right):

 

As you can see, there is a difference, but it's still gorgeous and I love the shades.

Here are swatches....

Top left shade:

Top right shade:

Bottom left shade:

Bottom right shade:

FINAL THOUGHTS...

I really like this quad. I think it's a great everyday sort of quad to play with. If you really love simple, neutral eye looks, this will get the job done. you can wear the bottom left shade all over the lid, the top right shade in the crease and/or outer corner. Then use the top left shade as a smokey liner. If you want some sparkle, tap on the bottom right shade and you're good to go!

I've been using the two browns as crease/transitions shades, and using the sparkle shade a lot. I pair this palette with other shadows/palettes I have, but I have worn it completely on its own.

The texture of these shadows is really superb. The mattes have a velvety, creamy smooth texture. The sparkle shade has that packed sparkle pigment-like texture that is similar to the ones offered by Tom Ford and Charlotte Tilbury.

They blend like a dream! They were so easy to work with and effortless to apply. They're also really nicely pigmented, with the exception of the sparkle shade which is meant to be more of a topper shade and not fully opaque.

Overall, I find this to be a really luxurious little palette that I'd recommend as a great gift to give (in fact, I gifted my boss this as part of her Christmas present). They are limited edition, and only found at QVC, so get online and get yours before they're gone!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this palette? Have you tried this, or would you consider adding this to your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below!

xoxo with love & beauty,
Crystal Valentine

Allure Sample Society - September 2014: value breakdown, pics, swatches, mini reviews

Hello, Beautiful!

This is my September 2014 Allure Sample Society from BeautyBar.com! Check out below to see what I received, a little about each product and my thoughts, as well as a break-down of the value of this month's bag! I am so excited to get a FULL SIZED eye cream in this box that is valued at $85!

Allure Sample Society is $15 a month (although I get charged $15.80 for whatever reason). Each month you'll received 5 deluxe-sized beauty samples; a curated mix of skin, hair and makeup products - as well as fragrance from time to time. Plus an Allure mini-mag and a $10 off $50 Beauty Bar gift card. Use my code to get 20% off any/all of their sites you have not yet shopped on (beautybar.com, soap.com, diapers.com, wag.com, yoyo.com, and more). CLICK HERE to go to Allure Sample Society.
Code: KISS1299

September 2014 Allure Sample Society

Shipment Quick Stats:

• Value of this month's box: $108.05 (value is approximate)
• Total # of Items Received: 5
• # of makeup items: 2
• # of nail items: 0
• # of hair care items: 1
• # of skin care items: 1
• # of body care items: 0
• # of fragrance items: 1

Now I'll talk about each product...

Restoresea Revitalizing Eye Cream with Vibransea Complex

• MY THOUGHTS: Holy cow - this is a FULL SIZED eye cream that is valued at $85!!! That's a crazy good value to get in this box! I'm excited to give this a try, because I need a new eye cream. I like the texture of this - it has a thicker texture that is really silky smooth. It feels like it would be very hydrating, which is exactly what I need! Really excited about this!!
• FULL SIZE: 0.5 oz @ $85.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: FULL SIZE
• VALUE: $85.00

Lorac POREfection Mattifying Face Primer

• MY THOUGHTS: This is a clear primer that has a thick silicone texture (similar to the Smashbox primer). Although I've only tested this once, I didn't really like it for my skin. My skin is transitioning to a drier texture and mattifying primers can be too drying on my skin now. It certainly didn't make my skin more dry, but I felt like my foundation didn't go over top as smoothly as it could with a more hydrating primer. I think if you are normal to oily skin this would be a good primer for you. It does a decent job for pores, but only if you really press it into those areas (like you should with any pore minimizing primer). I think I can still use it on hotter days here, but with fall coming up this primer would of been better suited for me back in June. Still, since it is just a smaller sample tube I think I could use this up before the weather gets too cold.
• FULL SIZE: 1.7 oz @ $32.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.17 oz
• VALUE: $3.20

Alterna Caviar Repair RX Re-Texturizing Protein Cream

• MY THOUGHTS: I really like Alterna products, especially their Caviar line, so I was really excited to see this in my box. It's a really good sample size, certainly enough for me to use for a long while. It has really good reviews on Sephora's website so I'm very excited to give this a full try!
• FULL SIZE: 5.1 oz @ $35.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 1.35 fl oz
• VALUE: $9.26

tarte Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self Tanning Face Towelettes

• MY THOUGHTS: This sample box had 3 towelettes in it; I already had some from when I purchased the self tanner for the body but I never used them (and actually put them in my recent giveaway). I won't be using these either, so I'll save them for another giveaway or for a friend.
• FULL SIZE: 3 towelettes @ $9.00 - 10 towelettes @ $21.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 3 towelettes
• VALUE: $9.00

Givenchy Dahlia Divin Eau De Parfum

• MY THOUGHTS: I'm not a big perfume person, especially for getting sample vials in subscription boxes, but at least this perfume sample has a spray top. The scent is just okay... I'll have to see how it smells and wears on my skin.
• FULL SIZE: 1.7 oz @ $90.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.03 oz
• VALUE: $1.59

My Thoughts On The Entire Box...

• VALUE: The value was approximately $108.05
• USAGE: I will use the eye cream for sure! I've already tried the Lorac primer and will give it at least 2 more tries before deciding my final thoughts on it. Definitely excited to use the Alterna cream on my hair! Not going to use the tarte face towelettes, and probably won't use the Givenchy perfume sample much at all - it will just go in with my other perfume samples.
• FINAL THOUGHTS: Even though most of these samples were smaller and lower in value, the big bang of the box is the Restorsea eye cream with an $85 value! What an amazing deal! That alone makes this box so beyond worth it. And 3 out of 5 products are getting used, so that's a good thing. Really happy with the way this subscription service has made over themselves; it has improved for the better for sure! Can't wait for my October box already!

Let me know what you think...

What are your thoughts on this month's Allure Sample Society? Did you receive a box this month? If so, what are your thoughts on these items? Discuss in the comments below.

Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick in Rose Dressing: pics, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

I picked up the Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick as a 100-point perk sample from Sephora, and I love this lipstick! The shade is Rose Dressing, and wow is it a pretty pink! Definitely worth my 100 points! This is the first Givenchy lipstick that I've tried, and I'm really impressed with the formula. I know the full sized lipsticks are pricey at $36 a piece -- since they come in a real leather tube -- but after trying this one I'm tempted to try some other shades. Check out all the product info, along with my full review, after the pics!

Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick
Shade: Rose Dressing (202)

Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $36.00 (0.12 oz full size). Available on the Sephora website and everywhere else Givenchy beauty is sold.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses!

Product Info...

A semi-matte lipstick encased in genuine leather. Enjoy perfectly defined lips that last as long as you do -- and a genuine leather goods item. This lipstick-as-accessory delivers intense colors and a semi-matte finish all in one stroke, and as the first lipstick to come in real leather, it imparts a soft, supple touch and sensual feeling.


My Review...

The little mini of course didn't come in any leather; this is just your typical plastic lipstick tube, but I honestly don't care about the leather -- and think these would be way more affordable, had Givenchy decided to skip the leather packaging.

What I love is the formula. These are a semi-matte finish but go on so smooth and creamy. The color pigmentation is unreal with these - one swipe color! Really comfortable wear too. This lipstick also sticks around longer than other lipsticks - but of course wear will depend on what you're doing.

The shade I have is Rose Dressing, which is described as a bright coral pink. That's a very accurate description. Really love this shade - flattering on my light-medium skintone.

Looking at the other shades online, I'd also like to try Rose Perfecto, Hibiscus Exclusif, Corail Decollete, and Rose Boudoir.

Overall, really impressed with the formula. Could care less about the leather packaging. I'd recommend these based on formula!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this lipstick? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.