Thursday, 15 April 2010 | Author: Catherine Horgan | 
Wow, a packed month of fabulous products, spanning fashion, beauty and skin care, reviewed by the team. Sit back and enjoy!
MIRABELLA: Skin Tint Creme Foundation, Shade Level II
Mirabella's mineral foundation is unlike most foundations on the market. The water-based gel formula literally glides onto your skin. It goes on thick, which I was worried about. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the creme dried quickly to give my skin a silky soft glow. The color was a close match to my own skin tone. The coverage was is a bit heavier than I'm used to, yet it was hydrating and gave my skin a luminescence that helped hide wrinkles and flaws. What's not to love about that! The product has an extensive ingredient list. Most importantly, it contains titanium dioxide, providing SPF 20 protection, which along with the sunscreen we should all be wearing everyday, will help prevent those damaging rays from coming through. Reviewing the other ingredients, what it doesn't contain is even more important: no talc, oils, parabens, FD&C or D&C dyes. Mirabella has done a nice job with their packaging. The skin tint creme come in a glass pump bottle, and you can easily control the amount of creme dispensed. Product Junkie gives this a B!
Hermes: Kelly Caleche Eau De Parfum
The unexpected caress of leather among flowers is the Hermes Kelly Caleche Parfume. A blend of mimosa, iris, tuberose, and climbing rose. With a very slight hint of leather, I found the floral combination to be over-powering on me. It's nice for spring/summer weather ... and dare I say, a scent that might be more coveted by the younger set. MamaQueen gives this a B.
Miss Me: Irene Boot Cut Jean
When I stumbled upon these jeans a little over a month ago, I couldn't believe the resemblance to my favorite True Religion jeans. At half the price, I had to have them. Another surprise, was that I ended up with a lighter wash jean in a distressed finish. And guess what, I am loving them. Definitely worth checking these jeans out! Aficionado gives this a B+!
Ava Anderson: Daily Skin Care System
This skin care system includes eye make-up remover pads, toner, cleanser and moisturizer. The products all feel gentle, light and completely unpretentious. I love the idea of a non-toxic line, and I think it's incredible that a child created them for our use! No parabens¸ no PEGs, no phthalates, no SLS, no 1,4 dioxane and no fragrance. No wonder I love it! Green Goddess gives the kit an A!
MIRABELLA: Spring-ology Sheer Pastel Eye Colour Trio*, Apricot Awakening
One word; gorgeous! Mirabella's spring eye color collection came at just the right time to help drive away the winter blues. The powder trio in Apricot Awakening has gorgeous (there's that word again) apricot brown colors that go from pale orange tan to deep brown wow. I used one at a time, then two, then all three. Every combination looked great. The powder goes on matte, and stays all day and all night. No fading, flaking or creasing. The lightest apricot shade is less matte than the others and has just a touch of shine to it. I used it to highlight my brow and provide lift to my inner eye. The middle shade is a light cognac color, rich and classy ... my 'go to' color for everyday wear. My eyes are brown, and this color accents them but doesn't compete — loved it! The third colour, deep cocoa brown, really powers up the eye for an evening look. Ooh la la. Can you tell I am a fan? The packaging is nicely done in matte black, and I love the mirror in the compact for checking to make sure all is still in place. Although the powder stayed so well, I really only used the mirror to pump up my look when transitioning from day to evening. Other than that, touch ups were not necessary. Gorgeous work Mirabella! Product Junkie gives this an A!
*MIRABELLA: Spring-ology Sheer Pastel Eye Colour Trio, Aqua Inspired
Ditto on the gorgeous eye shadows and stay-put-ability! Truly magnificent colors! The eye shadows look on the green side in the compact, but definitely go on more blue. I wear all three shades together and can't tell you how many compliments it elicits. Stunning, simply stunning! Aficionado gives this an A, as well!
Swap handbags: Bulga Mila clutch
When you have a special occasion to attend, but you don't have the right clutch, think Swap. This certainly comes in handy with the ability to rent by the week or month (or buy it out right). This Bulga clutch is stunning. The color, shape and finish make this bag an eye catcher! Love! Aficionado gives this an A!
Rimmel: Glam'Eyes Mascara in Black Brown
This mascara claims to provide up to 10x more volume and at a great price point, to boot. Extra volume and high definition can be found in its Volumflex brush using the short sides for volume and the long sides for perfect separation. It works. Not to be a snob, but for a drugstore mascara, it lives up to its claims. And check out the interesting fish-net pattern cap! MamaQueen gives this an A.
Alchimie Forever: Kantic Mask
Another wonderful product from Alchimie Forever! I love this mask. Chock full of antioxidants (grape extract, blueberries) and natural botanicals, this creamy moisturizing mask softens, brightens and soothes skin. Perfect for rosacea sufferers. I use it a couple of times a week and my skin seriously thanks me. Your welcome skin! Aficionado gives this an A!
Anastasia: Brow Kit
I have brow issues and I know it. So, I was thrilled to try the Anastasia Brow Kit. It comes with five stencils and you pick the one most suited for your distinct facial features. The directions say to use the tweezers, remove hair outside the stenciled area. Then, using the duo-angled brush, fill in the arch with the brow powder duo. And presto! Your brows are beautiful. Not so fast. The stencils are great and help you figure out where your arch is and they work great if you have big bushy brows (i.e., lots to work with), but if you don't fit perfectly in the stencil, then what? No work around. I was a bit confused. The tweezers are definitely nice quality and do the job well. A little too well. I think I over-tweezed, to be honest! The brow powder duo comes in two tones and blends in well. But in reality, I think I'll leave my brows to the professionals. MamaQueen gives this a B-.
Anastasia: Matte Highlighter
This cream-to-powder pencil creates a soft matte highlight under the eyebrows very easily. It can be used as a shadow or as a shadow base. It can also be applied over the lips as a base to extend the wear of lip color and prevent bleeding or feathering. It works great for all those areas and more! Goes on great, stays on well. MamaQueen gives this an A.
Aquafresh: Iso-Active toothpaste
I love my Extreme Clean toothpaste, so I had to try this new product from Aquafresh. Definitely foams up ... like the Scrubbing Bubbles. It claims to clean and whiten teeth better than other toothpastes, especially in between teeth. Unfortunately, the Iso-Active formula has a chemical-like taste. But it sure makes brushing fun! Aficionado gives this a B+.
Rimmel: Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil
This pencil is duo-toned and delivers a soft line that is easy to blend. It claims to be smudge resistant, but I didn't find that to be the case. It is very easy to apply and creates a smoky eye look. I found it easy to blend, but sometimes it 'blended away' and I would have to start over ... it's that soft. But I liked it overall. MamaQueen gives this a B.
Theory: Darrene Kenly button front shirt, white
I am not one to buy button down tops often. However, this one deserves attention. The cut is fabulous. Even better is the ability to change the fit with the side buttons. Super cute buttoned up or left undone. I love this worn plain and simple with jeans. Aficionado gives this a B+.
The team of testers were not paid to review these products. However, most of the products listed above were supplied as samples for review purposes.
MIRABELLA: Skin Tint Creme Foundation, Shade Level II
Mirabella's mineral foundation is unlike most foundations on the market. The water-based gel formula literally glides onto your skin. It goes on thick, which I was worried about. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the creme dried quickly to give my skin a silky soft glow. The color was a close match to my own skin tone. The coverage was is a bit heavier than I'm used to, yet it was hydrating and gave my skin a luminescence that helped hide wrinkles and flaws. What's not to love about that! The product has an extensive ingredient list. Most importantly, it contains titanium dioxide, providing SPF 20 protection, which along with the sunscreen we should all be wearing everyday, will help prevent those damaging rays from coming through. Reviewing the other ingredients, what it doesn't contain is even more important: no talc, oils, parabens, FD&C or D&C dyes. Mirabella has done a nice job with their packaging. The skin tint creme come in a glass pump bottle, and you can easily control the amount of creme dispensed. Product Junkie gives this a B!
Hermes: Kelly Caleche Eau De Parfum
The unexpected caress of leather among flowers is the Hermes Kelly Caleche Parfume. A blend of mimosa, iris, tuberose, and climbing rose. With a very slight hint of leather, I found the floral combination to be over-powering on me. It's nice for spring/summer weather ... and dare I say, a scent that might be more coveted by the younger set. MamaQueen gives this a B.
Miss Me: Irene Boot Cut Jean
When I stumbled upon these jeans a little over a month ago, I couldn't believe the resemblance to my favorite True Religion jeans. At half the price, I had to have them. Another surprise, was that I ended up with a lighter wash jean in a distressed finish. And guess what, I am loving them. Definitely worth checking these jeans out! Aficionado gives this a B+!
Ava Anderson: Daily Skin Care System
This skin care system includes eye make-up remover pads, toner, cleanser and moisturizer. The products all feel gentle, light and completely unpretentious. I love the idea of a non-toxic line, and I think it's incredible that a child created them for our use! No parabens¸ no PEGs, no phthalates, no SLS, no 1,4 dioxane and no fragrance. No wonder I love it! Green Goddess gives the kit an A!
MIRABELLA: Spring-ology Sheer Pastel Eye Colour Trio*, Apricot AwakeningOne word; gorgeous! Mirabella's spring eye color collection came at just the right time to help drive away the winter blues. The powder trio in Apricot Awakening has gorgeous (there's that word again) apricot brown colors that go from pale orange tan to deep brown wow. I used one at a time, then two, then all three. Every combination looked great. The powder goes on matte, and stays all day and all night. No fading, flaking or creasing. The lightest apricot shade is less matte than the others and has just a touch of shine to it. I used it to highlight my brow and provide lift to my inner eye. The middle shade is a light cognac color, rich and classy ... my 'go to' color for everyday wear. My eyes are brown, and this color accents them but doesn't compete — loved it! The third colour, deep cocoa brown, really powers up the eye for an evening look. Ooh la la. Can you tell I am a fan? The packaging is nicely done in matte black, and I love the mirror in the compact for checking to make sure all is still in place. Although the powder stayed so well, I really only used the mirror to pump up my look when transitioning from day to evening. Other than that, touch ups were not necessary. Gorgeous work Mirabella! Product Junkie gives this an A!
*MIRABELLA: Spring-ology Sheer Pastel Eye Colour Trio, Aqua Inspired
Ditto on the gorgeous eye shadows and stay-put-ability! Truly magnificent colors! The eye shadows look on the green side in the compact, but definitely go on more blue. I wear all three shades together and can't tell you how many compliments it elicits. Stunning, simply stunning! Aficionado gives this an A, as well!
Swap handbags: Bulga Mila clutch
When you have a special occasion to attend, but you don't have the right clutch, think Swap. This certainly comes in handy with the ability to rent by the week or month (or buy it out right). This Bulga clutch is stunning. The color, shape and finish make this bag an eye catcher! Love! Aficionado gives this an A!
Rimmel: Glam'Eyes Mascara in Black Brown
This mascara claims to provide up to 10x more volume and at a great price point, to boot. Extra volume and high definition can be found in its Volumflex brush using the short sides for volume and the long sides for perfect separation. It works. Not to be a snob, but for a drugstore mascara, it lives up to its claims. And check out the interesting fish-net pattern cap! MamaQueen gives this an A.
Alchimie Forever: Kantic Mask
Another wonderful product from Alchimie Forever! I love this mask. Chock full of antioxidants (grape extract, blueberries) and natural botanicals, this creamy moisturizing mask softens, brightens and soothes skin. Perfect for rosacea sufferers. I use it a couple of times a week and my skin seriously thanks me. Your welcome skin! Aficionado gives this an A!
Anastasia: Brow Kit
I have brow issues and I know it. So, I was thrilled to try the Anastasia Brow Kit. It comes with five stencils and you pick the one most suited for your distinct facial features. The directions say to use the tweezers, remove hair outside the stenciled area. Then, using the duo-angled brush, fill in the arch with the brow powder duo. And presto! Your brows are beautiful. Not so fast. The stencils are great and help you figure out where your arch is and they work great if you have big bushy brows (i.e., lots to work with), but if you don't fit perfectly in the stencil, then what? No work around. I was a bit confused. The tweezers are definitely nice quality and do the job well. A little too well. I think I over-tweezed, to be honest! The brow powder duo comes in two tones and blends in well. But in reality, I think I'll leave my brows to the professionals. MamaQueen gives this a B-.
Anastasia: Matte Highlighter
This cream-to-powder pencil creates a soft matte highlight under the eyebrows very easily. It can be used as a shadow or as a shadow base. It can also be applied over the lips as a base to extend the wear of lip color and prevent bleeding or feathering. It works great for all those areas and more! Goes on great, stays on well. MamaQueen gives this an A.
Aquafresh: Iso-Active toothpaste
I love my Extreme Clean toothpaste, so I had to try this new product from Aquafresh. Definitely foams up ... like the Scrubbing Bubbles. It claims to clean and whiten teeth better than other toothpastes, especially in between teeth. Unfortunately, the Iso-Active formula has a chemical-like taste. But it sure makes brushing fun! Aficionado gives this a B+.
Rimmel: Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil
This pencil is duo-toned and delivers a soft line that is easy to blend. It claims to be smudge resistant, but I didn't find that to be the case. It is very easy to apply and creates a smoky eye look. I found it easy to blend, but sometimes it 'blended away' and I would have to start over ... it's that soft. But I liked it overall. MamaQueen gives this a B.
Theory: Darrene Kenly button front shirt, white
I am not one to buy button down tops often. However, this one deserves attention. The cut is fabulous. Even better is the ability to change the fit with the side buttons. Super cute buttoned up or left undone. I love this worn plain and simple with jeans. Aficionado gives this a B+.
The team of testers were not paid to review these products. However, most of the products listed above were supplied as samples for review purposes.
