Josie Maran Argan Lip & Cheek Color Stick Set - Swatched

As you know, I was browsing at Sephora online and saw this new Josie Maran Argan Lip & Cheek Color Stick Set ($34). I ordered one for myself and decided to order another for a giveaway contest. The set is a makeup lover's dream - four colors for lips and cheeks for a very reasonable price. The color selection is wonderful - the full range from champagne to plum-pink.

I love Josie Maran products. I've purchased Color Sticks before. You can use them on your face and lips, and they are tremendously hydrating. Now that I have these in hand, I'm very pleased with them.

This set of Josie’s portable Argan Color Sticks comes in four vibrant summer shades: Beautiful, Pink, Coral, and Twinkle. The sticks are small - 0.21 ounces each - but perfect for throwing in your handbag or makeup bag for travel.

Summer a go-go! These four travel-sized color sticks come in some of the most fun shades under the sun. Infused with 100% organic, 100% pure argan oil, you are moisturizing while adding a pretty flush to your lips and cheeks.

“This set includes my travel-friendly Color Sticks in four of my favorite shades. These nourishing face and lipsticks are infused with 100% pure argan oil to quench dry or damaged skin. They glide on and blend easily to give you the perfect natural flush to cheeks and lips, " said Josie Maran, founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics.

These dual-purpose lip and cheek color sticks provide flattering, subtle color while treating the skin with Josie Maran's signature argan oil. To be used as a blush or lip color, the color stick leaves a natural and long-lasting dewy finish that complements any skin tone, while repairing and replenishing the skin. Argan oil is a superior source of antioxidants, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. You can also count on Josie Maran for the purity of her products, which are formulated without parabens, sulfates,  synthetic fragrances, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan.

I took swatch photos in full, lunchtime sunshine. From left to right above, the colors are Twinkle, Coral, Pink, and Beautiful, which is actually beautiful. I swatched straight from the tube in that order on my arm, starting at the top with Twinkle. I applied each shade heavily. These are fabulously sheer, but "sheer" doesn't always photograph well. My photos are a little dark, a result of the bright sun tricking my camera.

As you can see, Twinkle is very sheer and nude. On the skin, it adds a subtle highlight, a dewy glow, without much color. Coral, below Twinkle on my arm, is a sheer coral - very pretty for summer.

Pink is a medium rose pink. Beautiful is a blue-tone rose - also medium in intensity. Naturally, you can mix these shades on the skin to get the color you prefer. Want to tone down Beautiful? Apply Twinkle over it. Too blue? Mix with coral to warm the shade. Each color offers a sheen, but no overt sparkling.

If I were applying these on my cheeks, I would apply them directly from the tubes and then blend with a foundation or other synthetic brush. They blend easily. Remember that you can use them on your lips too. I would apply them straight from the tubes. The wide tubes appear less than efficient for lip application, but they work very well. Remember to keep their double plastic caps on to protect them.

Don't forget that I'm giving away one Argan Lip & Cheek Color Stick Set for this week's giveaway contest. The deadline for entries is tomorrow, Saturday, July 6, at midnight. Good luck! If you don't enter or Lady Luck doesn't smile on you, you can find this darling little set at Sephora.

Update 7/6: Comment on the contest post to enter it, please.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Josie Maran Argan Lip & Cheek Color Stick Set Giveaway Contest

I was browsing at Sephora online and saw this new Josie Maran Argan Lip & Cheek Color Stick Set ($34). I ordered one for myself and decided to order another for a giveaway contest. The set looks like a makeup lover's dream - too cute to leave behind. The color selection looks wonderful - the full range from champagne to plum. I love Josie Maran products. I've purchased Color Sticks before. You can use them on your face and lips, and they are tremendously hydrating.

This set of Josie’s portable Argan Color Sticks comes in four vibrant summer shades: Beautiful, Pink, Coral, and Twinkle. The sticks look travel or makeup bag sized at 0.21 ounces each.

Summer a go-go! These four travel-sized color sticks come in some of the most fun shades under the sun. Infused with 100% organic, 100% pure argan oil, you are moisturizing while adding a pretty flush to your lips and cheeks.

“This set includes my travel-friendly Color Sticks in four of my favorite shades. These nourishing face and lipsticks are infused with 100% pure argan oil to quench dry or damaged skin. They glide on and blend easily to give you the perfect natural flush to cheeks and lips, " said Josie Maran, founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics.

These dual-purpose lip and cheek color sticks provide flattering, subtle color while treating the skin with Josie Maran's signature argan oil. To be used as a blush or lip color, the color stick leaves a natural and long-lasting dewy finish that complements any skin tone, while repairing and replenishing the skin. Argan oil is a superior source of antioxidants, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. You can also count on Josie Maran for the purity of her products, which are formulated without parabens, sulfates,  synthetic fragrances, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan.

 I have one set to give away.  How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title and link in your tweet. If you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

You will automatically earn a fourth entry if you have commented here during the last two weeks. I will know if you have.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, July 6, at midnight. I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. If the product is lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it.

The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them. I've had some trouble with both U.S. and international addresses lately.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck! Please remember that I am now moderating comments. It could be awhile before yours appears. Don't worry and type it in twice. It will publish when I can get to a computer.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Le Métier de Beauté Zeitgeist Blush/Eye Palette, Exclusive to Bloomingdale's Chevy Chase

Just when I was bummed that I didn't order the Temptalia Collection in time, Le Métier de Beauté has introduced a new treasure to salve my wounds. They are celebrating the launch of a new Le Métier de Beauté counter at Bloomingdale's in Chevy Chase, Maryland - a 20 minute drive from my house.

A departure from its Kaleidoscope palette design, the very limited Zeitgeist Blush/Eye Palette ($125) offers eight shades - four for cheeks or lips and four for eyes. Zeitgeist was featured on Le Métier de Beauté's Facebook page with swatches. As of 10:00 am this morning, it had not arrived at the store. They are hopeful for today.

The following shades are in the palette. I hope to show you my swatches later today or as soon as I can get my hands on the Zeitgeist, if not today.

The blush/bronze face shades (top row from left to right):

• Dusk
• The Factory
• Coral Reef
• Punta Cana

The eye shadows (bottom row from left to right):

• Oyster (highlighter)
• Tanned Sheen
• Sparkling Violet
• Granite Smoke

Zeitgeist will be available only at the Chevy Chase Bloomingdale's. If you want one, call (240) 744-3779 and ask for the counter. If you all the store's main number, dial to select the beauty department, then dial "0" because Le Métier de Beauté is too new to be included on the pick list. If you pre-order today or tomorrow, you will receive a Precision Liquid Liner as a GWP.

If you are in the DC area, head over to the Bloomies in Chevy Chase. Janice is there today doing consultations and makeup applications.

Update 2:30 pm: Zeitgeist has landed at Chevy Chase.

Photo courtesy of Le Métier de Beauté

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint from the Nude Beach Collection for Summer 2013 - Swatches

How I love color in stick form! When I saw the e-mail announcing Bobbi Brown's Nude Beach Collection for Summer 2013, I went straight to look at the limited-edition Sheer Color Cheek Tints ($26). I put two of them in my shopping cart, but didn't purchase because I wanted to dash over the Neiman Marcus to see if they had arrived - and could be tested there. The whole collection was there. The photo directly below was taken with my iPhone with flash. It shows the entire collection.

In the past, I've purchased every Sheer Color Cheek Tint Bobbi Brown has introduced. They are sheer, so shades you might think won't work for you will. I thought Nude Beach would be too dark for me. It's not.

Our beloved blush formula is back with a newly designed, more luxurious look. Featuring the same easy twist-up application, this sheer, tinted formula glides on smooth and blends in beautifully for a fail-proof flush of natural looking color on cheeks every time. Both O Magazine and Cosmopolitan feature the new Sheer Color Cheek Tints in the February 2013 issues. They are also featured in Self and Lucky Magazines (May 2013).

After testing all three shades at the store, I purchased Nude Beach (#11, described as golden pink bronze), Summer Pink (#12, bright pink), and Sunlit Nude (#13, described as golden pearl pink). They are pictured above in that order, from left to right.

I took swatch photos in full mid-day sun. I applied each shade directly from the tube to my arm, explanation for the uneven application. When applying to your face, you simply blend these very sheer beauties with your fingers or a synthetic brush. Swatching heavily for photos left me no room for normal blending. I wanted to show you the colors well.

Sunlit Nude (#11) at the top of my arm is the most sheer of the three. I see the color as a golden peach. It's extremely forgiving, so apply freely and achieve a subtle sun-kissed look. The finish is glowing, but not sparkly - despite that sun spot you see on my arm.

Summer Pink (#12) is perfect for pink lovers like me. It's a great blush. It also provides a sheer, glowing finish.

The moment I applied Nude Beach (#13), I saw that the finish is sparkling - different from the other two. The sparkle is subtle - almost like a sheen, but probably slightly over that threshold. Nude Beach is a true bronze shade, with just a hint of rose in it. You have to look very hard to see the rose.

I'm happy with my three new Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tints. They are available now at Bobbi Brown counters and the Bobbi Brown Web site. I have one more fabulous item from the collection to show you - very soon.

Photo at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty