Nivea Sun-Kissed Beautiful Legs Shave Minimizing Gradual Tan Daily Lotion

Although I primarily use high-end skincare and makeup, there are a handful of drugstore products that I couldn't imagine life without.  Nivea's Sun-Kissed Beautiful Legs Shave Minimizing Gradual Tan Daily Lotion for Fair to Medium Skin ($9.99/6.8 fl oz) is one of my staples.

I've previously bemoaned the issues that us alabaster beauties face when it comes to summer and self-tanner. Most high-end products are geared to medium-dark complexions and look fake or orange on me.  That's not what I'm looking for in terms of a self-tanner.

My requirements for a self-tanner?

• Not very deep
• No orange tint
• Idiot-proof
• Not too stinky
• Buildable, so I can control the shade

 If I'm not looking to look like I just spent the weekend at the beach (c'mon, everyone can immediately tell that I burn just thinking about the sun), then why use self-tanner?

I have one main motivation: I don't want to wear pantyhose in the office all summer, but I also don't want my legs to blind everyone.  I am seeking a soft glow that's not distracting and would disguise some of the imperfections visible with my (admittedly) translucent skintone.  As for wearing shorts, I couldn't care less what the general public thinks about my legs. It's about being more comfortable in the office yet still looking put together.  To achieve that, I use a combination of this self-tanner and a shimmer lotion (my latest favorite is the Clarins Shimmer Oil I talked about earlier this month).

While I have some doubts about the Shave Minimizing claims, this product ticks all of my boxes. It's incredibly light and therefore buildable. It dries quickly when spread thinly, but the lotion texture allows you to control application for probably up to 5 minutes- making it idiot-proof.  There is a self-tanner smell, but it dissipates within a couple of hours. In the summers, I tend to shower immediately after getting home to wash away the heat and sweat of summer, and then apply self-tanners in the evening.  I get about a month's worth of applications from this tube.

Are there better overall self-tanners out there? Probably.  But this works well for my purposes, and I wanted to take a moment to show a drugstore product that I love since I routinely rave about luxuries like $50 lipsticks.

NOTD: Butter London Squatter

Today's NOTD is a vivid, pigmented creme from Butter London.  I'm not sure what the correct season is for Squatter, but it brightens up any mani.  There are two coats plus Butter London Hardware on my nails here.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

I hate fakes. I despise fakes. I think that it's always better to go with the original, and if you can't afford the designer bag, find one within your p-rice point rather than supporting fakes.

Aside from sun.  I only get my tan in the fake sense.  It's a matter of health, people!

I've been testing Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for the last month, and I'm sold. This is my best experience with high-end self-tanners to date.

First, let me make this clear: You cannot use this self-tanner without a moisturizer of your choice. Did everyone get that?  It's the consistency of soy sauce and will do some serious damage to your skin and your perfect fake glow.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster is unique in that you can use it with your moisturizer of choice. In theory, you can wear this during the day, but I highly recommend only using this at night.  You start to notice a distinct self-tanner smell after a few hours.

I've been using this with Sephora Collection Instant Moisturizer, to great success. I purposely found the most basic moisturizer that I could so that the self-tanner didn't interact with any retinoids or other active ingredients. In this review, you're getting a mini 2 for 1- I haven't noticed any negative impacts from swapping my regular moisturizer out for the Sephora Collection Instant Moisturizer. It actually reminds me of an old favorite Boots Sensitive Moisturizer that isn't available in the US (I actually bought my last bottle in Dubai). My sensitive skin agrees with the Sephora Collection Instant Moisturizer, and at $12 for the smaller 1.0oz squeeze tube (perfect to mix with the Golden Glow Booster), it's very affordable.

Overall, the effects from Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster last 3-5 days, and are buildable. Since it's early in the season, I've been using it about every 4th day just to keep a slightly sun-kissed look. Once we transition into June, July, and, August, I'll be using it daily until I achieve my optimal shade, then every 2nd or 3rd day to maintain. That said, my optimal tan is much paler than most people even start the season!

One of the things that I struggle with as a porcelain beauty is finding that balance between a healthy glow as someone who works in an office and avoids the sun and a fake orange or deep tan.  I appreciate self-tanners like the Clarins Golden Glow Booster that allow for customization of a light tan.  The Clarins representative said that this is designed to be "5 minutes of sun." That's plenty for me!

Bottom Line: This is a must-have, safe self-tanner for us pale beauties. I can't speak to the efficacy on medium and deep complexions, but there are a multitude of other self-tanners that are designed for those beauties.

NOTD: Butter London Dodgy Barnett

Today's NOTD is Butter London Dodgy Barnett. This is a beautiful silver holo shade that I couldn't quite capture in pictures.  There are three coats plus Butter London Hardware on my nails here.

2014 Sephora in JCPenney Sun Safety Kit

While I certainly haven't had the opportunity to try out all of these products, the Sephora in JCPenney versions of the large Sephora sets are never online, so I wanted to give everyone a peek at what's inside.  There are a lot of repeats from the 2013 set, but it's in a smaller bag. This retails for $32 and includes the standard charitable donation to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Contents:

• Algenist Regenerative Anti Aging Moisturizer SPF 20 (0.5 fl oz/15ml)
• Bare Minerals Original Mineral Veil Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 25 
• Murad Essential-C Day Moisture  SPF 30 (0.33 fl oz/10 ml)
• Ole Henriksen Protect the Truth SPF 50+ Broad Spectrum Sunscreen (0.5 fl oz/15ml) 
• Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion (0.5 fl oz/15 ml)
• Shiseido SPF 50+ Ultimate Sun Protection Cream (0.64 fl oz)
• St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse (1.69 fl oz/50ml)
• Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Bronzing Beauty Balm SPF30 (0.23 fl oz/7ml)
• Supergoop SPF50 Sun-Defying Sunscreen Oil (1 fl oz/30 ml)
• Tarte Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self-Tanner (0.5 fl oz/15 ml)
• Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Matte Bronzer (4g/0.14oz)

I just wanted to take a moment to show the contents of the kit, not necessarily review it. This year's bag is smaller than the 2013 version.  Here's a comparison of the two. 2014 is on top, 2013 on the bottom.

Overall the Sun Safety Kit is one of the items I look forward to every summer. It's a great way to sample various sunscreens and self-tanners. I've discovered some great new favorites- and it's also a cost-effective way to do so.

The Sephora version will likely be available online later this month. It's larger, and has a higher price tag.  Since I've already purchased the SiJCP version, I won't be picking it up.

NARS Summer 2014 Eyeshadow- Malacca

Although I've got one more lovely lippie in the coral family to share, I wanted to take a break from the lip-heavy reviews this week.

I've passed on the last few NARS collections, but there was one item from the Summer 2014 Adult Swim collection that immediately caught my attention- the Malacca eyeshadow single.

NARS eyeshadow singles contain 0.07oz/2.2g of product and retail for $24.

Malacca is described as "iridescent peacock." It's a complex mix of teal, green, purple, and brown that's actually somewhat sheer but buildable.  The sheer nature of the shadow saves it as an everyday product for me.

I tested this over the course of three days in three different ways.  If you're willing to think outside the box, it's applicable in a variety of situations.  I always use NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base- regardless of the eyeshadow brand.  I get a full day's wear- around 12 hours from Malacca.

I find it easiest to work with Malacca in a nighttime setting, as part of a smoky eye.  Alternatively, it works with an overall colorful look.  The most difficult look for me was finding a way to make it work for an office setting.  I did, eventually (tip: sheer application, tightlined with grey eyeliner but no additional liner at the lash line, Tom Ford Indian Rose on my lips).  Still, I'm glad that I worked and figured a way to make this a multi-setting product.  I'm more likely to take it with me this summer on trips now.

Let me share a few swatches with you:

In the sun:

Outside, indirect light, no flash:

Outside, with flash:

Inside, no flash:

Inside, with flash:

Bottom Line: This is a unique shade that's a real standout from recent collections.

NOTD: Julep Noelle

Today's NOTD is Julep Noelle, from the January 2014 Boudoir Collection.  It's the other Silk Finish polish.  According to Julep, this is "sandy beach silk."  it's a little darker than I think of when I hear the word beach, but it's such a lovely shade. By far and away, I find Julep's Silk Finish polishes the best of the special finish formulas I've tried (as a traditionalist).

That's three coats, no top coat on my nails.

Lipstick Queen Jungle Queen

Today I have a product that's completely out of my comfort zone which has quickly become a favorite.  Let me assure you: don't be afraid of Lipstick Queen Jungle Queen.

When I first spotted a promo image for this lipstick at Space NK, I knew it was just a matter of time before it was mine.  I really enjoy Lipstick Queen products, and Jean Queen is actually a staple for both my mother and I.  Yesterday I bought you my favorite new orange-based peach/coral in Burberry's Golden Peach.  Lipstick Queen Jungle Queen is the perfect foil- it's the red-based coral that everyone needs in their wardrobe.

First, a few quick stats.  Jungle Queen retails for $22 and is available at Space NK, the brand's website, and Ulta.com.  My local Ulta has Lipstick Queen, and I haven't seen it in-store as of this past weekend. It weighs in at 3.5g/0.12oz of product.

Like always, Lipstick Queen nails the packaging.

The brand describes Jungle Queen as "a fiercely flattering coral", and I agree. However, it's also semi-sheer, glossy, and very red-leaning.

Shockingly, I've worn this at my conservative workplace and didn't feel out of place. It's lovely and not over-the-top. Like most Lipstick Queen products, it's not a full-coverage product, which is what makes it flattering.

Jungle Queen lasted about 3 hours if I didn't eat or drink, about average wear-time for me.  I'm not sure if this is LE for summer, but it's certainly a shade that I wouldn't wait to pick up.

 I've been using a lot of words, so here are some swatches:

Outside, no flash:

Outside, with flash:

Inside, without flash:

Inside, with flash:

And finally, on the lips:

Bottom Line: It's the perfect addition to my favorite trio of orange/coral lipsticks for summer.  It's bold, but wearable.

NOTD: Julep Maren

Today's NOTD is Julep Maren, one of the shades from the April 2014 Vivids Collection.  Maren is the lightest shade from that collection and a beautiful pink.

There are three coats on my nails here with Butter London Hardware topcoat.

Burberry Lip Cover No 29 Golden Peach

I feel like today's product should come with a bit of an apology. I have several Burberry items that I planned to review in April that I just didn't get to.  In this particular case, its because I was still testing and had gotten derailed by my new favorite that I introduced you to yesterday- Chantecaille Lip Chic in Wild Rose.

After a disastrous trial of Dior's Rose Crinoline, I was still yearning for a peach shade for spring/summer that actually worked with my highly pigmented lips.  I've got bold corals- both orange-based (see: Clinique Runway Coral) and red-based (I'll be showing you my new favorite, Lipstick Queen Jungle Queen tomorrow).  But I still couldn't find a good, soft peach.

After my extensive trials of Burberry products, I saw that Lip Cover #29-  Golden Peach was back in stock at Burberry.com. Lest you've forgotten in the whole 12 days without a Burberry review, Lip Cover lipsticks are full pigment and coverage, fairly moisturizing and medium-wear, retail for $30, and contain 0.12oz/3.5g of product.

Golden Peach was originally released with the Spring 2012 collection, and is a true peach with a few pink undertones to keep it from being a bright orange shade- despite how it looks in the tube (Devon Sunset (#28) is closer to Rose Crinoline).  Please see comparison swatches of the two at Natural Chic and Beauty Crazed.

After testing this for a few days, I feel like I hear angelic music and the Hallelujah Chorus when I put this on my lips.  This is my HG peachy coral lipstick.  It's soft but pigmented enough to cover my problematic pigmented lips without any concealer (or "crap"). It's true love for Golden Peach and I, and we'll be spending some serious time together this summer, especially with the amount of turquoise that I wear.

Golden Peach requires touch-ups every 3-4 hours, or after eating/drinking- like the other Lip Covers. However, in the iconic Burberry packaging, you may want to whip it out more often than that! This is one of the non-frosty Lip Covers, and wear/finish/moisturizing factor are right on par with my favorites in the line. This is one of my top 3 Lip Covers by far.

While Lip Covers are generally close to their appearance in the tube, I think showing swatches is the best way to back up my claim that this is a soft shade.

In direct sunshine:

Outside, not in direct sun, no flash:

Outside, with flash:

Inside, without flash:

Inside, with flash:

And finally, on my lips:

Bottom line- this is one of only a few shades in my current rotation. It's perfect for this time of year and I highly recommend it.