The L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Color Creams: Lighter Lovelies Are in Luck When It Comes to These Blush and Highlighter Duos

L’Occitane’s Pivoine Flora Color Cream in Abricot on cheeks
I couldn’t demi plié my way out of a paper bag, but one thing I can do is hoard cream blushes like these Pivoine Flora Color Creams from L’Occitane ($16 each).
Even after six months of ballet lessons back when I was in my 20s, I never looked half as graceful as the dancers on this packaging. These delicate dames look like they land leaps that make less sound than a sigh. I, on the other hand, usually land my leaps off balance, and frequently with a loud thud.

I turn to cream blushes a lot when I’m in a hurry to get out the door. They’re just so blasted easy to apply, even with fingers (apply to cheeks, blend and go).
Each of the limited edition L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Color Cream duos comes with a blendable matte blush AND a shimmery highlighter, so you get your cheek color and glow going from a single, pretty package.
I’ve been playing with two of the three duos, Abricot (a sheer coral-ish peach blush with a pale peach sheen highlighter) and Rose (a reddish pink blush with a glittery pink highlighter). Both of the blushes feel smooth and dry with a texture that reminds me of Smashbox’s Photofinish Primer. I’m not crazy about it, but it’s easy to blend and seems to layer well without looking too heavy on my skin.

Abricot

Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Do I Like the Essie Wedding Collection? Yes, I Do

Another wedding season approaches, bringing with it a bevy of bachelorette parties, bridal showers, bridesmaid dresses — which they always say you can wear again (yeah, right!) — and, of course, rampaging bridezillas!
Honestly, I can’t blame brides for going cuckoo for Coco Puffs when there are so many details involed in getting hitched (especially when you’re doing the planning yourself). It’s hard to imagine just how frustrating a seating chart can be, how something so supposedly simple can make a gal simultaneously cry and foam at the mouth like a rabid chihuahua.
But some details don’t have to be hard. Why not make two of them, like what polish to wear on your fingers and toes, a little easier with Essie’s The Wedding Collection Nail Polish cube ($17)?
The limited edition set comes with four Essie nail polish minis in matrimonial shades. There’s Made to Honor (a warm, sheer pinkish beige), Better Together (a sheer candy pink), First Dance (a classic creamy red) and Borrowed & Blue (a creamy sky blue).

From left to right: Better Together, Made to Honor, First Dance and Borrowed & Blue
At first I thought Borrowed & Blue would run away with this bride, but then First Dance intervened. It’s funny — with all of the crazy nail colors out there now, red polishes can seem almost tame. First Dance, however, deserves extra affection. It’s neither too orange nor blue. Rather, it’s more like a neutral, and I bet it would look lovely on an array of skin tones. And while the rest of the collection requires two coats for full coverage, First Dance only needs one.
Borrowed & Blue still looks like a blast, though, and might be the better choice for edgier brides.
The two sheer pinks embody classic Essie style. Both apply smooth, without any streaks, and should look great in wedding pictures, too.
Peep the following swatches, and let me know if anything here makes you want to say “I do.”

Lancôme’s L’Absolu Nu Lipstick Really Shines for a Split Second

Whatever you do, keep flaky lips far, far away from the Lancôme L’Absolu Nu lipsticks ($29).
Lancôme’s new lippies come in 16 shiny, translucent shades that look and feel like they were influenced by the delectable $28 Dior Addicts, with a similarly slick, ultra-thin texture.
When I applied a layer of shimmery Coral Sand (the one with silver micro-glitter shown at the top) yesterday morning, I didn’t realize how dry my pucker was at the time, and Coral Sand was not forgiving at all. It latched on to every little flake, emphasizing the facts that 1) I really needed to exfoliate, and 2) I was probably more than a little dehydrated.
But after I scrubbed my lips with Lush Lip Scrub and had a glass of water, L’Absolu looked much better. No more flakes, and my kisser shined like freshly polished jewelry with a slight coral tint.
The strong lip-sticky fragrance, a cross between baby powder and roses, mellows out after about 15 minutes, which is great because that’s right around the time I think it would have gotten annoying, LOL!

Guys and Gals Get Clean with Dirty, Lush’s Latest Launch

Never have I been so excited to get dirty!
Wait — did that sound pervy? I’m actually talking about a new line of unisex hair and body products from Lush.
Available now at Lush stores and also online, the four-piece Dirty collection features stuff to cleanse, smooth and style both you and your boo.
The collection includes…

• Dirty Springwash Shower Gel
• Dirty Shaving Cream
• Dirty Hair Styling Cream
• Dirty Body Spray

Lush had fun with these fragrances, creating for each product a unique scent that not only stands on its own, but also complements the others in the release. Since all four of the products are designed for guys AND gals, I roped El Hub into trying two of them (you’re such a good sport, sweetie!).