Worth the Splurge: Shiseido Facial Cottons

I've never been one to buy pricey facial cottons. Actually, I can confidently say that in all my makeup wearing days, I never have been particularly good about makeup removal. Sleeping in a smokey eye was a bit of a common occurrence for a while there. (Cringe) 

This year, I really tried to focus on makeup removal and a consistent nightly cleansing routine. I was really unhappy with my cotton pads from Ulta, as they were actually scratchy and eye makeup removal was a bit unpleasant! 

So, I finally decided I needed some decent cotton pads, and while I thought I was crazy for considering cotton pads that cost $9.50, I needed something that actually felt good and not irritating on my skin. My friend Gummy loves the Shiseido Facial Cottons, so I took the plunge and purchased these during the Sephora VIB sale in April. 

The pads themselves are pretty large, and also very soft. Sometimes, I peel them apart in an effort to save them. You can safely peel them into two, maybe three pieces, but really, they are so luxurious unpeeled that it makes makeup removal a pleasant experience. Just what I needed! 

I'm glad I bought these, and I'm definitely sticking with them. I may just have to wait for a sale, so I don't feel quite as crazy for spending $10 on 165 cotton pads, but hey, there are worse/less important things I could spend $10 on, right? 

What do you use to remove your makeup? Have you experienced scratchy cotton pads like I did? I'd love to know! :)

Products That Didn't Work For Me, #2

I know I rarely post about products that don't work for me, mainly because I try to make smart purchasing decisions. Occasionally, I may purchase things that don't work well for me due to shade or some scent or ingredient, as evidenced in this post from a few months back.  I also don't like to be negative, unless something is so extremely off the mark that you guys need to know about it. (But again, I usually don't buy those things, haha!) In my book, there are so many pretty products to talk about that there is so little time for the not so exciting ones! :)

This time around, I've encountered a few things I want to return because I just don't love them and I don't really actually need more products! Thank goodness for generous return policies in the US! Read on to find out more!

Clinique CC Cream is a product that I was really excited to try after reading rave reviews. I selected the Light-Medium shade, which appeared to be a match at that time. Blame it on bad department store lighting or my lack of sunscreen, but the shade just doesn't look right now. It is a tad too light and a bit peachy too. Applied to small areas, the shade works, but if I put it all over one side of my face, it doesn't look quite right.  

Shade aside, this CC cream does seem to have the tendency to streak if you put a lot on. As it wears over the course of the day, it doesn't look as nice on dry or textured areas of my face on the bad skin days. However, this still is a great formula, I just love many of the others I have more.. I still think this CC Cream is worth checking out, especially if you can get a sample, because it definitely has decent coverage and color correction properties. Think of it as a more matte, thicker in texture version of the Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer that I love! 

I've also looked at the REN "The Fab 4" kit a number of times since it is such an affordable way to try some of the most popular items from the brand.  

The Glycol Lactic Renewal Mask has been all over blogs over the last year. I've tried sample packets in the past, and the creamy marmalade texture is nice, but the mask never seemed to improve the appearance of my skin. This time, I was excited to be able to try this more extensively, but unfortunately it just wasn't right for me. I think it actually made my face red, as if the tops of my cheeks were sunburnt! Perhaps I wore it a few minutes too long, but I suspect it is just not right for my skin right now. Bummer, as I really wanted to like this one!  

I've also heard good things about the Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream, but my skin didn't seem to agree with this one either. My redness wasn't soothed by this at all over the few days that I tried it, and my skin also felt a bit bumpy too, However, the light texture is nice, and the cream does provide a decent level of moisture for normal skin.

In the end, I didn't even try the Bio-Retinoid Anti-Aging Concentrate or the included muslin cloth. The bonus No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm was nice, but again not terribly exciting. When I think balm, I think soothing, and while this cleanser wasn't harsh, it didn't feel like much else either. In any case, it does rinse off well and there isn't much of a squeaky clean feel. All in all, the Micro Polish Cleanser was my favorite of the bunch. I quite liked the creamy emollient feel and the fine grains of the exfoliant.  

I've decided to return both of these products as I'm not absolutely in love with them and I have so many options for base and skincare. Have you tried these products? How did they work for you? Are there any products you've been disappointed in lately? 

6 Days With Lush Emotional Brilliance

*Press Samples*

A few weeks ago, Lush contacted me to feature Emotional Brilliance. I was excited, as I had only tried a few products from their makeup line before. 

First up, I went to the store to experience an Emotional Brilliance reading. I had never taken the time to do this in store before, but I think it is a bit fun to do even if it isn't normally your style. (It definitely is not mine, as I generally want to experience a product without frills or just be left alone, ha! Well, except at Lush and Space NK, I could chat all day!)

Back to the color reading! I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, I chose three shades that really stood out to me. The first signifies your strength or weakness, the second your subconscious, and the last your aspirations. So, take a look at my color reading selections! You can also do your own color reading in store, or online! 

My Strength Or Weakness: Passionate*
I seriously love this GORGEOUS fuchsia pink. It is a very long wearing lip color that I nearly have to exfoliate to remove. I love the color and feel super confident wearing it! Do I feel passionate? I sure do, and it totally is a strengthanda weakness! (Those of you who get excited about certain projects or plans will know what I mean!) 

My Subconscious: Calm*
I was immediately drawn to this pretty pale blue. If you've been hanging around the blog lately, you'll notice I've had a thing for blues. Even when I went into Lush, my nail polish AND shirt nearly matched this shade. Anyway, this selection is pretty fitting as I am pretty overly calm and composed most of the time, haha! I find this color to be super summery, and on my skin tone it becomes a pretty shade of turquoise.  Love it!

My Aspiration: Motivation*
Motivation is always my aspiration, isn't it funny how that turned out? I was surprised how much I like this gorgeous dark teal blue shade. It looks almost neutral, and yet it isn't, and that is just the type of liner that I love. Now if only it could give me that extra kick of motivation I'm always looking for…!

I was able to choose 3 additional shades, and this time around I chose colors I knew I would wear. 

Sophisticated* 
This eyeshadow just adds polish and sophistication. It is a great rosy taupe and makes for an amazing every day color. This shade is definitely a unique addition to my collection, and I know that I'll be using this tons. 

Quietly Motivated*
Another eyeliner… It seems that I have a thing for eyeliners! This one is a pretty light brown with sparkle and dimension, and even blends out to a pretty eyeshadow color. 

Decisive*
I was not having a decisive day when I first wore this amazing magenta-red. I totally love the color, but it requires a bit of blotting and careful application to keep it looking perfect. Once you've done that though, this color wears beautifully! 

[Top to Bottom] Passionate Lipstick, Calm Eyeliner, Motivation Eyeliner, Sophisticated Eyeshadow, Quietly Motivated Eyeliner, Decisive Lipstick 

The eyeliner applicator is a bit hard to use, but I chalk that up to my lack of skills with liquid liner in general. I imagine those of you with skills will be used to it quite quickly. Also, these lipsticks are reasonably comfortable. I say reasonably because my lips are quite dry and flaky, and after wearing one of these shades all day I definitely need a bit of hydration. However, I imagine both of these points may not apply to many of you! :)   

All in all, I quite like the Lush Emotional Brilliance lineup. I loved Charisma Skin Tint, am having a go at the Feeling Younger Skin Tint*, and have enjoyed the lip/eye offerings I've tried before. Watch the video to hear about these shades and see them swatched on camera! 

What do you think of Lush Emotional Brilliance? Have you had a color reading before? Are any of these shades calling to you? :)

Press Samples* Close up of swatches available on the blog! http://bronzerbunny.com/blog/2013/6/26/6-days-with-lush-emotional-brilliance BLOG - bronzerbunny.com TWITTER - twitter.com/bronzerbunny INSTAGRAM - instagram.com/bronzerbunny Lush Passionate Lipstick* Lush Calm Eyeliner* Lush Motivation Eyeliner* Lush Sophisticated Eyeshadow* Lush Quietly Motivated Eyeliner* Lush Decisive Lipstick* DISCLAIMER: Products mentioned in this video and marked with a * were provided for review.

Products I Can't Live Without

As you know, I'm a product junkie and I love to buy the latest and greatest products out there. Despite my overflowing collection, there are definitely a handful of products that are my holy grail/staple products. I've never talked about it on the blog before and I figured it was about time to tell you about my favorites! 

If you've been reading my blog for a while, or if you chat with me frequently, you can probably easily guess many of these must haves. I've probably repeatedly told you to buy them too. I would say I'm sorry to those of you I've repeatedly pressured, but really, these are all great products that I would never be without and you should definitely try. 

Check out the video, and do let me know what you think! What are your product must haves? Do share! 

BLOG - bronzerbunny.com TWITTER - twitter.com/bronzerbunny INSTAGRAM - instagram.com/bronzerbunny PRODUCTS MENTIONED Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation http://bronzerbunny.com/blog/2013/04/25/koh-gen-do-aqua-foundation Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer http://bronzerbunny.com/blog/2012/03/06/review-nars-tinted-moisturizer Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara Nars Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eye Base Too Faced Essential 3 Piece Eyeshadow Brushes Armani Waterproof Smooth Silk Eyeliner