A Few New Things in Campaigns 17 & 18

Hey there!  I just wanted to pop in and share a quick bit of info about some of my latest stuff from Avon:
Textured Cool Crossbody Bag

Soooo, this purse ended up being way cooler than I thought it would be!  In the brochure photo, it looked like the top flap on this bag zipped directly to its main body.  But no, the top flap itself unzips to a whole compartment that goes to the bottom of the bag!

 There are interior slip pockets and a zippered panel in the front portion, and the goldtone hardware feels nice and heavy.  Like I said, the larger compartment zips closed, then folds down and connects with a magnetic snap.   The faux leather feels soft and not too much like plastic.

The handle strap is adjustable and I love how long it can be.  Excellent crossbody option if you are tall!

Overall I am very pleased with this purse - it's better than I expected.

Neck & Neck Choker Set

This necklace arrives as two pieces and can be worn separately or together.  I'm a little on the fence as to whether or not I like it.  The metal it's made from is springy but also malleable, so I can bend it to fit my neck better and it will hold its shape when I take it off.  The goldtone color is pretty -- not too yellow or fake-looking.  However, the way it sits on my neck is just not doing it for me, no matter how I reshape it.  Somehow it doesn't look like it does on the model in the brochure (big surprise, I know) and when I get it closer to looking better, it's uncomfortable when I move around (I have neck and shoulder muscles that need room!).

Imari Elixir EDT 

Notes according to avon.com: "tempting juicy blackberry essence, seductive rose absolute and hypnotic pure vanilla extract".

At first, this fragrance is so strongly blackberry that the fruitiness is almost overwhelming.  It has a sharp, almost alcoholic bite to it, like blackberry liqueur.  As it dries down, however, it smells a little powdery and like ... sweet incense?  It's hard to put my finger on it, but I'm going to stick with the incense note.  I don't really get vanilla or rose out of it, which is somewhat disappointing since I love roses and vanilla!  It's not a deal-breaker though, and I've been really enjoying smelling like blackberry syrup and incense lately.

It's hard for me to place this fragrance in a season.  It is heavy and syrupy, like an autumn scent, but also soooo fruity which makes me think of summer.  I've worn it during the day and night and I like it both ways.  The blackberry note lasts a long time and I can still smell it on my skin the next morning!

That's all for now!

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.
All thoughts stated in this post are my own, honest opinions.  I have not been compensated to review these products, and all were purchased by me with my own money.

Moisture Therapy Derma: Restoring

Hey there!  I've just got a little mini-review today on two of Avon's products from their Moisture Therapy Derma line in the Restoring version.

Body Scrub

The body scrub is a white cream with little exfoliating granules dispersed throughout.  I'd prefer that the granules be a little more dense, but with some extra elbow grease, they still feel pretty good.

 

The scrub is quickly disappearing because, first of all, I feel like I have to use a lot of it to get the exfoliating that I want out of it, and second of all, I sometimes use it all over my body instead of just the rough areas.  I believe that it's unscented, so the remaining "scent" is just from the ingredients - which, although faint, reminds me of a cross between glue and Greek yogurt.  Not a deal-breaker for me; I don't mind it a bit.

Body Lotion

 The body lotion is very light and creamy, with a similar (but not identical) scent.  It smooths onto my skin nicely and absorbs at the typical rate for a lotion.  I don't notice any residual stickiness or smell, just a nice softness.

I purchased these two products because it was advertised as being 'suitable for keratosis pilaris', which is a condition that I have had for about 20 years.  Also called "chicken skin," I have this on the backs of my upper arms and on my upper thighs and well... the back of my butt (sorry, that may be a little TMI).  Now, I don't know what exactly causes it, but I have a suspicion that it is related to hormones because mine goes almost completely away only when I'm pregnant.  How....frustrating!  Since I don't plan on being pregnant constantly for the rest of my life, I figured I would give this stuff a shot.

After the first use, I didn't notice anything more than a typical exfoliator+lotion combo might have accomplished.  However, after a few weeks of use, I did notice a difference, especially in my "hind quarters."  That's a big deal, because one of the ways to make KP better is to expose it to a little sun (in my experience) and my, um, hind quarters get zero sun.  My KP is not gone -- don't get me wrong -- but it is a lot better, and smooth skin is so nice to have again!  I should have taken before & after photos, but to be honest, I didn't have high expectations (and also KP is really hard to photograph!)

I use these two in combination about once or twice a week.  For the results I get with that kind of light use, (even if I do use a lot at a time) I will definitely repurchase!

Note: I am not a dermatologist or a doctor.  This post is just about my experience, and in no way a recommendation!  If you have KP and are unsure if this product would work for you, talk to your doc!

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaigns 21 & 22 2014

Hi there and thanks for tuning in once again!  I'm recapping my skipped purchases over the holidays... keep reading for more (including a big one not pictured)!

First Impressions: New 8-in-1 Eye Shadow Palette in Not-So-Neutral

I did an in-between order (for me) and look what came in today:

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaigns 17 & 18 2014

Curious about some of the new beauty items from Avon?  Keep reading!

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaigns 7 & 8 2014

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

I've been AWOL again, this time due to health issues in my immediate family.  Like I've said before, family first, Avon blog ... well, like fourth or so.  I hope you understand!

Here's what I ordered in C-7 & 8 ... plus a mini review on a late-arriving item from C-6:

Product Spotlight: Big Color Eye Pencils

Avon Big Color Eye Pencils.  Long before I had ever heard of eye shadow primer, these pencils were a key part of my eye makeup. They neutralized the darkness of my lids, amped up bright colors, and helped powder shadows to stick around longer and crease less.  I still use them almost every time I apply a regular dry shadow.  New collections have occasionally been added to the line, and old shades retired.  Well, now I understand that all of them are being discontinued, so before they're completely gone, I just want to share with you my assortment!

Catch-Up Post on Products from Campaigns 23-26 2013

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

What did I pick up from Avon in my blogger absence last year?   A bundle of sticks, apparently.

Catch-Up Post on Products from Campaigns 01-04 2014

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

Warning: this is the post of a thousand bad pictures.  I decided to try taking pics on my phone instead of digging out my DSLR with the logic of, "This will be easier!"  ...Well, it is easier -- I just pay for that convenience in quality, a quality that I can't see on my phone's screen but is painfully obvious on my computer's.  That being said, onward!

Avon Extralasting vs. Maybelline Color Tattoo

Yesterday I started a comparison between Avon's Extralasting Eye Pencil in Shimmering Sand (which I posted about in my Campaign 15 & 16 haul) and Maybelline's 24Hr Color Tattoo in Barely Beige.

Quick Avon BB Cream Photos

As promised, here are a couple pics of Avon's Beauty Balm Cream.

 

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 13 & 14 2013

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

Here's what showed up on my doorstep last night!

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 11 & 12 2013

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

The Take:
These are all items I mentioned in my Sneak Peek post for Campaign 12.

I'm Back with an Avon Haul & First Impression!

Sorry I've been gone so long... but that is life.  I blog for fun, not for money, so when things get rough (our family gets sick, work gets hectic, etc) then the fun gets pushed aside for a while.  But now I'm back and I have a new camera!

On to the products:

Show & Tell: Mega Impact Eye Liners

'Show & Tell' is a weekly segment spotlighting one or more Avon products of my choice.

In my opinion, these eye liner pencils have THE BEST formula of all Avon's liners.  The color applies smooth and richly; a little goes a long way; it is blendable, and it dries to a smudge-resistant finish.  The only drawback to these babies is that they are in the traditional pencil form, which means sharpening a very soft product -- no easy task.

I have three of the currently available four shades, swatched here for your viewing pleasure.  The little "stick" poking up from each swatch is a single stroke of the pencil to show how creamy the color applies.  At the bottom I've smudged them out.

Black Flash has a small amount of multicolored shimmer which doesn't really translate to the eye. Extreme Cobalt is a beautiful true blue with teal green shimmer.  Golden Fawn is almost a taupey nude metallic shade with silver shimmer.  The only one I don't have is the chocolate shade, Brown Shimmer...which I am so tempted to pick up before Avon decides to randomly discontinue this line, as they sometimes tend to do.  Be on the lookout in February for four new shades of these!

All products mentioned, photos, and opinions described herein are my own.  I have not been paid or otherwise compensated for this post, and the products were purchased by me with my own money.

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaigns 1 & 2

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

Happy late Monday!  I got my Avon order in tonight, which is earlier in the week than usual due to the holiday shipping schedule.  Here is a pic of most of what I got:

Lots of pink and black this time!

Nail Experts Gel Base Coat;
Nailwear Pro + polish in shades Red Reveal, Coral Reef, and Pastel Pink;

Nail Art Enamel in Black Drama;

Raspberry Hibiscus Shower Gel;

Faceted Iridescence Earrings;

Cream Eyeshadow Brush;

Irresistibly Sexy Lipgloss in Undressed Nude;

Beauty Carry All Bag (pictured below);
Bejeweled Key Chain, K (not pictured);

Body Illusion Legging in size XL (not pictured).

I'm trying out a layer of the gel base coat as I type this.  Application was typical and smooth; drying time was very quick, to a surprisingly glossy finish.  After about 20 minutes there was no residual smell, which told me that all the chemicals were gone (meaning faster drying time for subsequent layers of polish!)

The Nailwear Pro + polishes aren't exactly a new thing anymore, but I got them because recently I've noticed that I have a lack of pretty, feminine polishes in my collection and sometimes I feel like a sparkly blue is just a bit too juvenile for me. Red Reveal is a true blue-red and great for my skintone.  Coral Reef is a beautiful, deep peachy-pink which will be perfect for spring and summer.  Pastel Pink is a nice creme which, although I haven't tried it yet, looks like it won't take a dozen coats to be opaque.

The shower gel smells nice, although a bit synthetic fruit-ish.  More hibiscus than raspberry, it is very sweet and reminds me of the pomegranate mango scent.

 

I got the cream shadow brush because looks like it will be great for applying powder shadows wet. The bristles are dense and stiff but soft to the touch and not too thin; however the brush head is pretty small, about the width of my pinky finger.  I think it will do nicely.  Although I was tempted to order one of the new cream eyeshadows, ultimately I decided not to since I prefer to use a pencil as a base instead of cream shadow.

So far I'm very happy with the Nail Art Enamel; the brush is long and flexible and the formula is thin but opaque and smooth.  My only complaint is that the tip of the brush seems a little rough-cut.

Undressed Nude lipgloss: I'm always looking for that perfect nude lip shade, so I picked up this one.  It looks a little bronzey in the tube, but applies pretty sheer with multicolor shimmer.  The applicator is a little different: a slightly flared doefoot with a sort of "cup" for gloss in the end.  What I can't get over is the scent... it's faint, but is like a slightly sweet sunscreen.  I'm pretty sensitive to smells, and so I couldn't even leave it on my lips for the evening. :(

Now for the bag: I thought this beauty bag would be a plain, clear blue bag.  Not exactly!  The plastic is grooved in such a way that it distorts objects which aren't right up against the side.  The yellow arrow is pointing to the bottle of Red Reveal sitting inside the bag, maybe 2-3 inches from the polish I am holding up.  Pretty cool!

As for the leggings and the keychain, I'll keep it short: leggings are super comfy and a keeper; keychain is small and cheap-looking and will be going back to Avon.

I hope this was helpful, and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post below!

All thoughts stated in this post are my own, honest opinions.  I have not been compensated to review these products, and all were purchased with my own money.

Show & Tell: Desert Gold vs. Golden Diamond

'Show & Tell' is a weekly segment spotlighting one or more Avon products of my choice.

This week I will be comparing Avon's limited-edition GLOW eyeliner in Desert Gold and their Glimmersticks Diamonds eyeliner in Golden Diamond.  Both liners come functionally packaged in the same retractable, self-sharpening style as you can see in the pic below:

The color of the plastic packaging and the label/lettering are the only differences.  The actual product is even more similar:

Both liners are a pale yellow/golden base with gold microshimmer, which makes the liner pretty reflective although not totally metallic.  The Desert Gold (top) has a slightly creamier texture and is much easier to move (for blending, smudging, etc.) as you can see by the left sides of the swatches.

In my opinion, these liners are more suited for use as eyeshadow bases or highlighting the brow bone or tear duct than actually lining the eye.

I apologize for the 'blueness' of these pictures -- it's a cloudy day today. :)

All products mentioned, photos, and opinions described herein are my own.  I have not been paid or otherwise compensated for this post, and the products were purchased by me with my own money.