Last Beauty Blog Link Love of 2011

Miss Beauty Nerd is smitten over Korres' Body Butter in Basil Lemon because her skin now feels oh-sooo-soft!

At Lipstick Musings, see how a happy mistake at the Dior counter led Shannon to fall in love with the Dior 5 Couleurs Palette in Rosy Nude!

Looking for the perfect waterproof eyeliner? Jenn over at Spiced Beauty reviews the limited edition Make Up For Ever Wild & Chic Aqua Eyes Collection.

Rae reviews lip sets featuring Korres Cherry Lipglosses, Clinique Chubby Sticks, and Bite High Pigment Pencils during the not-so-inventively-named Lip Set Week at theNotice.

At Eyelining Obsessions Claire decides to try the Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Cotton and discovers a couple of potential pit falls.

My Lips But Better shares the scoop on the MAC Naturally Collection for spring 2012!

At Beauty Reflections, Tracy tries out the new CoverGirl Blast FlipStick Blendable Lip Duo.

How long does it take you to use up your makeup? Katherine from Handmade Reviews vows to finish her favorite beauty products by 2012.

Fleurissante reviews the best eyeliner ever: Guerlain Terracotta Loose Kohl.

If you're a fan of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle but can't part with the pennies? Then head over to Beauty In The Mirror where you can find a very similar scent for only £3.99 - 15 times cheaper than the original!

Pammy Blogs Beauty continues her Holiday Palette Review series with her take on Stila's Daydream Palette.

Le Metier de Beaute fans will rejoice when they learn that a Blush Kaleidoscope has been created. To see it in all its glory, check out Beauty Info Zone’s review and pictures.

Check out Bun Bun Makeup Tips' 8 days of Christmas Eye Makeup Tutorials!
--- Help celebrate AOYV's second blogiversary; one lucky lady will win a MAC lipstick and eyeshadow of her choice.

Merry Christmas

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to you and yours. May this be a season of great peace and joy for everyone. 

God Bless!

Stocking Stuffers For Beauty Lovers: Batiste Dry Shampoo

We've all been there. Your alarm was supposed to ring at 6:00am but somehow it is 6:45 and you have to be out the door in 30mins. How? Did you hit snooze? Did you sleep through Beethoven's Symphony ringtone? It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you have enough time to take a shower, slap on some makeup, and run out the door with a bagel gripped in your chompers. Forget washing and blowdrying your hair. That isn't going to happen. Instead, spray the dry shampoo, scrub scrub scrub, brush brush, and run. In fact, you can save yourself a minute and do it in the car (preferably not while driving). 

Batiste has 3 "On The Go" 50ml sizes available that would be perfect stocking stuffers. Choose from the Original, Blush, or Tropical (my favourite). A sensible yet fun gift. This is great not only for the late riser but for the girl looking to add some quick volume to her clean hair. Batiste dry shampoo will be appreciated by students, professionals, moms, and fashionistas. 

Ho Ho Ho!

Grade: A
**Disclosure: Products sent for review consideration as part of the Farleyco Beauty Panel**

Stocking Stuffers For Beauty Lovers: MesmorEyes False Eyelashes

I am not a false lash connoisseur. I have worn them maybe three times in the past 4 years, this post included. I find them infinitely easier to apply on others than myself but maybe if I practiced more this wouldn't be a problem. Quite honestly (and don't start throwing stones) my lashes are quite long and thick au natural, so a good quality mascara usually does the job. BUT, it is fun to give the eyes a little extra glam now and then. 

When I do break out the falsies, it is usually the individual clusters to emphasis a cat-eye or add a little thickness on the outer edges. Strip lashes and I just can't seem to get along so I was a little hesitant to try the MesmorEyes lashes. They looked very natural and had a thin strip so I decided to bite the bullet and wear them around the house. Anything in the name of beauty testing. 

Well tip me over with a makeup brush, I loved them!! 

MesmorEyes are premium quality lases that are hand knotted and feathered for the most natural appearance. They are made with a lightweight band so that that they are ultra light, comfortable to wear and easy to remove. The glue is genius because instead of counting to 30 waiting for it to get tacky enough to stick to the lash base, the glue turns blue when it is the perfect stickiness for the lashes to be applied. 

I wore #218 and they added just bit more of natural fullness and length. I actually walked around the house asking if anyone noticed something different on my face. NOTE TO SELF: Do not do this unless you are braced for some of the answers ("Is your nose swollen?"; "YOU DIDN'T GET ANYTHING PIERCED DID YOU?!"). No one noticed I was wearing falsies, which in my opinion is a huge point on the MesmorEyes' favour. 

Pre-Falsies

Before Filling The Gaps in With Black Liner

After Filling in the Gaps

Blinking View

Grade: B+

**Disclosure: Products sent for review consideration as part of the Farleyco Beauty Panel**

Hit The Rewind Button: KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiaging and Antiwrinkle Night Cream

I like my night creams to be thicker than my day creams. If it makes me look shiny, who cares? No one will see except Noah, my bed hogging cat. The KORRES Quercetin and Oak Antiaging & Antiwrinkle Night Cream is the rewind button of my nightly ablutions. Its job is to erase the daily wear, tear, and stress from my skin and make me resemble the mid-twenty year old that I am by morning. A big feat to accomplish, but this cream is up to the job.

Come morning, my skin feels hydra-nourished, silky smooth and plump. As tempting as it is to run around the house telling people to touch you face, I don't encourage it. Bacteria and all that. Instead make believers out of them by sticking a jar of this in their stocking. Plus, the weight will make them think you really have given them coal in their stocking.

And now for you science minded beauty lovers:

Quercetin and oak is the first natural, clinically proven alternative to retinol. An ultra-powerful antioxidant derived from the oak tree, it works fast to help minimize the signs of aging and keep skin looking younger. A range of ingredients helps to improve skin's appearance. Myrtle extract helps to improve skin elasticity. Mourera fluviatilis extract has moisture-binding properties to help maintain the skin's water levels. The oils of jojoba, grape, and pomegranate provide strong nourishment throughout the night.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates 
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan 

Research results:
According to a clinical trial with self-assessments: 
- 97% saw increased skin moisturization 
- 94% saw improved elasticity 
- 91% saw smoother-feeling skin 
- 88% saw firmer-looking skin 
- 81% saw visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles 
- 78% saw visible reduction in the appearance of expression lines

The Scientific Method from KORRES Canada on Vimeo.

Grade: A


**Disclosure: Product provided by KORRES for editorial consideration**

Butter Me Up Like a Butterball: KORRES Basil Lemon Body Butter

The holiday season sees a lot of brands predictably putting out sickly sweet smelling lotions and body creams scented after our favourite holiday desserts and indulgences. Don't get me wrong, I have a soft spot for those sweet smells just like the next girl, but sometimes you want something fresh. Something that will give people pause and will cut through the haze of gingerbread, eggnog, chocolate, apple cider, and vanilla. 

That something should be KORRES Basil Lemon Body Butter. The smell is fresh, zesty with a hint of sweet basil to round it off. If others can be inspired by holiday desserts, then why can't you be inspired by holiday poultry...just kidding. This smells nothing like poultry. In fact, forget I even said that. 

So what does it really remind me of? Lemon trees growing amidst an herb garden. There is nothing artificial or chemical about KORRES Body Butters as the scents are taken directly from nature which optimizes their ability to deliver moisture without dangerous chemicals or scent enhancers. The top notes awaken the senses yet settle to a luxurious and subtly sensual haze that sifts through the air with each of your gestures or embraces. 

KORRES body butters are more than just an olfactory experience-they are smoothing and moisturizing and will attack all of those winter dry spots on your elbows, knees, hands, and feet. Shea butter and Quince extract have softening, moisturizing, and rejuvenating properties while the Sunflower, Almond, and Avocado oils nourish the skin, thus helping to improve elasticity and smoothness. 

Not your traditional holiday cream, no; but why not set yourself apart and stand out from the "been there, smelled that" monotony of shower gel gift packages?

Grade: A


**Disclosure: Product provided by KORRES for editorial consideration**

Giveaway: Get To Know KORRES This Holiday Season! Win $200 Worth of KORRES Prizes!

Kalispera! Ti kanis my wonderful readers? Thus is the extent of my Greek vocabulary. I love all things Greek: the food, the architecture and culture, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and now Korres.

KORRES, a Chatelaine Award Winning Company, has arrived in Canada amidst international praise for its dedication to natural, safe, and effective skincare. Available now at select Shoppers Drug Marts and Sephoras, KORRES is a welcome and much anticipated addition to Canadian skin care market.

In the Beginning from KORRES Canada on Vimeo.


The Art of the Harvest from KORRES Canada on Vimeo.

KORRES wants to get to know you this holiday season! They have generously offered to send one of my readers their own bag of goodies filled with full-size products of the creams I have come to love.

Prize (Valued at $200 CAD):

• KORRES Basil & Lemon Body Butter
• Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging, Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream 
• Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging, Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream
• Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum 

**click each product to read my reviews**

Rules and Regulations:

• CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
• 18 years old or older
• One entry per person
• No P.O. Boxes
• Write a comment below with you email address
• Tweet the following for an extra entry: RT @PerfImperfectBB KORRES Giveaway! Get to know KORRES this holiday season and enter the giveaway here: http://perfectlyimperfectsbeautyblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/giveaway-get-to-know-korres-this.html Canada only
• Giveaway ends December 31, 2011 at 11:59pm PST

Opa! Survive The Late Night Holiday Parties With KORRES Eye Cream and Serum

Hours of pre-Christmas Break marking and progress reports had left my eyes looking bruised and starved for attention. No amount of concealer could right this wrong and just when it looked like a hopeless situation, KORRES delivered a package to my door.

Alone these products are miracle workers, but together? Let there be light! Goodbye dark circles and under-eye creping!

KORRES Quercetin & Oak AntiAgeing and AntiWrinkle Eye Cream

Inspired by a NOBEL-awarded discovery in cell aging and fuelled by two of nature's most powerful antiaging agents, KORRES Quercetin & Oak is a clinically proven natural alternative to Retinol. A range of ingredients helps to improve the appearance of the eye area. Myrtle extract addresses skin elasticity. Mourera fluviatilis extract provides moisture-binding properties to help maintain the skin's water levels. Baobab polysaccharides leave skin looking and feeling firmer. Rhodiola rosea extract helps prevent the appearance of dark circles and eye puffiness. 

The cream is thick but literally melts into the skin. It initially leaves behind a beat of sheen as it works its  magic but this does not interfere in the least with makeup application. Within moments of applying I noticed my dark circles had lightened and the puffiness around my eyes had reduced by half. The effects of the eye cream lasted all day and didn't cause my undereye makeup to smear or melt. After using this product consistently for a week, I have already noticed a drastic difference in my undereye circles.

KORRES Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum

The Quercetin & Oak eye cream eliminates the dark circles but this serum takes the extra step to being a healthy brightness to dull skin. The KORRES Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum restores radiance and smoothes the look of fine lines with Wild Rose oil, a natural source of vitamin C. It also diminishes skin discolouration after several weeks of use, making it ideal for those with acne scars or sun spots. Baobab tree polysaccharides provide an instant firming and line-smoothing effect. An active agent derived from wheat proteins has been clinically proven to considerably reduce the number, depth, and length of wrinkles

The serum can be used in a few different ways: all over the face, just under the eyes, worn alone or layered with an eye or face cream. My personal preference is to apply a small (read: small) amount to my undereye area and then later the eye cream overtop. The serum ultra-concentrated and should be used sparingly so as not to unnecessarily waste product or oversaturate the skin. The scent-sweet with a hint of spicyness-calls to mind summer evenings in Santorini...not like I would know first hand what that is like, but that is what Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is for. 

Grade: A

**Disclosure: Products provided by KORRES for editorial consideration**

Beauty Blog Link Love (17/12/11)

Jen celebrates earth tones with this FOTD at My Funny Valentine.

Want luscious long lashes? Amy Antoinette shows us the impressive results of Rapidlash.

Fleurissante shares her impressions on Chanel Holiday 2011 collection.

Phyrra shares with you her new favorite way to follow all her beloved beauty bloggers... on the Kindle Fire!

Take a sneak peak at the new Sigma Extravaganza Complete Kit and grab the Sigma Brushes coupons at Handmade Reviews.

Feeling the holiday blues? FabDiva20 has made it look cheerful for the Holidays with herFOTD Holiday Look #1: Bright Blues and Purples!

Gouldylox tried a new BB Cream from 3LAB that contains some seriously high-tech skincare. Is $95 too much to pay for a BB Cream with stem cells? At the very least, it looks amazing. See for yourself.

The Pink Sith asks: What do dragons, lipstick, the Welsh and the Utah Saints all have in common? Find out when you read about Shiseido Perfect Rouge in RD514 Dragon.

Midnight Violets shares her favourite red lip products, perfect for Christmas - and the rest of the year too!

Christmas is almost here! Musicalhouses does a Christmas gold and green eye look, and a Christmas gold nail look to match!

It's officially Winter! Check out Hellcandy's favourite hand creams to see your mitts through the colder weather!

Will you wear mascara during the Zombie Apocalypse? Tracy at Beauty Reflections thinks that CoverGirl 24HR LashBlast is perfect!

Are you ready for the holidays? Anita shows you some festive nail ideas over at Pleasureflush!

--- Battle dry winter skin by entering Audrey Dao's Holiday Giveaway to win her favorite skin care products!

Prime Beauty is gifting one lucky reader her TOP holiday beauty pick, Tarte's Lip Service LipSurgence Collection. Enter now!

Is your skin holiday-ready? Over at theNotice, Rae is giving two winners a chance to win the Skin Tight Body Lotion of their choice. Don't miss this party-approved Prtty Peaushun review and giveaway!

Lise Watier So Berry Duo Glam Rouge Inifini Lipstick Duo: Review and Swatches

Get the perfect combination of a water-based liquid lip stain and a high pigment lipstick in our Duo Glam Rouge Infini Lipstick Duo. With its specially selected waxes, Vitamin E and a unique complex known to stimulate ceramide synthesis, the lipstick provides instant colour release without feathering. And yes, darling, it wears beautifully for up to 8 hours non-stop. Its creamy and full coverage texture provides ultimate comfort and a silky matte finish. Use them together. Use them separately. Use them as you choose. -LiseWatier.com

Silly me thought that the liquid end of this duo was a gloss, so when I couldn't scrub off the swatch on the back of my hand, I was befuddled. Turns out it is a shimmery stain meant to act as a base coat for the creamy berry hued lipstick.

This duo is a bit of a win-lose situation. I really like the creamy textured lipstick but don't I don't care for the lipstain. Applied on its own, the stain barely changes the colour of my pigmented lips and has very poor staying power (approximately 2 hours). Unlike Lise Watier's Hydra Shine Lipstains, this product was drying to my lips making them cry out for a coating of the creamy lipstick. Worn over the lipstick as a seal, it takes away the luscious slip of the lipstick and decreases the longevity. 

On the other hand, the lipstick end is a perfect daywear berry colour that doesn't settle into dry lips. I wouldn't say it is moisturizing but it is certainly smooth and luminous. Have you experienced anything from this line?

Grade: B-

Illamasqua Ambition Blush: Review and Swatches

So my first foray into the land of Illamasqua was a disaster of foundation-al proportions, but this blush has somewhat turned me around to trying future products. 

Ambition is one of two blushes released with their Autumn 2011 collection, Theatre of the Nameless. It is a neutral plum-pink with a shimmer finish. The pigmentation is something to brag about which means application should begin with a lighter hand and slowly be built up to the desired intensity. Because of this, Ambition transitions well from day into night. 

It is quite powdery in consistency making it ideal of combination-oily skin. Because of the texture it does shed a bit in the packaging but has incredible lasting power on the cheeks without glitter fallout. Speaking of glitter, this blush has a healthy dose that can highlight some textural inconsistencies in the skin. 

Grade: B

'Tis the Season: Chanel Rouge Allure #207 Famous (Holiday Collection 2011)

I rarely need an excuse to rock a bold lip, but the Christmas season means I can do so more regularly without the quizzical faces. As the owner of an extensive red lipstick collection, it takes a lot to impress me towards another purchase, but Chanel's Rouge Allure Famous from their 2011 holiday collection, Les Scintillances de Chanel, was love at first swipe.

Famous is a cool toned red with dazzling fuchsia and gold sparkle that will draw people to your lips faster than an amorous couple to mistletoe (WARNING: this may not be a colour you want to wear if you are putting in any of your own time under the mistletoe. I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claaaaaus...). Because of the gorgeous shimmer, Famous has the traditional Rouge Allure opacity without appearing flat or one dimensional. Definitely a modern twist on a classic holiday favourite. Famous very close to Chanel's Rouge Allure Rouge Byzantin-which was not available here in Canada-so a great buy if you missed out on that one.

The wear time of Rouge Allures is a solid six hours or longer, even with Gingerbread Lattes and hors d'œuvres thrown in. Just a quick lip swatch without the corrective powers of a lip liner:

Grade: A+

Beauty Link Love 03/12/11

The auctions are now open! Head over to this year's BeautyBloggers.org auctions to bid on everything from classic perfumes to the one-of-a-kind (and once in a lifetime) Ultimate Neiman Marcus Experience.

Polish Insomniac shows you the Muppet Glitters - her way!

Miss Beauty Nerd is smitten over Benefit's pretty little scents of Crescent Row. Can you blame her?

How do you feel about orange lip products… with a kick? Don't miss theNotice's love-it-or-hate-it LUSH Chilli Tingle Lip Tint review.

The Beauty Spot goes into outer space with a galaxy inspired look.

Looking for the perfect luxe gift for the beauty lover in your life? Well, Krasey Beauty has the scoop on the new holiday collection from Guerlain.

Addicted to Beauty is shocked by the cologne for cheating men - what's your Alibi?.

Ever wanted to try a bold red lip but were a bit shy? Prime Beauty has five gorgeous red lipsticks for scaredy cats!

At Lipstick Musings, see how a beautiful mistake led to an unexpected new love with the Dior 5 Couleurs Eye Shadow Palette in Rosy Nude!

At Eyelining Obsessions, the No7 Midnight Enchantment blush demonstrates why getting sucked in by pretty online pictures can sometime lead to buyers remorse.

The Pink Sith wonders if Sephora came up the with the Name Foiled Love before or aftre Kat von D's break up with Jesse James when she reviews the Kat von D for Sephora Foiled Love Lipstick in Adora.

Finally! A chart that describes how to apply eyeshadow for Asians! Bun Bun Makeup Tips shows us some incredible tips on where to apply eyeshadow on the Asian eye.

On My Funny Valentine, Jen swatches her new Inglot 10 pan eyeshadow palette and shows you how to depot the shadows with a strong magnet.

Jenn over at Spiced Beauty went crazy at Imats! Check out what she got.

Tracy at Beauty Reflections test out the new Tokidoki 24 Karat Skate Deck Palette.



--- Suffering from dry wintertime skin? Musicalhouses' Dr Organic Manuka Honey Gift Set giveaway is just the thing for you! Giveaway closes soon, so hurry and check it out!

Beauty Crazed wants you to prepare to get really naked! Enter to win nude palettes from Urban Decay, Smashbox, Stila, Sleek MakeUP, 100% Pure and Sephora!