Bar Soap for Your Face?! Osmia Black Clay Facial Soap Review

Uhm, yeah, I know. Even I, a seasoned and fearless skincare roadtester, audibly gulped at the sight of Osmia's top selling Black Clay Facial Soap bar ($22 for 2.25 oz), recommended for normal, problem and combination skin. But there are very little things I wouldn't do in the name of blogging (that, and good skin), so I focused on the redeeming qualities - it's adorably small, it's funky-colored, it has clay and it smells great - and I decided to go for it.

If you haven't heard about Osmia Organics (what kind of blogs do you read under that rock of yours?!), it's a small Colorado-based skincare line that blends luxury with simple, natural and deliciously-scented ingredients. They have a well-edited skincare line but also make great body and lip products; more on that in future posts. The basic principles of Osmia not only tick all of my boxes, but I'm also totally jelly of beautiful mountain scenery shots which Sarah, the brand's founder, posts on her Instagram profile every day as I slowly wither here in the concrete jungle that is Midtown Manhattan. I may or may not be a bit of an Insta stalker.

But, back to the soap: as you can hopefully see, it comes beautifully packaged and a delicious scent of citrusy essential oils wafts even through the paper, and manages to scent up my whole medicine cabinet. The size of Osmia's Facial Soap is more or less half of a regular soap bar but so far, I've found it to be extremely efficient - I've been using mine for a couple weeks now and can't notice it having gotten smaller at all. I also received a clear rubbery soap saving dish to help dry the soap properly between uses and thus preserve it for longer.

In terms of use, I slightly dampen my face and hands with warm water, do a couple of passes with the soap on my hand and then lather it up on the face. It gives quite a generous, creamy white lather that feels lush on the skin and doesn't make it feel stripped or tight after rinsing; quite the opposite in fact, I find that while I'm rinsing, there's almost a slightly slippery barrier left behind. The soap does not transfer any of its color on the skin, a disappointment I'm still coming to terms with - I totally wanted to scare my husband with a black clay face one evening.

Compared to some other clay cleansers, Osmia Black Clay Facial Soap is a lot less drying than the Claymedix French Red Clay soap (I only dare to wash my hands with this one and even for that, I find it rather unpleasant) but quite similar in result to a non-foaming REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser, reviewed here. I would say it's a bit quicker to use because it lathers and rinses more easily than the REN, which has to be massaged into the skin and then rinsed/wiped rather thorougly.

In terms of overall results, I'm not quite convinced that this facial soap is more effective than my preferred method of cleansing with a non-foaming balm. I haven't found it to be particularly acne-reducing or shine-minimizing. I was however pleasantly surprised at how comfortable my skin feels after using it; not too tight, not too oily, calm and mostly without redness, which makes it a perfect choice for the mornings in my book. I will continue to use and enjoy my little black bar but I'm not sure if I'll repurchase; I guess I shall have to take more long-term results into account before adding it to my shopping cart in the future.

Have you tried any bar soaps for cleansing your face? What are your favorite Osmia products?

Disclaimer: The product featured is a press sample I received from Osmia Organics for review consideration  All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as a free press sample. All links are non-affiliate and simply provided for your convenience. Thank you for reading!

Tag: 5 Product Face

I was tagged by the awesome Seattleite (not satellite, mind you) blogging friend Larie from Eye Heart It to do a full make-up face with only five products, and since I haven't done any tag posts in donkey's years, I decided to go for it!

I particularly like this tag because not only does it show everyone's bare make-up necessities, but it also forces you to really get the most out of your products by multitasking as much as possible. For me in particular, the 5 product limit also means being very strategic towards my base; I don't have perfect skin by any means so skimping on coverage is absolutely out of the question - on normal non-tag days, doing just my base takes at least 4 products. Can you see the difficulty?

But, well, sacrifices must be made in times of desperate need (or, blogging frenzy): the Graftobian Hi-Def Glamour Creme, due to its opacity and denser formula, can be used as both foundation and concealer. For the foundation part, I tried to sheer it out as much as possible with a very damp make-up sponge, and for the concealer, I dabbed with a blending brush on any offending spots and under the eyes. I decided to use Rouge Bunny Rouge Unforgettable Oriole eyeshadow on the eyes to brighten and disguise veins, and I dusted some on top of the cheekbones and Cupid's bow for a good measure as well. I also couldn't skip doing my brows with the trusty ybf Universal Brow Pencil, which also doubled as an eyeliner on my upper lashline. I then applied copious amounts of mascara (Guerlain Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash... no wonder they refrained from literal translation from French - Lashes From Hell, anyone?); I feel that any minimal make-up attempts warrant liberal use of black mascara. I finished off my face with theBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen on lips and cheeks.

Some notes on the look: a minimal eye + berry hues read very porcelain doll on me; not necessarily a bad thing but I would say the Stainiac was a bit too sweet-looking for my liking, so I would play some more with other coordinating lip/cheek shades next time. The Graftobian Creme foundation unfortunately looked quite cakey under my eyes and a touch too shiny on the rest of the face, but hey - I do normally use a separate under eye concealer and set my face with powder. But overall, I thought this wasn't too bad for a first attempt. It's also worth observing that while this look might be minimal in products, it's not necessarily quicker than a more elaborate routine.

What would your 5 Product Face look like? Do the tag or let me know in the comments, please!

Liner Love: Sephora Contour Eye Pencils 12HR Wear in Flirting Game and Surfer Babe

Recently, I'd started feeling very spleeny towards my eyeliner pencil collection; yes, I had more than enough in number, but the formulas seemed lacking, the colors uninspiring. I just felt a little update was in order, and in the back of my mind I had this nagging nugget (see what I did here?) of information that Sephora eyeliners might be worth checking out; even after my fiasco with their Nano formula, reviewed here. And nothing like the VIB sale to give you a little push, ya know?

It's funny how I often pick products in pairs; like one is not quite enough to satisfy a lemming, and two is not as indulgent as buying a trio. Do you guys purchase two products at a time too? Anyway, the product in question is Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencils 12HR Wear in Flirting Game no. 15 and Surfer Babe no. 24 ($9 each for 0.04 oz). The pencils are slim and sturdy with color-coded ends and they require sharpening, which I don't mind, really.

 An obligatory rave about the formula: both eyeliners are soft, smooth and glide on easily with the least amount of pressure (all characteristics that are also present in some other eyeliner formulas I enjoy, like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencils or the NYX Slide-On Eyeliners). They're also very long-wearing once they set, and can be smudged immediately after application. Where the Sephora formula differs from (and is superior to) my Urban Decay and NYX eyeliners, is the pigmentation; both Flirting Game and Surfer Babe pack a lot of punch in one swipe and have a more opaque and vibrant base than the other two formulas - you can see it quite well in the swatches. It's also noteworthy that the Sephora Contour Eye Pencil shade range is wide and interesting, with a variety of finishes (matte/shimmer/glitter); this is also true for Urban Decay shades; however, Urban Decay Glide-Ons retail for $19, while Sephora is less than half the price.

Flirting Game no. 15 is a darker neutral taupe with very refined silver, pink and orange shimmer, visible only in direct sunlight, but giving the shade a lot of dimension. I actually don't own any other taupe eyeliner pencils, but wanted to show you how it compares to a light grey taupe shadow stick like Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Grey Pearl, an eggplant shade like Urban Decay Rockstar, and a basic medium warm brown like Urban Decay Whiskey. Both Urban Decay pencils required more layering to show comparable opacity next to Sephora Flirting Game, and especially with Rockstar, you can see how the darker base shade seems almost greyed and faded.

Surfer Babe no. 24 is a dark teal with fine tonal shimmer/ pearl finish. Again, I previously had no teal eyeliners in my collection, so the comparison is simply to show you where to place the color in the blue/green spectrum, and to show differences in formula and finish. Compared to Surfer Babe, the Urban Decay Binge shade (navy blue) again seems less vibrant and pigmented, and you can also see the slight patchiness of the NYX Pretty Violet's formula. I would say that formula-wise, the TIGI Perfect Eyeliner in Green stands its ground next to the Sephora pencil, but the price and very limited shade range cannot rival that of Sephora.

 Here's a quick and simple look showcasing both pencils: I blended some MAC Patina eyeshadow on the lid and out in the crease, highlighted the inner corners with Rouge Bunny Rouge Unforgettable Oriole, and then applied Sephora Surfer Babe pencil on the upper lashline, flicking it out at the end. I used Flirting Game on the lower waterline and smudged into the lower lashline. I'm happy to say even on the waterline, the pencil lasted through a whole windy day. On my lips, I'm wearing Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Warm Me Up.

I'm very happy with this liner purchase and I can definitely see myself picking up more shades in the future; especially after finishing some other less satisfactory formulas. So far, I haven't found a more affordable, easily accessible, and overall great quality eyeliner option than these Sephora Contour Eye Pencils, and I would definitely recommend you check them out next time you casually pop into a Sephora store for a little swatching session. Have you tried these Sephora eye pencils? Are there any other products from the Sephora Collection range that are worth looking into?

Wonder Winter Berry: Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Grandest Grape

Chubby sticks attack again! Well, truth be told, November has turned out to be quite a 'stick month' here on Rocaille Writes. What can I say - make-up pencils and crayons make me feel more like an artist... that, and they're difficult to mess up. Anyway, let's take a look at my new wonderful berry (or is it grapey?) lip color: Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Grandest Grape ($17 for 0.10 oz/ 3 g).

Standard Clinique stick packaging - not much to say here. Did I ever mention how much I like Cinique make-up boxes? I have a particularly hard time parting with these, not sure why. I would quite like to own a shirt with that print... or even better, a dress.

The Chubby Stick Intense Colour Balms are the amped-up version of the regular Chubby Sticks; they pack more color in the same lightweight, hydrating formula. Personally, I think these have a perfect balance of pigmentation and softer texture: while pigmented, they don't appear too heavy on the lips and can also be sheered down if needed, and while moisturizing, these are not so slick and glossy as to immediately slide off the lips; for a balm-type formula, they're reasonably long-lasting. I feel this is particularly noteworthy in case of a statement color like this here Grandest Grape.

The shade Grandest Grape isn't by far the darkest berry in my arsenal, which in my book makes it more versatile and appropriate for both day and night time. It's quite similar to the Revlon Balm Stain in Crush (more swatches here), although it has more of a vibrant pink tone as opposed to a warmer rosey hue. This type of bold, clear berry tone lip color is one of my absolute favorite shades to wear on my pale, cool skintone, although I also can't say no to the vampier burgundy shades like Lancome Color Design lipstick in Wine Party.

L-R in both photos: Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Grandest Grape, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, MAC Frost Lipstick in Viva Glam IV, Lancome Color Design Lipstick in Wine Party

In this going-out look, I decided to go with an overall cool-toned look: bold violet/lavender shade on the lid (Lancome Color Design Infinite 24H Eye Shadow in Evermore Lilac), blended out with a slightly warmer brown shade in the crease, medium pink blush (sorry, my camera ate it; it was Accessorize Merged Blusher in Diva) and, of course, Clinique Chubby Stick Intense on the lips, applied quite full-on. In this lighting, my hair appears to have a lot of copper tones, making this face & hair combo wonderfully clashy.

Have you tried the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Colour Balms? Or maybe you picked up a beautiful berry shade for this winter season in a different formula? Let me know in the comments, I love reading your recommendations!

Cheap Thrills: Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Pencils in Amethyst & Smoky Plum

Just when you thought I couldn't possibly review more shadow sticks, I have more comin' at ya (well, and there'll be more after that); meet the most affordable option in my cream eyeshadow drawer, the Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Pencils in Amethyst and Smoky Plum ($8.50 for 0.058 oz, I bought mine during 2 for $7 promotion).

The packaging might not be the classiest with its screaming red color scheme; but hey, at least they're super easy to find in my brimming pencil drawer. Also worth noting, the ends of these pencils are color-coded, much like the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks, so if you have more than one, it's easy to grab exactly the shade you're looking for. They twist up and down with no problems and feel quite sturdy in the tube.

Now, speaking of Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks, they're not exactly the same in terms of formula. They feel somewhat softer and creamier than my Laura Mercier, which has almost more of a slippery dry feel of silicone. Both pencils blend out very easily but I think with the Avon ones, more rigorous blending results in some of the color being lost, so I have to layer them a bit more to achieve the desired opacity; straight out of the bullet they're both highly pigmented though. In terms of wear and longevity, Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Pencils can absolutely rival the pricier Laura Mercier; they last all day on me with no creasing or fading.

L-R: Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Pencil in Amethyst, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Grey Pearl, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in No Pressure, Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Pencil in Smoky Plum, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Rockstar, Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Powerful Purple

The shades I've opted for are both in the plummy family: Amethyst is a warm plum taupe, while Smoky Plum is a blackened plum. I have to say I'm not absolutely smitten with these shades on my skintone - they're just a bit too clashy against my cool skin and have a tendency to make my already red/veiny lids even redder; but I have similar issues with other warm taupes like MAC Satin Taupe as well. Both however make nice bases for other looks; Amethyst paired with slightly cooler tones, Smoky Plum as a base for darker smokey eyes (which I almost never go for, but let's run with it).

Simple eye look with Amethyst all over the lid, blended into the crease, and Smoky Plum on the lashline, blended up. Sorry, forgot to put on a lipstick!

All in all, these are a great inexpensive option for all of you cream shadow stick lovers - I just wish Avon came out with some more exciting shades for this formula (and, pretty please, a bit more cool-toned?). Have you tried these Extra Lasting Pencils from Avon? What is your favorite affordable cream eyeshadow formula?

Rocaille Raves: Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner

You know, as a combination, acne-prone skinned gal, I've tried my fair share of AHAs & BHAs and some might even call me an acid addict (no, not THAT kind of acid), so I was completely taken by surprise at how much I like this Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner ($18 for 8 oz/ larger sizes available); it has actually made a big difference in my skin within the two months I've been using it!

The Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner is alcohol-free and contains 2% glycolic acid, as well as grapefruit extract to exfoliate, stimulate and help reduce acne discoloration. It's recommended for dry, sensitive and congested skin, but it works great on my combination skin - I've actually started avoiding products aimed at oily/ combo skin as I find them a bit too harsh and drying on me. The ingredients list is short and sweet too, which is a huge plus; and I find the price point very reasonable, especially if you're looking for an exfoliating toner that can deliver similar results to Biologique Recherche P50, Apha-H Liquid Gold or Clarins White Plus HP Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel.

As you can see, the packaging is simple and fuss-free; I quite like the little leak-free 'spout' on the cap as it helps to avoid wasting the product; 5-7 drops is all I need for my whole face, and I've used up about 1/3 of the product in the two months I've had it. I use this after cleansing my face in the evening by wiping a cotton round satured with product all over my face, neck and chest, and then I follow up with a serum and face oil. It leaves the skin feeling smooth and hydrated, but slightly tacky to the touch; it goes away though if you'd prefer to use it under make-up.

 

Although it's recommended to use twice daily, I found that once is plenty for me - I do get a bit of stinging and redness after application, and using it too often causes my skin to peel and feel dry. But, once you straighten out the kinks - the results are worth it. After discontinuing oral antibiotics early this year, I experienced a bad bout of cystic acne, mostly on my chin, jawline but also on my cheeks. My dermatologist tried to treat it with another oral medication as well as retinoids; however, after six months of waiting for them to do anything, I got frustrated and stopped the prescriptions. In mid-September, armed with a $10 birthday gift certificate from Mario Badescu, I decided to try this toner - and since then, my cystic acne has diminished tremendously; I pretty much only break out around that time of the month now. I've also noticed less congestion overall (I suffer from a lot of small, flesh toned under-the-skin bumps) and a decrease in sebum production. Granted, I can't be sure it all boils down to this toner; maybe my organism started to tackle the acne on its own, or my hormones changed slightly. But now, I do know this: my skin likes chemical exfoliants, glycolic slightly more so than the salicylic, it likes regular, every day exfoliation, and using an exfoliating toner is much easier than a cream or a gel.

*EDIT*: After using this toner for about 7 months and nearly finishing the bottle, I believe my skin is now too sensitive to be using it on the regular basis. My skin might have changed from when I first started using the product, but now it seems to burn a bit too much, and causes quite a lot of redness. I also once accidentally overused it and came out in an eczema-like rash on my cheekbones and on top of the lips. So please proceed with extreme caution and if your skin is sensitive, maybe opt for a different exfoliant.

If there's one thing I could change about this toner, I could probably do without the grapefruit extract; I suspect I may be allergic to citrus essential oils in general, so next I may try the Paula's Choice liquid AHA exfoliants. Do you use an exfoliating toner in your routine? Or are there other exfoliators that you prefer?

New from Tarte: Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Pink Peony

I'm on a roll with these new products, am I not? *feeling very cool and trendy, and automatically being right the opposite for using such adjectives* Up until recently, I haven't owned anything from Tarte, a quite universally loved brand with natural aspirations - I just didn't feel enough excitement to finally push the checkout button on my online wishlist. But, having spotted this adorable Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Pink Peony ($16 for 3.1 g/ 0.1 oz; it might look small in the tube but the size is on par with other lipsticks I own) when shopping the Sephora VIB sale, I didn't hesitate to plomp it in my basket this time.

"Inspired by the whimsical colors of the Amazon and infused with naturally derived ingredients from its lush vegetation, these Amazonian butter lipsticks add a splash of rich color and creamy shine for a perfect pout. Each skin-flattering shade is enriched with sustainably harvested cupuacu and murumuru butters to deliver intense moisture and help restore and soothe even mature lips" (from Sephora). Sounds dreamy, right? I mean - rich color and intense moisture? ...And murumuru? That's like my new favorite word, right next to zarzamora (that's Spanish for blackberry, folks).

Pink Peony, one of the most popular shades, described as 'blushing pink' (seriously, that tells me just about nothing), is a very warm red pink with tiny gold shimmers; you can see them in the macro shot below if you magnify the photo, but otherwise the shimmer isn't visible in the swatch or on the lips. Also, now that you're looking at that bullet close up - can you see that this lipstick is almost... speckled? Very strange. The smell is quite minty, similar to the Lip Surgence line.

However, other than the smell, the Amazonian Butter lipstick is completely different from the Lip Surgence crayons - it's more slippery and glossy, and (there goes the elephant in the room) - it has absolutely no color payoff or lasting power. In the arm and lip swatches, I've built up the color to about 6 layers just so that you could see something; and that something turns out to be a nondescript wash of peachy pink blah. While it feels moisturizing and tingly when it goes on, my thirsty thirsty lips absorb all the glossiness within an hour, and the color is probably gone before that, as it transfers on any cup or glass that dares to approach my mouth. I don't know, maybe mine is a dud - or rather, it sure is a dud, because even the bullet is wobbly and threatens to smush into the tube at any given time.

L-R: Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Pink Peony (5+ swipes), Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait (3 swipes), Givenchy Le Rouge in 201 Rose Taffetas (1 swipe), YSL Pur in 152 Pink Grenadine (1 swipe)

But you know, I don't want to be overly dramatic - it's no lipstick tragedy. I suppose if you're looking for a comfortable, very sheer formula in heartwarmingly cute packaging, it should absolutely work for you; also, the price point seems very reasonable. I, however, will be returning mine; it's just not what I was looking for. Now, excuse me as I mentally prepare myself to shell out the deplorable $35 for another Guerlain Rouge Automatique...

Have you already tried these Amazonian Butter Lipsticks? What is your favorite product from Tarte?