PRODUCT REVIEW: butter LONDON

I'll admit it...I'm a bit of an Anglophile with a fondness for most things British. One of my beauty obsessions from "across the pond" is butter LONDON.  I first fell in love with butter LONDON  when I ordered some of their nail polish (or nail varnish as they say in the UK) from one of my favorite online shopping sites - HauteLook.  The colors were incredible bright and bold, the wear was great and the polish went on like a dream...I didn't even need a top coat! Needless to say it was love at first sight.

Nonie Creme is the Founding Creative Director for butter LONDON and it's her creative genius that has lead to them being a cult phenomenon in the nail industry. Butter LONDON has worked with designers like Alexander Wang, Betsey Johnson, Vena Cava, Calvin Klein, Issa, Rachel Zoe, and many more. They have a passionate following in the U.S. thanks to their 3 Free (non-toxic) nail lacquers which are formulated without the use of harmful ingredients like Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP or Parabens. 

Now onto the good stuff my lovelies! I've swatched below my recent haul of butter LONDON goodies including not only nail polish but a few other of their products. Enjoy!!!

Dressing Table Duo #1 (Limited Edition) - ($25)
This duo includes the following two nail polish shades:

"The Black Knight" - A dark dazzler from butter LONDON, this glitter fusion contains black, pink, blue, and silver suspended in a black base.
Absolutely in love with this color....be still my beating heart! It's no wonder that it's currently sold out on the Butter LONDON website.

"Tart With A Heart" - Who says pink glitter can’t be girly AND sexy?! This pale pink parade of glitter carries a dash of grey to tone down the sugar and ramp up the spice.

I love girlie glitter polish and this is super glittery and pretty. Can be worn alone or layered over a variety of light or dark colored polish...oh the possibilities!

"HRH" - ($14)
Proper purple. Even the Queen would agree, and she never agrees with us. (P.S. - for you non Angophiles H.R.H. stands for Her Royal Highness - in other words, the Queen!)

This is my new FAVORITE purple nail polish - so sorry Illamasqua (another British cosmetic brand I like) but you are now bumped!

"The Black Knight" looks super gorgeous layered over "HRH".  Together they are the perfect dark duo for your winter mani/pedi. Even with my short stubby nails I can't stop staring at my hands!

"The Full Monty" - ($14)

Does what it says on the bottle. Full-on molten gold. A beautiful colour that is always classy, never brassy.

This nail polish looks like a burnished, antique gold color...it reminds me of an old M.A.C. pigment "Old Gold".  It makes me happy just looking at this color.

Layering "Tart With A Heart" over "The Full Monty" makes me think of glittery fun things like shiny disco balls...it's quite lovely.

Quick Change Artist  Duo -  ($15)

Go naked if you must, but never on your nails! This kit contains nail polish remover and "Yummy Mummy" nail lacquer. 

One of the worst things about nail polish remover is the awful smell...Butter LONDON's smells like baby powder.

"Yummy Mummy" - Our ‘magic’ lacquer. This medium beige colour is simply stunning on EVERY skin colour. If you can’t decide on a lacquer, then we will for you. It’s this.

They don't lie...I can image this color looking gorgeous on any and everyone. I like it as a cool-toned neutral for winter when I don't want too strong a color.

 "Master" Luxury Lotion - ($10)

 A unisex lotion for exceptionally soft skin with a Black Tea scent – sophisticated, smoky – just what you are craving.

 I love drinking different types of black tea (Earl Grey, Lady Grey, etc) so I decided to give this a try and I'm so glad I did. The fragrance is great for winter...alittle smoky, sultry and sexy. It also left my hands feeling soft and supple but not a bit greasy.

As an added treat I'm also including picture of butter LONDON's new 2012 Spring/Summer Collection:

My favs from the new collection are "Knackered" - A sheer, twinkling oyster shade flecked with micro glitter particles and "Slapper" - A truly teal lacquer, bold and very bright.


I hope you all enjoyed this blog post - it's the first time I've written a Product Review covering nail polish so curious to know what you all think. Please feel free to share your feedback on butter LONDON (or any other beauty blog post) by leaving a comment below. Thanks again for being a "Karen's World of Beauty" Reader!

PRODUCT REVIEW: DHC - Q10 Products

 

  

Q10 Starter Set  ($24.50)

Antioxidant CoQ10 is known to protect your skin from free radicals, which can damage skin and accelerate the appearance of fine lines. This set contains smaller sizes of DHC's antioxidant-rich skincare products that target the signs of aging caused by UV rays and stress by utilizing the benefits of coenzyme Q10.  Perfect for the gym or traveling!

Set includes:
* Deep Cleansing Oil -  Its unique water-soluble formula rinses completely, so you’ll never see a greasy residue. Olive oil and vitamin E help ensure you won’t see dryness either.
* Olive Soap - Fortified with olive leaf’s naturally occurring coenzyme Q10, this clear cleansing bar fights free radicals that can cause damage to collagen and elastin fibers.
* Q10 Lotion - this age-fighting toner maximizes your coenzyme Q10 potential to target sun-damaged skin and help smooth and hydrate your complexion.
* Q10 Milk - Bring moisture and suppleness back while fighting free radicals with this milky gel moisturizer.
* Q10 Cream - Combines the excellent toning and firming properties of coenzyme Q10 with olive oil for optimum nourishment and preservation of your skin. 

Q10 Water Mist  ($29)

A refreshing portable toner, rich in antioxidant coenzyme Q10, that you can use anytime and anywhere. Enjoy a pick-me-up spritz to revitalize your skin and refresh your makeup.

 

Q10 Eye Cream  ($24)

This intensive eye cream not only contains revitalizing coenzyme Q10, but also employs 10 other beneficial ingredients, including vitamin E, olive oil, kudzu, and alpha-arbutin to help fight fine lines.

 

Q10 Hand Cream   ($7.50)

Age-fighting coenzyme Q10 helps give your hands the extra edge they need to stay soft, supple, and younger-looking. Veil your hands in this silky, fast-absorbing cream enriched with superior moisture-magnets, including nourishing olive and meadowfoam oils.

I've been a big fan of DHC olive-oil based products for years so when I saw them on Twitter I contacted them about doing a review. I had never tried the Q10 line and thought it would be a perfect choice since I'm concerned about fine lines and aging. As I stated in previous post, I love being able to sample skincare sets so you get the benefit of using cohesive products that are meant to be used together. I believe you get a truer response to the products effectiveness.  Since the Q10 Starter Set was missing a few items I believe essential in my beauty routine, I also asked to be sent an eye cream, toner and hand cream so my review would be truly comprehensive. I used the products consistently for a little over a month and I have to say overall  I was happy with the results .

As I stated in previous posts, my skin is not very happy in winter. The combination of cold and wind outside and drying heat inside makes for dull, dry skin.  My skintype  is usually combination but in winter it's more normal with areas of dryness.  After about a week of using the DHC products I noticed that my skin was more luminous and glowing.  I no longer had tiny patches of dryness around my mouth and nose.  My daily routine was to use the soap, lotion, water mist, milk (or the cream if my skin was feeling dry) and eye cream in the morning and then the full set of products at night.  My face and neck felt soft and supple and even with my makeup on my skin still had a dewy look.  

After using the Q10 products for a month I didn't notice a big difference in the tiny lines by my eyes but moisturized skin looks plumper so you don't see them as much.  The hand cream was moisturizing but felt I needed to reapply often to keep my hands feeling soft.  In all fairness have to say as a Makeup Artist I wash my hands frequently so my hands tend to be super dry, especially in winter. I think for the average person they might have better results with the hand cream.  The Q10 water mist is absolutely lovely! I used it after toning, before applying my moisturizer and also during the day to refresh my makeup.  My favorite products from the Q10 line are the Q10 Cream, Q10 Lotion, and Q10 Water Mist ( I was already in love with the Deep Cleansing Oil and Olive Soap). I'm glad that I had the opportunity to try DHC's Q10 products and I plan to purchase items from this line in the future.

Reader alert: This month DHC is offering a sale on it's Q10 Lotion, Cream and Eye Cream along with it's superstar product - Deep Cleansing Oil. And with every order you get your choice of 4 product samples!  Get shopping now Readers!!!!

* Received DHC Q10 Products to review.