Hello, pigment. This is Rose.

Rose is one of three colors in Sonia Kashuk’s Super Sheer Liquid Tint line ($10; available at Target stores nationwide).

One full pump

Sheer isn’t what first came to mind when I tested Rose on my hand. The color looked rich and vibrant — not exactly fitting the Super Sheer name.

Spread it around!

Initially, Rose applies as a dark rosy pink, but her color fades over time…

All rubbed in

How sheer is it?

Within an hour of applying Rose on my cheeks, the color fades to a sheer, barely noticeable pink. Super sheer, indeed!

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It’s refreshing to find a product that lives up to its name.

L’oreal Double Extend Mascara ($11) may be a little pricey for a drugstore mascara ($1 more will get you one from MAC), but there’s one thing it does and does *very* well.

Nekkid lashes!

Two products for the price of one

Double Extend is like two products for the price of one — a lash primer and a mascara — which work together to extend the heck out of lashes.

Primer wand

Small fibers in the primer prep lashes for the mascara. Combined, the dynamic duo seem to make my lashes look much longer than usual.

Portability

Since both the lash primer and the mascara are at opposite ends of the same tube, Double Extend means not having to carry a separate tube of lash primer. Two points for traveling friendly.

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If somebody blindfolded me, slicked the new Sonia Kashuk Ultra Shine Sheer Formula Lip Gloss ($9) on my pucker and then asked me to guess which gloss I was wearing, I would guess an expensive Glossimer from Chanel.

Beauty

Chanel Aqualumiere de ja vu/vu ja de

With its thin, non-stick formula that’s both taste- and fragrance-free, Sonia’s new $9 gloss feels surprisingly like a $27 tube of Chanel Aqualumiere Glossimer.

And the similarities don’t stop with the texture.

The rich (yet sheer) colors and glossy shine of Sonia’s Ultra Shines also make them look like dead ringers for Aqualumieres.

Whisper

Elegant, practical tube

Tubes of Sonia’s new gloss may not wear those vaunted Chanel double C’s, but I think they still look elegant in their sleek silver cap. The tube is compact and practical, too, fitting easily into my favorite Coach Wristlet with room to spare.

Beauty on lips

Are they hydrating?

Ultra Shine has *a lot* going for it, but there is one thing I’d change…

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Over the past three decades I’ve used dozens of different lotions on my perpetually parched bod, and after going through gallons and gallons of product, I’ve learned a thing or two, like how it sure ain’t easy to find an affordable, highly moisturizing daily body lotion with SPF.

In general, daily body lotions that contain sunscreen aren’t water- or sweat-proof like regular sunscreens; they’re body lotions first, with the added benefit of sunscreen. I like to use them during the work week or when I have errands to run — times when I expect to get a little sun but won’t be out in it for hours at a time.

I’ve been an Aveeno fan for years and had really high hopes for Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 15 ($12).

More moisturizing than other drugstore brands

For starters, Active Naturals feels much more moisturizing to me than usual for a drugstore lotion with SPF. With most of them my skin starts looking scaly and feeling tight within a few hours, but when I apply it in the morning before work, Active Naturals keeps my skin soft well into the evening.

Smells a little like sunscreen

If you’re sensitive to scents, in particular the smell of sunscreen, then you might want to take a good, long sniff before buying. Aveeno says the product doesn’t contain any added fragrances, but the broad-spectrum SPF formula does have a light, tell-tale sunscreen scent. It dissipates quickly, though, disappearing within about 10 minutes.

Absorbs slowly

Patience is key here as the product takes about twice as much rubbing as regular lotions (those without SPF) to massage into my skin. I guess in this case that’s part of the price you pay for sun protection.

At least it isn’t sticky once it dries and doesn’t leave a greasy finish or a white cast on my skin.

Oats, the No. 1 inactive ingredient

I can’t say for sure why this stuff’s so much more moisturizing than similar products, but Aveeno says it’s the oats. They’re listed as the first inactive ingredient (the top active ingredients are all sunscreens).

Oats have been used in skin care for thousands of years; clinical research proves their benefits, and all six products in the Active Naturals line contain colloidal oatmeal, finely-milled oats that Aveeno says leave a protective barrier on the skin, preventing water loss and maintaining moisture.

Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 15

Price: $12 for a 12-oz bottle
Use: An excellent hydrating daily body moisturizer with sunscreen
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

At $12, Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion is on the expensive side of the drugstore lotion spectrum, but it’s cheaper than comparable department store varieties from lines like Clinique, which sell sun protecting lotions for twice the price.

Sunday plans?

It’s another toasty day here in Northern California, but I’m going to attempt a run before catching up on some household cleaning and reading. I’m about halfway through Something Borrowed, and so far I’m in love (good writing for a chick lit book).

I hope you have some time to relax today.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Ah, the nuances of Bay Area slang. A few years ago I felt like I couldn’t get away from the phrase “that’s hella tight” (code for “that’s cool”). Everybody and their mother was saying it, including mine. Once, Mom and I were at Macy’s looking at China patterns when she said, “Ohhh, Karen… those Lenox patterns are hella tight!” LOL!

I recently resurrected the phrase, but only in the most literal sense. I’ve been using a new cream, Korres Materia Herba Moisturizing Eye Cream Anti-Dark Circles ($36), on my under-eye area. Designed to de-puff and lighten dark circles over time, it tightens the skin around my eyes like crazy.

Hella tight, indeed.

Tightens skin

Within seconds I can feel the skin under my eyes tightening up. The area even looks a little less puffy and feels tighter, and that was a nice surprise.

Not a dark circle treatment

But Materia Herba Eye Cream isn’t billed as a tightening cream; rather, it’s marketed as a treatment for dark circles.

After using it for three weeks I haven’t seen a significant decrease in my dark circles, but honestly that doesn’t surprise me. I’ve never had success with dark circle removal eye creams in the past, and I just keep trying them because I hope to someday find one that actually works.

Moderately hydrating, kinda pricey

The $36 price tag seems typical, if not a little pricey, for what you get. Price-wise it’s about average for a moderately moisturizing department store eye cream.

I found myself wanting a little more hydration, but I have very dry skin under my eyes. Girls with normal to oily skin under their eyes may not find themselves wanting more.

Texture, scent and packaging

I really like the texture, scent and packaging. It’s an odorless cream that absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave an oily film on my skin. I like that it comes in a tube dispenser, too, because with this I’d rather not have to dip my fingers into a jar.

One of nine products in the Materia Herba line

Korres may not have a home run on its hands with the eye cream, but I like their overall approach to beauty products. Moisturizing Eye Cream Anti-Dark Circles is one of nine products in Korres’ new Materia Herba line of face moisturizers and cleansers.

All of the products in the line are certified organic and, according to Korres, manufactured using a sustainable process and mostly renewable resources. Plus, the products are made without parabens or harsh chemicals.

I think I want to try the Materia Herba Nourishing Night Cream For All Skin ($46), but it sure would be a splurge. I’d be all over it at $26.

While I like the way Materia Herba Eye Cream feels and love the tightening effect, I don’t think it’s my dark circle remover extraordinaire. But if what you’re mostly looking for is a moderately moisturizing under-eye cream that tightens the skin, it may be worth a try.

Alternative eye cream

If you, too, have dry skin under your eyes and wouldn’t mind a cheaper alternative, consider American Beauty’s Beauty Boost Overnight Radiance Eye Cream ($26, now on sale for $20). It’s rich, moisturizing and absorbs quickly. Of course, like Materia Herba’s cream it doesn’t do a whole lot for under-eye circles, but c’est la vie!

Korres Materia Herba Moisturizing Eye Cream Anti-Dark Circles

Price: $36 for .51 oz tube
Use: A moderately hydrating eye cream that tightens skin like a mofo
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B-

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen