That’s Sonia K.’s $8.99 Hint of Berry Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balm on my lips

The list of things Sonia Kashuk’s new Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms have going for ‘em reads like a laundry list of travel makeup awesomeness.

• Sleek presentation
• They’re pretty affordable at $8.99 each
• They come in four sheer, universally flattering shades — Hint of Coral, Hint of Pink, Hint of Red and Hint of Berry
• The lightweight formula
• They’re unburdened by scents or flavors
• SPF 15
• Infused with açaí oil, essential fatty acids, cherry extract for antioxidant protection and safflower seed oil to nourish lips

I always worry about losing my (luggage, mind) makeup bag when I travel, and Sonia regularly releases such great stuff at good prices that I figured I’d bring one of these along with me on my next trip.

Except there’s one problem with that…

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms in Hint of Coral on the left and Hint of Berry on the right ($8.99 each)

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms in Hint of Coral on the left and Hint of Berry on the right ($8.99 each)

Moisture!

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms ($8.99 each)

Hint of Coral on the left and Hint of Berry on the right

That’s Sonia Kashuk’s new Chic Luminosity Bronzer/Blush Duo in Glisten ($12.99) on my cheeks, one of three new SK Duos for spring

Okay, so I don’t quite get the alligator/reptilian pattern on the pans (gives me the heebie-jeebies and the urge to moisturize my shins!), but I do get a good bargain-hunting vibe from Sonia Kashuk’s new $12.99 Chic Luminosity Duos.

Each of the three Duos in petal pink Glow, warm coral Glisten and rosy nude Glimmer comes with a blush and bronzer; the formulas remind me of some of the powder/cream/gel products we’ve seen from Estée Lauder and Chanel over the past couple of years.

Glisten, the warm coral I’ve been wearing off and on since last weekend, looks just like one of Estée Lauder’s Ilumminating Powder Gelee Highlighters and Blushes, which usually cost between $40-50.

And like the Gelees, it illuminates cheeks with a refined, glimmering finish that softens the appearance of pores and fine lines, almost like a 1940s powderpuff lens.

Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Bronzer Blush in Glisten ($12.99)

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Affordable and stylish spring and summer beauty from Sonia K.

Kitty overlord got a taste for the finer things? Is he/she hooked on products with high-end prices?

With Tabs, been there, done that.

But ya know what? This spring and summer, refreshing your makeup bag (or your feline employer’s) doesn’t have to empty your Kate Spade wallet.

Not with my girl, Sonia Kashuk, swooping in to save the day.

Whether you’re saving up for a toy or trip, or just tightening up your beauty budget, get haute couture for less with Sonia Kashuk’s new spring and summer 2013 makeup.

With a packaging revamp across her permanent line, there’s excitement in the air! Say so long (at least for now) to Sonia’s signature white and silver compacts, because they’ve been replaced by new black and white cases.

Of course, you’ll still be able to find your favorite product shades, as well as some new ones, too.

On the limited-edition side, we head to Morocco!

Or rather, Sonia did, and it influenced her spring and summer makeup, bags and tools.

It’s a HUGE collection this year (available now at Target, in stores and online), and here are some of the pieces that have caught my eye…

Sonia Kashuk State of the Art Nail Set ($12.99)

Sonia Kashuk State of the Art Nail Set ($12.99)

Sonia Kashuk Nail Colours from the left: Sitting Pretty, Queen of Hearts and Fever Pitch ($4.79 each)

Wearing the new $19.99 Sonia Kashuk Formal Affair Palette on my eyes and cheeks

Wait — are you kidding me?! You two haven’t met yet? Well, we need to fix that immediately.

Babe, this is Sonia Kashuk’s new Formal Affair Palette; Formal Affair, this is one of my beauty besties.

I think you two will hit it off. Formal Affair here is quite a bargain at $19.99. She may spend her days in drugstores, but at heart, she’s 100% department store-caliber makeup.

It’s as if Sonia said, “I’m going to make the perfect powder palette, and it’s going to contain two blushes, one bronzer and four eyeshadows for girls who want to look like they’re wearing NARS, Bobbi Brown and Urban Decay but don’t want to spend that much.”

Is that the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo??

Don’t the golden brown powder bronzer and shimmery, golden peachy pink blush on Formal Affair’s far right look inspired by the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo? Except that Sonia’s bronzer is sheerer than NARS Laguna, with slightlier grittier grains of golden glitter, and the golden pearl within the blush looks less pronounced to me than NARS Orgasm (maybe they’re just kissing cousins).

Look who’s getting Naked2

Okay, although I feel kinda lame getting excited about a brown eyeshadow (with so many great flashy colors out there and all!), Formal Affair’s brown is just so chocolaty…so shimmery…and so Mmmm! — buttery smooth.

It reminds me of Snakebite from the Urban Decay Naked2 palette.

It’s just so blendable, and I love how easy it is to wear sheer or build up in layers.

Sparkle like Bobbi Brown’ Sparkle Eyeshadows

The tan and black glittery shadows in Formal Affair would fit right in with Bobbi Brown’s Sparkle Eyeshadows. Like those shadows from Bobbi, they’re loaded with gobs of medium-sized glitter, but Sonia takes things a step further by using an intensely pigmented base. Patting either shade on the brown shade from Formal Affair is a quick way to dress up a look. I do have to be mindful, though, of the fallout, which is slight, but still. At least it’s easy enough to clean up, especially if I do my eyes first.

Sonia Kashuk Formal Affair Swatches from the left: pink blush, bronzer, peachy pink blush, shimmery white eyeshadow, glittery tan eyeshadow, shimmery brown eyeshadow and glittery black eyeshadow

It may be cold and rainy here in the Bay Area tonight (boo!), but at least I don’t have to see dudes with long toenails wearing flip-flops. #glasshalffull

The rain also gives me an excuse to stay home and gaze at the sparkly clutch that comes with Sonia Kashuk’s new $24.99 Gilded Cages Holiday Brush Set…

(And rub the six ultra plush brush heads all over my face.)

From the left: Powder/Blush Brush, Eyeshadow Brush, Foundation Brush, Crease Brush, Synthetic Flat Liner Eyeliner Brush, Fan Brush

From the left: Flat Eyeliner Brush, Fan Brush, Powder/Blush Brush, Foundation Brush, Crease Brush and Eyeshadow Brush

Cute clutch!

CUTE!