Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray Review + Photos

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray (2.7 oz)

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray ($112, 2.7 0z) is a seductive fragrance that takes me back in time to those years as a little girl when I would breathe in the sweet scent of my mother as she got herself ready. It is very reminiscent of Thierry Mugel Angel although I prefer Prada Candy over Angel any day.

Candy is not to be mistaken with the mature motherly scent we are used to when thinking about our mothers. I wouldn't say it's a fragrance directed toward a young high-schooler, but instead aimed towards a more sophisticated woman in her late 20's-early 30's. At first spray, its sweet smell of benzoin fades after settling on your skin, leaving you with notes of sensual caramel vanilla musk.


 

Notes: Caramel, Musk, Vanilla, Benzoin.

Being that Candy is a parfum and not a toilette, it is more potent than a toilette spray so a little goes a long way. It is also more expensive than a Eau de Toilette because they have 10-20% of fragrant extract and oils while the other has less. You can get away with a couple of sprays of Candy that will linger on throughout the day. Using an Eau de Toilette may be less expensive but requires more sprays that will only last you a few hours. Candy is a bit pricey at $64, 1 oz; $84, 1.7 oz; $112, 2.7 oz. You can find it at Sephora and Ulta.

It's a great fragrance for the fall/winter since I can't see myself spraying this on a hot/humid summer day.




What first attracted me to this perfume was the sleek seductive packaging; with its gold, hot pink and black accents. Unlike most other perfumes it doesn't feature a cap. I actually like that for convenience and most times I tend to misplace my perfume caps. If you're worried about traveling with the bottle, don't fret. It comes with a safe traveling guard that attaches to the neck of the spray top to prevent it from accidentally being sprayed.

Another nice feature is that the hose is practically invisible. You need to look closely at the bottle to actually notice that it's inside. This makes the packaging more sophisticated in appearance.

The Rundown
Although I am a fan of its sweet scent, I don't see myself repurchasing it. It is quite pricey and there are many other fragrances I've been wanting to try out such as Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. Candy is a perfume I will generally use at night for a special occasion. I have been enjoying the scent but would like to venture out and try others. Throughout the day I'm currently reaching for Lady Gaga Fame which is harder to find as it's been discontinued in stores.

Have you tried Prada Candy? What is your favorite perfume?

Availability: Nordstrom
Price: $112, 2.7 oz

Bronze-Copper Glitter Nails

On occasion I love wearing glitter on my nails. I don't often use glitter polishes because we all know what a hassle it is to get off. But since it had been such a long time, I was feeling a little creative the week of Thanksgiving.

This drugstore combo came out perfect for the holiday. I applied one base coat, using Sally Hansen (Forbidden Fudge). Then applied 2 coats of Spoiled by Wet n' Wild (Cougar Attack).

Sally Hansen (Forbidden Fudge) + Spoiled (Cougar Attack) - taken in indoor white lighting.

Sally Hansen Forbidden Fudge is a bronzed chocolate brown. To wear on its own you will need 2 coats for an even application. The brush is a round thick brush that collects a good amount of polish. I suggest wiping some of the polish off into the bottle before applying.

Spoiled Cougar Attack is a brown jelly polish with fine bronze & copper glitters. It is exceptionally pretty when layered on top of a base color. I'm not too fond of wearing glitter polishes on their own. I suggest using pure acetone when trying to remove the glitter polish. I had such a hard time getting all the glitter off.

 

Sally Hansen (Forbidden Fudge) + Spoiled (Cougar Attack) - taken in indoor yellow lighting.

To seal the manicure I used my favorite topcoat - Out the Door. It recently replaced the Seche Vite topcoat. I was looking for a better topcoat since I began to dislike Seche Vite. I was having issues with Seche Vite skrinking in on the edges of my nailbeds. Out the Door Topcoat doesn't give me any issues. It actually performs just like Seche Vite but doesn't have such a strong odor plus it dries quicker; in just 45 seconds. It's less expensive as well ($5). I got mine at Sally's Beauty Supply. Hope you enjoyed this combo! Comment down below with any glitter polishes you suggest trying out :)

Brown Smokey Eye

 

I've been MIA for a while but I plan on revamping my blog page as far as the layout is set up. In the meantime, here's a quick post on a brown smokey eye I did this past week. I kept the rest of my face pretty clean and simple.

*No filters/editing was used for the pics and were taken with my Samsung Galaxy s3*

Don't forget to follow me on my social networking sites for more makeup posts. (FIND LINKS AT THE END OF THIS POST) You can find detailed information of what products I used to complete other looks & see what I have been up to!

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FACE:

• Tarte Poreless Primer
• Mix of Maybelline Superstay Foundation (classic beige) + Loreal Lumi Foundation (nude beige)
• Benefit Fake Up Concealer (light) + Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer (light) to highlight undereye, down bridge of the nose and forehead, cupids bow & chin + MAC Prolongwear Concealer (nw25) + Ben Nye Banana Powder to set my concealer
• Loreal True Match Powder (cappuccino) as bronzer on temples, cheeks, nose & jawline + MUD Cosmetics Cheek Color (glow) on cheekbones.
• TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer as highlight on cheeks, down the bridge of my nose & cupids bow.
• Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray to set everything

BROWS:

• Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector (0) + Ardell Brow Powder (taupe)

EYES:

• UDPP on lids to prime.
• NYX Jumbo Pencil (dark brown) as base + Victorias Secret Velvet Shadow (rich) on upper & bottom lid
• MAC (soft brown) on crease to blend out the edges of the lid color and as transition color
• NYX (highlight) on browbone and inner corner
• Loreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner + Inglot Gel Liner #77 on waterline
• Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara (Ultra Black) + Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara + Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara on top lashes
• Urban Decay Canonball Waterproof Mascara on bottom lashes

 LIPS:

• Jordana Lip Liner (tawny) + Loreal Coulour Riche (sheer linen) + Revlon Superlustrous Gloss (pink pop)
• TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer on center of bottom lip for a fuller effect

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Summer Skin Essentials + Tarte Clean Slate Primer Trio & Maracuja Oil

Summer is here and if you are an all-year-long makeup addict like myself, then you know it's the hardest season to apply makeup in. Let's face it, it's beginning to get hot as hell out and by midday your makeup will be melting off your face. This doesn't mean you have to revert to not wearing anything throughout the summer though. There are products that can help you achieve a long-lasting face during these hot months.

A while back I had been wanting to try out the Clean Slate line and Maracuja Oil by Tarte but wasn't so sure about investing so much in each product. I picked up this trial-sized primer trio and mini-sized oil at my local Ulta. Included in the trio set is the Poreless Perfecting Primer, Flawless Brightening Primer and 360° Creaseless Smoothing Eye Primer. 

THE BREAK DOWN..

Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer / Tarte Clean Slate Flawless Brightening Primer / Tarte Clean Slate 360° Creaseless Eye Primer

Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Perfecting Primer (.25 oz trial size) is a waterproof matte base that minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines while helping keep your makeup in place for up to 12 hours. It contains natural-fruit and plant-derived extracts that deliver anti-aging properties and skin-restorative benefits. It also contains avocado oil which is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, D, E and protein. (Full size: 1.0 oz $30)

I like to apply the poreless primer before my foundation routine. The main ingredient is cyclopentasiloxane meaning it is a thick silicon-based primer, so it fills in any pores and lines that I have and leaves my skin feeling smooth all while giving my foundation a flawless finish. It also doesn't leave you feeling greasy at all. I switch back and forth between this primer and the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. I'll apply the Smashbox primer on an everyday basis and use the Tarte primer for days where I really want a flawless long-lasting look. 

Tarte Clean Slate Flawless Brightening Primer (.25 oz trial size) is a waterproof hydrating base that not only keeps your makeup in place for up to 12 hours but also acts as a quick fix for tired, dull-looking skin. Contains Vitamins A and E which are natural preservatives that act as anti-inflammatory emollients that fight damaged skin and prevent premature aging. (Full size: 1.0 oz $30)

I haven't used up this sample yet mainly because I've been really enjoying the poreless primer. The consistency of this primer is much different in that the main ingredient is water. It feels more like a lotion when you apply it to the face. I prefer a silicon-based primer over a water-based one, that's just my preference. I haven't used it long enough to support the claim that it is a fix for tired looking skin but it does make my makeup last all day. 

Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creaseless Smoothing Eye Primer (.09 oz trial size) is a waterproof eye primer that allows for 12-hour creaseless wear as well as true color payoff for your shadows. You can use it to prime under the eye also, hence the 360° claim. Enriched with Vitamin E, it acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient that rejuvenates the skin around the eyes while natural mineral pigments soothe the skin to banish dark circles. (Full size: .39 oz $19)

This isn't an eye primer I reach for often because it has a very watery consistency. Whenever I do go to use it, I have to squeeze out the watery liquid first before getting the actual product out. Because of the texture you do have to allow it to dry on the eyelid before applying shadows. I don't think it makes my shadows last as long as the Urban Decay Primer Potion does and I do prefer the consistency of the UD primer more. It has been my holy grail primer for a while now.

Best of all, Tarte products are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic fragrances and triclosan. (All ingredients known to be carcinogenics or harmful for your skin and organs)

All primers come in a convenient squeeze tub package with a twist off cap which is nice since it's more sanitary than some primers that have wands. If I had to pick just one full sized item of the trio it would be the poreless primer. After finishing up the sample size I went out and bought the full size. A face primer is an essential when wearing makeup in the summer. No one wants to spend all that time applying products to just have it wear off with the summer heat. 

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil (.23 oz trial size) is a hydrating treatment oil known for its anti-aging and healing properties for firmer, brighter, and smoother looking skin, that won't cause breakouts. Containing Vitamin C and fatty acids, it repairs and rebuilds skin by reducing redness, irritation and inflammation. (Full size: 1.7 oz $46)

This maracuja oil is pretty pricey at $46 for 1.7 oz but a little goes a long way. The bottle includes a dropper; with one pump it will pick up the right amount of oil you need; 2-3 drops is suffice for an application. The maracuja oil works well for all skin types. For those with drier skin, like myself, it helps hydrate the skin by restoring natural oils back into it. If you have oily skin you might be saying, why would I add more oil to my face? Truth is, the maracuja oil will help balance the natural oils in your skin.

I like to use the maracuja oil as part of my night-time skin care routine when my skin is at its worse. This oil comes in handy in the winter and summer months for me where my skin tends to feel a bit on the drier side. It helps repair my skin by keeping it hydrated as well as reduce the redness I get from my rosacea which tends to flare up the most during those months.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil - dropper

Before investing in full size products try looking for sample value sets like this. You should still be able to find this set at your local Ulta or Sephora and it is very affordable at only $9. Overall, I'm very impressed with the Clean Slate Poreless Perfecting Primer and the Pure Maracuja Oil. They are both products that I would buy in full size and continue to repurchase over time.

WHAT ARE YOUR SUMMER BEAUTY ESSENTIALS?