Review: Korres Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging Eye Primer

As part of the Beauty Stat Blogger program, I was recently sent a sample of the Korres Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging Eye Primer. It promises to be crease-proof, act as a corrector and also minimizes the appearance of fine line and wrinkles.

I've been testing it out for a couple of weeks and while I don't feel it has the major longevity of the Urban Decay Primer Potion, it does last for a significant time without creasing on my lids (I got a good 6 hours before I had creasing and what I had was minimal). What it does have that many primer products don't is a tint. This is both good and bad. It's great for those of us with fairer skins that could use some concealing on the lids. However, it doesn't work on all skin tones as the clear versions do.

I also found that it was a bit harder to blend color on top of this primer. This is usually a non-issue for me as I don't often wear more than a simple color all over the lid, but lately, I've actually been blending a color into the crease and applying color over the product isn't easy without dusting a light shade or clear powder prior to doing the actual crease work.

What I've really enjoyed using this for is when I'm too lazy to do an actual eye look and I just wear this with mascara. I also don't find this as drying as the Illuminare colors.

The packaging is a standard doe foot applicator and the regular size comes in a slim tube, containing .14oz of product and retails for $21 which I feel is a little bit high. However, Korres is well known for putting out high value sets. For instance, right now you can get the Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging Eye Primer, the Anti-Aging Face Primer ($33) and the Anti-aging and Anti-wrinkle Concealer ($22) all for $28.

I was impressed by the wear time I got and if you are fair to light, I'd definitely try this as an alternative to some of the other eye primers out there. I'm not sure if those with oily lids would get great wear time but it doesn't hurt to try or seek a sample from a store like Sephora.

For more information on the KORRES® products, please visit www.korresusa.com.

Disclosure: I received this sample from Beauty Stat but all opinions are my own.

February Empties

I've decided to post an empties post at the end of the month instead of haphazardly. February was honestly a bit of a disappointment, however I do have quite a few products that are almost empty or reaching that stage so hopefully March will be more productive!

Korres Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging & Antiwrinkle Night Cream (Sephora lab sample) - Sephora occasionally offers not yet released products to their Beauty Insiders, hence the drab label. I wasn't the biggest fan of this night cream. It didn't spread well and left a white cast that took a long time to sink in, but I didn't find it super moisturizing either. I expect heavy rich creams to sink in more slowly than lighter emulsions, but this didn't seem rich. Quite an odd consistency to be quite honest. I wouldn't purchase the full size.
CVS Detoxifying Cleansing Toilettes - The knock offs for the Garnier wipes. I believe I picked these up on sale. I've had these before and I think they are decent enough. I'm currently using the Yes To Cucumbers  ones. So far so good but I'm a little less keen on the smell.
Pangea Organics Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom Lipcare Stick - This took it's sweet time being used up. I applied this before bed every night for ... awhile. Proper review linked.
Haus of Gloi Eggnoggin Soft Bubbling Scrub - I mentioned in another post that I started liking this a lot more once I stopped expecting it to smell a certain way. I'd repurchase this next holiday season if it's back.

Only 4 items, quite wimpy. Have you finished anything recently?

Sephora Deal: Korres Smoky Eyes Eyeliner Trio

Every so often, Sephora puts out these super cheap sets that turn out to be an amazing deal on high end products. This particular one includes items from the Korres line. It's called the Smoky Eyes Eyeliner Trio and consists of 3 Korres eyeliners for $10. Considering each one of these pencils usually retails for $16, I'd say that's a pretty good deal.

During my last Sephora.com purchase, I picked these up to try.

Even though it is a special set, the products are in their full regular sized boxes and packaging which I appreciate.

Packaging is your fairly standard pencil packaging. These have a very slight pencil scent, but it's not nearly as bad as the Cargo ones I had previously purchased and returned since the smell was so strong.

The set comes with 3 different colors:

Soft Eyeliner 3S Light Blue - A matte pale baby blue
Soft Eyeliner 5S Silver - A metallic silver
Eyeliner 10 Blue Black - A matte deep navy

As named, these pencils are soft and creamy, gliding onto the skin effortlessly and very pigmented.

Pretty, no?

Unfortunately, these smeared even after I gave them about a minute to 'set' which they don't do. Still very pretty and probably great for the waterline and/or tightlining, but they seem like they lack in the staying power department.

That's rubbing my finger twice across the swatches. I think the silver is perhaps the best contender when it comes to the possibly of sustaining color on the upper lid and the navy is probably the worst. Still pretty colors and for the $3.33 per pencil, I'm not sure if it's worth returning. I'll play with them a bit on the eyes and report my findings.

Have you tried this set or other Korres pencils? What did you think?

Korres Does Fragrance

I have been waiting for Korres to release some of their scents in fragrance form, and they have... sorta. They've actually created completely new fragrances that don't seem to completely match up with the scents in their "normal" collection. I'm tempted, really. The price point isn't too bad; $45 and they are currently running a deal.

What they say: "Korres Fragrances are an expression of individuality and mood, a reflection of the various sides of one's self created from natural ingredients such as Rosewood, Cyclamen, Cardamom, Jasmine, Saffran, Pepper, Passion Fruit: Aromatic blends that balance luxury and simplicity, timelessness and modernity."

There are 3 scents currently. Kind of wanting a few more choices to pick from, myself. *hint* I'm actually digging the scent description for the "male" scent.

With top notes of Cardamom, Bergamot and Cinnamon, a heart of Saffron, Cedar wood, Carnation, Sandalwood and the strong, masculine base notes of Amber, Agarwood and Vanilla Korres fragrance for men offers a timeless male scent that is intense yet gentle and infused with woody and amber notes.
Saffron, was first cultivated in Greece. Kozani in northern Greece continues to produce the world's best quality saffran. With over 150 volatile and aroma-yielding compounds, saffron's original and seductive aroma has often been described by connoisseurs as reminiscent of metallic honey with grassy, hay-like notes.
Agarwood, or Agar, is the aromatic resin that is formed within the heartwood of the Aquilaria trees. The complex yet pleasing and distinct aroma of agarwood is unique.
Cardamom, one of the most expensive spices, carries a strong unique taste and intense aroma. A traditional open flame drying process lends a smoky flavor to the spice.

What do you think? Do you think us gals could rock that?

There are 2 other scents; one labeled for women and one unisex. I kind of almost wish Korres had just put the scents out there unlabeled.

Korres fragrances retail for $45 and are 3.38 floz. Unfortunately, they can't currently ship them to California which is somewhat odd, but those are the rules!

Until April 27th, you can also get this free gift!

What do you think? Haul worthy?

Korres' Response to "Let's Do Lunch" ... Tea Time!

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Many of you probably know that Smashbox has a special deal every Tuesday and Thursday (if not, now you do!). With every purchase during the lunch hours of 9am-2pm PST, orders receive a free gift (sometimes deluxe samples and other times full sized items). Well, Korres has jumped on board, with "Tea & Treats in the Afternoon". I actually started yesterday March 30th but the gift tomorrow is much better, so don't feel as though you are missing out. The Korres does seem to have a minimum purchase amount, unlike Smashbox; and unlike Smashbox they don't always have free shipping (love that about Smashbox!), but still a nice Tuesday/Thursday deal.

Free full sized items? And free shipping? Yes, please! Hopefully the gifts in coming weeks will be just as good!

Happy New Year

I hope everyone has a great time celebrating tonight. It is going to be a lot to keep me up past 10pm or so, but DH has been waking me up at midnight to give me a kiss ever since we started dating.

And in honor of the Sephora EXTRA code expiration (tonight), I put in another order and guess was back in stock? Oh yes, the Korres White eyeshadow! Hooray!

RIP

I received my Sephora Sale Sale haul yesterday, but it was poorly packaged (a bag which is unusual for them) and we unfortunately had a casuality. It's now out of stock so they can't send another and I sent back the carnage. Sniff. Sniff. Rest In Peace Korres White eyeshadow.

At least it's a good representation of the color.

ULTA GWP

I generally post a bit on a makeup board called makeupalley and it wasn't until ULTA sent me an e-mail that I knew anything about these gift with purchas(es) going on. I had popped in the store the other day but my "haul" consisted of tweezers. Super exciting, I know. Mine got lost somehow in the middle of the move. I gather that the minute I start unpacking "la stash" I will find 10 of them, but really, can a girl ever have enough tweezers? I don't think so. Personally, I like the idea of one in every room and a pair in the car, a pair at the office and one tucked into my makeup bag in my purse.

Anyway, there are several good deals going on at ULTA right now, which is surprising, since most of the time, their gift with purchases are solely on perfume (or they are make up bags that are bulky and most of us have no use for) and they are usually bizarre; bathrobes, faux jewelry... I've even seen pillows. I know if I jumped at the opportunity for bag related gift with purchases everytime they ran one, I'd have a room I would need to devote just to cheap bags.

Anyway, here's the deal ladies (and gentlemen - though as I mentioned previously, I only have 1 follower and it's a she).

Most every line that ULTA carries in their mid-high end department is having a gift with purchase. Some are better than others. Note: I haven't listed all of them but if you go to ULTA.com you should see a special box with the fall gift with purchase special.

• Bourjois: free lipgloss charm in Brun Galactic with any 2 items (though I purchased 1 and it still gave it to me)
• Sue Devitt: free Microquatic pore filler pen thingy (?) a $28 value with any $25 purchase

Unfortunately, most of the line is $21-22 and the 2nd cheapest thing is a $10 sharpener so not really a good deal if you want something under $25.

• Smashbox: free Eye Liner Brush #9 & Angled Brow Brush #12 a $30 value with any purchase
• Korres: free deluxe sample of primrose eye cream with any purchase
• Fusion Beauty: free deluxe sample of Lip Fusion XL with any purchase

Again, the cheapest item is ridiculously expensive, so unless the line is something you're familiar with and use, I wouldn't chance it just to get the tiny GWP.

• Benefit: free Miss Popularity precision highligher full size with any purchase
• Urban Decay: free mini sin primer potion with any $25 purchase

And there are other GWPs for other brands like, Pur, DDF, Murad, Ahava, Nick Chanez, Cosmedecine and others.

There is no code required to score these deals. If you reach the requirements, they will automatically pop up as a pull down menu in your basket (not that you can actually choose anything, they are preselected). And yes, you can stack the $3.50/$10 code with the gift with purchases.

Don't forget to use ebates for cashback, and there's also a $3.50 off $10 coupon floating around, though it doesn't apply for what ULTA called the prestige brands (basically everything mid-high end in the store) - 21866 is the code.

I hauled quite a few things, thanks to the free gifts and only spent around $50 including tax (shipping was free). I'll report back with my... findings when I receive the package.