TSITC - On Partial Hiatus for May!

Twin Sisters in the City is on partial hiatus beginning now through May.  We are both moving house and changing jobs so it'll be a hectic/busy month for us.  So if you notice our posts are less frequent, that is why.  Don't worry, we aren't going anywhere!  We will be back and better than ever in June, ready to give you great reviews and giveaways!  So stay tuned!!

There will still be reviews this coming month, including our monthly Birchbox reviews and some swatches of products we're loving.   We also have one giveaway in the works for this month, so we won't be totally gone in May!

Review and Swatches - Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are an amazing solar-baked blush containing Amazonian clay which is meant for all skin types.  If your skin is oily it will minimize oil and keep the blush in place.  If your skin is dry it will hydrate your skin naturally to restore moisture.  It is also meant to improve your skin's clarity and texture.

They also claim the clay is intuitive and will balance your skin if it is combination giving it a smooth and even appearance.  The blushes contain Vitamin E (a natural preservative and anti-inflammatory), Vitamin C (fights free radicals) and beeswax (creates a protective barrier) as well.  All three ingredients help with anti-aging.

I have three shades to swatch for you today, Peaceful, Glisten and Blissful.  Peaceful is a pinky nude and appears to be matte.  Glisten is a true medium pink with a slight sheen of shimmer.  Blissful is a warm peach almost boarding on coral and is matte.

All swatches are in natural sunlight.

Peaceful

Peaceful

Glisten

Glisten

Blissful

Blissful

I love that these all are formulated without harmful ingredients like parabens, GMOs, sulfates or synthetic fragrance.  The packaging is great.  There is a pinhole on the back so you can take out the blush and put it into a custom palette if you wish.

I do love these blushes, added benefits aside.  Even though they are powder they glide on with a smooth texture and are very pigmented.  A little bit goes a long way!

Currently, only Blissful is available on Tarte's website but you can find the other shades on Sephora or Amazon.  You receive 0.2 oz for $25.00.



Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Tarte, Sephora or Amazon.  All products mentioned were purchased by me.  All opinions are my own.

Music Monday - Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out

Cuteness Overload - The World's Loudest Cat

Review - Crane USA - Ultra Slim Mini Tower

My apartment in the city is great, my heat is included in my rent, however, I can't control the temperature of the heat.  This leads me to turning on my AC if it gets too hot.  Now that April is here my apartment building has turned off the heat even though it dips to 50 degrees or less at times!  I decided to get a space heater to warm my cold toes and nose when it got to be too chilly. 

I wanted something compact but powerful, safe and energy efficient.  That's when I found the Crane Ultra Slim Mini Tower!  This is a sleek PTC ceramic heater (as opposed to convection).

This space heater is powerful, compact and sleek.  I love that it doesn't take up much floor space in my apartment.  It measures only at 19.8 inches high, 9.5 inches wide and 7.1 inches deep.  It also comes with a remote!

This heater is safe and that's very important to me when you're dealing with a space heater.  It's cool to the touch so I'm not worried about it hurting my pup.   If it tips over or over heats, it automatically shuts off.

It has an actractive sensor touch display.  From left to right is the oscillator button, the timer, desired heat setting (800 w or 1200 w), and the on/off button.  At 800 watts this heater is still a power house and heats up my entire studio apartment (think your big living room at home) in approximately 10 minutes!  And I don't have to feel so guilty about turning it for fear of my electric bill because of the lower watt setting it offers.  You can set the timer from anywhere to only 30 minutes to 7 and a half hours.  I also love that it's very quiet.  It merely sounds like I have a quiet fan on and it's actually kind of soothing. 

On the back, there is a handle to move the heater around.  It's easy to move around as it only weighs 3.8 lbs.  There is also a back panel which holds the carbon filter. It also has a main on/off switch so that you can keep it plugged in when not using it and not have to worry about it sapping electricity.

All and all this is a great heater that's not only safe and energy efficient but I wouldn't feel embarrassed having it in my living room due to it's great design.

It retails for $69.99 on Crane's website or you can pick up yours on Amazon for $55.09 (21% off).



Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Crane.  Product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Review and Swatches - Tarte LipSurgence™

Tarte LipSurgence™ line first appeared as a lip tint and later expanded with Tarte LipSurgence™ matte lip tint and Tarte LipSurgence™lip luster.  These lip products have LipSurgence™ technology which is a formula containing jojoba seed oil, peppermint oil, vitamin C and E which is clinically proven to increase lips' moisture content.


They also have skinvigorating™benefits because they're formulated without:

			formulated without mineral oil formulated without paraben formulated without phthalates cruelty free formulated without sodium lauryl sulfate

All these claims deliver.  These are great, non-greasy, non-sticky moisturizing lip products.  They really are true tints and lusters offering sheer color to the lips in any of the given finishes (standard stain, matte or luster (a glossy finish)).  They feel like a light balm going on and are easy to apply.  They come in several different shades and finishes and it's quite easy to get addicted to collecting them!  Between my sister and I we have six.

They have innovative packaging coming in a crayon like tube which twists up from the bottom similar to chapstick.  No sharpening required.  The packaging is kind o a mix between a lipstick and a balm which is fun and great.  They also have a great peppermint scent and no taste.  They are 2.6 mL or 0.08 fl. oz. and $24.00 each.  You can purchase them at tartecosmetics.com, Sephora or Ulta.

On to the swatches!  I have five to swatch for you today.  We have two lip tints, one matte lip tint and two lip lusters.

L to R - fiery (matte), amused (tint/stain)

L to R - frisky (luster), sweet (luster)

L to R - sweet (luster), peaceful (tint)

Color Descriptions

1. fiery -matte red (matte)
2. amused - bright pink (stain)
3. frisky - bright pink (luster)
4. sweet - peachy pink, limited edition (luster)
5. peaceful - peach nude (no longer in stock) (tint)

Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Tarte Cosmetics.  Products were purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Music Monday - Jessie J - Domino

Review and Swatches - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

"Creamy, forever-lasting, award-winning and waterproof, 24/7 pencils delight you with lush tropical hues, deep metallics, and unusually vibrant neutrals.

The best Eye Pencil ever, ever, ever! Never before has a pencil this creamy and brilliant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics and unusually vibrant neutrals. Incredible with Urban Decay Eyeshadows!

Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil."

Fill Weight: 1.2  g, 0.04 US oz, $19.00 each.  There are 24 different shades total out now as of April 2012.  I have 11 to swatch for you today.  This is quite possibly my favorite eye pencil.  They are all deeply pigmented, stay on for hours, don't budge and come in a great array of colors!  They are great for your water line too.

All photos are in natural (albeit cloudy day) light.  I should have sharpened a couple of them before swatching, but the left skinnier line is one swipe and the right side is a heavier swatch.  Enjoy!

L to R - Perversion, Zero, Eldorado, Gunmetal

L to R - Gunmetal, Whiskey, Stash, Mildew

L to R - Rockstar, Ransom, Binge, Electric

Official Color Descriptions

1. Perversion - blackest-black matte
2. Zero - zealous black
3. Eldorado - gold
4. Gunmetal - gunmetal w/ teeny silver
5. Whiskey - currently limited edition
6. Stash - dark green w/ gold
7. Mildew - deep green
8. Rockstar - darkest eggplant
9. Ransom - bright iridescent purple
10. Binge - navy blue
11. Electric - bright aquamarine

 Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Urban Decay.  Product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.