Wednesday, August 15, 2012

{Favorites} July 2012!

Hey there! Today's post is a belated favorites post. I know, I know, late as usual but I've been really busy packing to go back to uni and working and I haven't had much free time--just now finally got around to posting. Sorry! Anyhow, since my skin care/tanning stuff hasn't changed from last month's favorites post (click here to see June Favorites!) this post is mostly makeup, and a lot of the stuff is newer (to me at least!).



















Top-->Bottom: RoC Retinol Coreexion Eye Cream, Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Serum + Eyeliner in Black, MAC Mega Metal Eyeshadow in Unflappable.
 


















Top-->Bottom: MAC Mega Metal Eyeshadow in Unflappable, Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Serum + Eyeliner in Black, RoC Retinol Coreexion Eye Cream.

RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream: I've been loving using this at night. I was a bit iffy about the metal tube at first, but honestly it is so much more sanitary and less wasteful than regular tubes. This cream leaves my eyes feeling so moisturized, but it sinks in very quickly. A lot of the other night creams I've tried like that tend to have a heavier texture. No such problem with this one! I'll be doing a full review as soon as I get the chance.

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Serum + Eyeliner: I've been wearing this almost every day. It looks, feels, and applies like a more expensive liner, but for a lot less. I got this on sale for only $4. This one is in the shade Black, but apparently there is also a Very Black shade as well. I think the display was just out. I haven't yet noticed thicker or longer lashes, but either way this is a superb liner. I'm especially loving the fine tip. It' s a real brush tip, not a felt tip like some of the other pen liners. The felt ones tend to fray after a while, while this one has kept its shape for almost a month now. Full review will be coming!

MAC Mega Metal Eyeshadow in Unflappable: This may seem like a very dark, fall shade, but I've been loving it this summer. It's a deep purply blue shade that has just enough of the purple and blue tones that they show up on skin, but not enough to make it look like you're wearing a lot of color, which is perfect. I've been applying the Physicians formula liner and then smudging this over top to get a nice sexy smudgy almost slept in look. I also love how easily this shade can be sheered out. I sometimes put this in the crease with a tan shade all over the lid. Very easy and very pretty. I've had this in my purse with an old Revlon shadow (Sparkle Eyeshadow in Chestnut--matte tan shade). It's all I've used for several weeks.



















L-->R: Carmex Original Lip Balm, Sephora Collection Be You Lip Balm in Coral Twist, Revlon Beyond Natural Protective Lip Tint SPF 15 in Peach, Sephora Collection Lip Attitude Lipstick in Glamour.



















Top-->Bottom: Carmex Original Lip Balm, Sephora Collection Be You Lip Balm in Coral Twist, Revlon Beyond Natural Protective Lip Tint SPF 15 in Peach, Sephora Collection Lip Attitude Lipstick in Glamour.

Carmex Original Lip Balm: I've heard people rave about this stuff everywhere so when I was in CVS a little while back checking out, I saw a whole display of them by the register and decided to give it a try. This is one of the most moisturizing lip balms I've ever used. I'm also using the lip version of the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream--that stuff works well but smells bad. This stuff has kind of a menthol type smell--not the best, but not the worst either. I meant to buy the cherry version, but I only saw the original in pot form (I didn't want the tube). I've been using this before bed and my lips feel great. It feels cooling when you first apply and really does sooth lips. What I love the most is the longevity (still on my lips in the morning!!) as well as the texture--this is what a balm should feel like. It's the perfect in between--not too waxy, not too oily. Just smooth, creamy, balmy. Definitely seeing my self purchasing another pot of this when I'm done, especially at the price.

Sephora Collection Be You Lip Balm in Coral Twist: At first I was disappointed by the lack of pigmentation in this balm (the swatch you see above is like 20 swipes back and forth), but the balm itself isn't bad. Certainly not Carmex good, but it works well for layering under lipsticks and glosses. It has a thin texture and glides on very smoothly, leaving a sheen on the lips. The color doesn't really show up much at all, just slightly deepens my lips (just barely). It does smell good, kinda fruity, and it doesn't really have a taste. Would I ever spend $12 on this again? Hell no. But I have been reaching for it a lot lately to wear under the Revlon Lip Tint in Peach.

Revlon Beyond Natural Protective Lip Tint SPF 15 in Peach: I've been really annoyed at Revlon. I feel like every time they come out with a great product, three months later it's nowhere to be found. I bought this balm last summer (I think? Not sure). A couple months later went back to get some more shades cuz I was really loving Peach and what do you know: they were nowhere to be found!! So frustrating! This is what a tinted lip balm should be (Sephora: take note!). The shade is sheer, but buildable, the texture is hard in the stick, but applies very shiny/moisturizing, gives a sheen to the lips, no smell/taste, lasts two to three hours. I love this one and sadly am almost out of it. I've used it almost every single day, mainly because I've been loving the combination of anything peach/orangy/coraly with navy blue. It looks very fresh and modern, never too heavy. I hope they bring these back sometime because I would literally buy every single shade!!

Sephora Collection Lip Attitude Lipstick in Glamour: This is another recent addition to my lipstick collection. A couple months back I woke up one morning and just had to buy more lipstick. I own a lot of glosses, but I've never been into wearing lipstick on a daily basis--mainly because to me it makes my face look overdone. No such problem with this lipstick. It applies like a very sheer pink, a few shades lighter than my natural lip tone, but it still looks really nice with my tan right now. I love how like the other three lip products in my faves this month--it's got a very shiny finish, so it's very effortless for me to just put it on and not have to do any gloss or anything over top. I don't think I'll be purchasing more of these because this one smells bad--doesn't taste too bad, but man the small is just overpowering.

So there you have it! My July favorites! I'll try to do the August ones on time lol! Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

{Haul} BeautyBar.com: Cosmetic Executive Women Insiders' Choice Box 2012!



















Hey there! Yet another haul today! I know, I really gotta stop buying things lol. This haul is again to blame on the lovely Nouveau Cheap blog--the best place to find out about great deals and steals. And this haul is definitely a steal!!! And this is also my first ever purchase from Beauty Bar, so another reason to be excited!


I technically only bought one item off Beauty Bar: the Cosmetic Executive Women Insiders' Choice Box 2012 (click to see it on Beauty Bar). Supposedly some of the top people in the beauty industry got together, voted, and chose these 11 products as winners for some of their best product of 2012. I don't know how much of that is true or if this is just a marketing ploy, but either way, I am really glad I made the purchase.

This box is worth over $109 and I got it for $25. I also got free two day shipping from Beauty Bar because this was my first purchase. AND if you're interested, they have a special offer: buy 2 of these boxes and get 1 free with the code BBCEW. Click here to check it out! These wold make great gifts!



















Look at all the goodies inside!!! Lol I couldn't resist cracking a few of these babies open and trying them out the second it came in the mail! Keep scrolling to see everything included!




















Supergoop! SPF 30 Everyday Face & Body Moisturizer with Parsol 1789 PLUS:  A UVA and UVB protection sunscreen for sensitive skin that is supposed to be water resistant and packed with antioxidants A, C, and E. I've never tried this brand but I've seen them on Hautelook before. Looking forward to testing them out cuz I'm always on the look out for a good sunblock.


StriVectin-TL Tichtening Neck Cream: This one is a baby sample size (.25 fl oz). I don't have the need for this so I'll be giving it to mom most likely.

L'Oreal Youth Code Serum Intense: I'm more excited about this item than any other in the box. I've been obsessed with serums lately because they provide such good moisture, but don't leave my oily skin feeling slick or greasy. Really looking forward to using this after I finish up my Biore one. I've seen the Youth Code line at Target all the time, but just couldn't get myself to cough up the money. This product retails for $24.99, so there's the value of the box right there!



















Burt's Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuacu Butters Body Lotion for Dry Skin: I love lotion. Never tried any of the ones from Burt's Bees, but I've heard great things. And this stuff smells really good too! Kinda like Palmers cocoa butter stuff.

L'Occitane En Provence Lavender Hand Cream: Another item I'm psyched about! I'm not really a lavender person, but I've heard a lot of people raving about their hand creams and am really excited to be able to try this out! I've used The Body Shops versions of these--it'll be great to finally try out the real thing without having to shell out $10.


Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in 440 Animal Instinct: These look fun! I've used them before and always had a great experience, so looking forward to using these! And if you really like these check out Ocean State Job Lot or Big Lots cuz I've seen them there for about $3!



















L'Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara in Black: I saw this at the drugstore and considered buying it when it first came out then thought of all the mascaras I've got to finish up at home and walked away lol. I've never tried a fiber mascara, so we'll see how well it works. Burt's

Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia: Can never have enough lip balm.The color looks intimidating in the tube, but is very sheer.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles in 150 Neutralizer: I reviewed the foundation in this line (see review here) and remember that it didn't work too well for my very oily skin. I really hope the case is different with this concealer. I'll test it and do a full review soon.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer in Neutral Medium: Another concealer--actually happy about that because I don't own many. This one is a travel size (3.12 ml/0.11 fl oz) but honestly it will take me forever to go through even a quarter of this because I honestly do not need much at all. Never tried anything from It Cosmetics before, so happy to finally get my hands on something!




















 Heidi Klum Shine: Don't think this is my kinda scent. Gonna give it to mom.

I also got two samples with my Beauty Bar order (the promise three with every order, I only got two? Not sure what happened there.). I'm excited to try out the Sisley one because I've heard good things about their (very very expensive) products.

So that's everything that came in the box! It's all packaged in a nice sturdy box the size of a show box with some tissue paper. Even with the couple of items I'm gonna pass on to my mom, this box is a great value for me and I'm super excited about trying all of this stuff out. There is a good mix of low and high end products, more than enough to justify the $25 price tag. The shipping from Beauty Bar was very very fast (I've waited almost a month for an order of Hautelook before--not cool). I ordered it on Sunday, it got to me around 1 pm Tuesday, which is amazing. As close to instant gratification as one can get when online shopping. Highly recommend this box and will have reviews posted soon!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

{Question} Do you ever feel guilty about buying beauty products?

The reason I ask this question is because this has been something I've been struggling with for a while now. I love trying out new products and saving on good deals, but sometimes even spending as little as five or ten dollars leaves me feeling guilty because I know I don't really need a lot of what I purchase and I can use that money on something more worthwhile.

I'm not irresponsible with my money--I never spend more than I can afford. I've heard about some people buying large amounts of MAC and other brands using their credit cards, which is crazy to me. I know I'm not spending money I don't have, but I still feel bad about buying that extra lipstick or eyeshadow. When I shop, I get that little happy high--especially when I feel like I've gotten a great deal. Then I get home and actually think about what I bought and feel bad. And online shopping is the worst! Such a great idea at first, especially when shipping is free or there's 20% off, but I just feel bad after.

That's one of the main reasons I've been trying to use up a lot of my products lately--I don't feel as guilty if I buy something. That, and I've been trying to commit to a spending ban. I'm not going to purchase anything beauty related from the beginning of September to the end of December, except when absolutely necessary (ie makeup remover). I have so much of everything that when I look at how much money I've spent over the years it kinda scares me lol. I still have a few hauls to share with you (and I'll admit a few of them are still on their way haha), but after that no more! I invite any of my readers who wish to join me as well! Wish me luck!

So you tell me: does buying beauty products ever make you feel guilty??? Let me know in comments!

{Review} Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter



















Hey there! This is a review for another one of those products that I've had forever but never got around to reviewing. I know that the Korres Lip Butters are some of the most popular products from the brand and I purchased the Pomegranate one a while back. I used to never wear stuff on my lips (outside of clear balms) because to me it was just such a hassle to have to reapply so often. The past couple of years I've been experimenting with lip products because I wear contacts and it feels better to go easier on the eyes and heavier on the lips. These butters are a nice alternative to lipsticks because they give some color to the lips, but also look more natural and leave the lips feeling soft and moisturized.




















I got the shade Pomegranate. It looks like a nice midtoned pink in the jar, but it applies more like a sheer pinky red.



















As you can see in the swatch, the texture of these balms is very nice. It applies with a glossy finish, and the shade is sheer. Honestly, if I could go back in time I would have picked another shade. This one is so close to my natural lip color that it really doesn't look like I'm wearing much at all. I would have gone with a deeper shade or the baby pink one. For some reason Pomegranate looks odd on me.

The formula of this balm, however, is phenomenal. It's thinner than The Body Shops lip butters, which surprised me, but it's just as moisturizing. These feel very nice on the lips--never too heavy or greasy. The pigemntation is great too--not too much, but also not too sheer. Other tinted balms, like the Burt's Bees ones then to be so pigmented that they are more like lipsticks in my opinion. The Korres ones are perfectly in between. They don't wear too long, but they do leave some color on the lips after the balm has sunken in. Another thing I like is how they smell--kinda fruity. For the price you really can't go wrong with this balm. Give it a try the next time you're on the hunt for a new lip balm! And these are also a great choice if you are trying to go more natural!


Info:

Price: $12

Ingredients: Polybutene, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyethylene, Hydroxystearic Acid, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Flavor (Aroma), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Punica Granatum Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Red 7 Lake, Red 6, Iron Oxides.

{Review} Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo (My Favorite Shampoo!)




















If you've been following my blog for a while now, you know I'm not that crazy about shampoo, especially high end shampoo. I don't mind spending money on conditioners, but as far as regular shampoos go, they're all the same to me. Outside of special treatment shampoos (purple toning shampoos, clarifying shampoos, etc) I don't really see much of a difference in my hair when I use a cheap shampoo or an expensive shampoo, and trust me, I've bought a lot of the expensive ones in the past to come to this conclusion.


One of the reasons I'm unwilling to spend a lot of money on shampoo is that a few years ago I made a discovery: Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo. I love it so much that I've repurchased the massive bulk size from Costco time and time again. It's fairly inexpensive, but leaves my hair feeling amazing. What more could I ask for???




































I know that Head & Shoulders is know for their anti-dandruff selection. I don't really have a dandruff problem, but I love this stuff all the same. The version I love is specifically their Classic Clean for normal hair.



















The actual product is a milky pale blue shade. It's an interesting texture--not really gel like most shampoos, but more like a thin cream. It lathers beautifully. I've been reading a lot about how sodium laureth sulfate damages hair, but honestly the thought of using a shampoo that doesn't foam is strange. I love how well this one lathers. You only need about half a tbsp to get your entire head (I've got med-long hair). It feels very luxurious and rinses out completely.What I absolutely love love love about this shampoo is that even though it isn't marketed as a two in one shampoo and conditioner, after I use this my hair feels like I've done both. Not heavy, not greasy, just nice and silky and healthy.

I've noticed a visible difference in my hair since I've been using this shampoo. It's more manageable, softer, and less frizzy. I never have any issues whatsoever with dandruff (though to be honest I never have). And my hair smells sooooooo good after I shower!!! The smell lingers--very fresh, suitable for both men and women, but not too strong/offensive.

I don't know how the people at Head & Shoulders came up with such a perfect formula, but I love them for it. This is my go to shampoo especially when I'm in a hurry. Usually, if I don't have enough time to thoroughly condition styling my hair is a nightmare. When I use this, it's like I shampood and deep conditioned--my hair feels that healthy. There is a Classic Clean 2 in 1 formula, but I tried it and I much prefer just the shampoo. I highly recommend this product to everyone out there. And if it doesn't do much for you--well it's inexpensive anyway.

Info:

Price: $5.99 (for 14.2 oz--I buy the jumbo 20 oz at Costco).

Ingredients: Active Ingredients-Pyrithione Zinc - 1 %Anti-Dandruff. Inactive Ingredients-
Water , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Sodium Lauryl Sulfate , Cocamide MEA , Zinc Carbonate , Glycol Distearate , Dimethicone , Fragrance , Cetyl Alcohol , Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride , Magnesium Sulfate , Sodium Benzoate , Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide , Ammonium Laureth Sulfate , Benzyl Alcohol , Sodium Chloride , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone , Sodium Xylenesulfonate , Blue 1 , Red 4

{Haul} Nuxe!

Hey there! Today's post is another haul. I haven't tried anything from the brand Nuxe, but when I saw the offer on the Nouveau Cheap blog for 20% off and free shipping and free deluxe samples, I figured I'd give it a try. I wasn't looking to spend a lot of money (their stuff is pricey!), I just wanted to sample a few of their products. I only bought one item, a travel size foaming cleanser, but Nuxe was very generous with the samples.  I'm looking forward to trying out more of their stuff, especially their dry oils!



















L-->R: Anti-Fatigue Moisturizing Cream (sample), Face & Body Ultra Rich Cleansing Gel (sample), Multi Usage Dry Oil (sample), and Micellar Foam Cleanser (travel size). 




















The item I purchased is the Micellar Foam Cleanser with Rose Petals. I've been on a rose kick lately, and do enjoy a good cleanser. It's made for sensitive, normal to combo skin so I'm hoping this gently cleans my oily skin. I've been going through cleansers like crazy lately and my skin has been thankful for it, if a bit dry at times. We'll see how this works.

I purchased the 50 ml/1.6 fl oz travel size version of this stuff for $11. With my 20% off this entire purchase was a little over $8, including free shipping, and I'm very happy with what I got! The full size of this is $23.50 for 5 oz.





































Nuxe included a few very generous samples! The one I'm really looking forward to trying is their Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil. I've seen a lot of rave reviews of this stuff on YouTube and have wanted to try it for a while now, but the price always put me off ($46 for 3.3 oz). This cute little 10 ml sample is sure to last me a while and really let me see what all the hype is about. Really looking forward to it!!!

That's it! Really small haul. More to come!

Have you tried anything from Nuxe? What are your thoughts on their dry oil? What about their Reve De Meil lip balm that I keep hearing about? Let me know in comments!

{Haul} My first Julep Maven Box!!!

Hey there! I've been hauling a lot of stuff lately and thought I'd share. Instead of doing a really really long collective haul that would take me forever to type up, I thought I'd share a few small hauls that don't take me as long to bang out lol.

Now, I've never been one for the monthly beauty subscription boxes, mainly because I don't think they are worth it to me. I'd rather save my money and splurge for a few high end items rather than get a lot of small samples. I'm very surprised when I hear other bloggers reviewing two, three, or even four boxes every month. That's a lot of money to be spending on these boxes every month and honestly, it's not how I see myself spending my money. That being said, when I saw an ad about getting the Julep Maven box for a penny (with free shipping too!), I couldn't resist. I don't have any Julep stuff, but I've heard their products are very good. I'm not sure if I'd ever dish out the $20 a month for this stuff, but for a penny this is a bargain!

**If you want to get your first maven box for a penny, just checkout with the code PENNY. I think this offer is ongoing because I heard about it last year and only just now figured I'd give it a try. And I think it only works for the first month, but Julep is very good with thheir subscription service. You can see what you're getting ahead of time, have your pick of several different boxes, skip any month you want, send it to someone else, etc. **





















L-->R: Julep The Best Pdi Creme Ever!, Nail Verenis in Courtney (the green), Hayden (the peach), and two freebie toe thingies.

Everything is full size. I got the box for a penny. The retail value of the box: $50. The hand cream is $22 (for 2 oz) and the polishes are $14 (for 0.27 oz).

Each month they offer a different beauty product. This month, instead of the hand cream you get a nail polish remover. There's also an option every month to get three polishes instead of two and a beauty product.



















I've very happy with the shades I got. I looked through all the boxes they had up for the month (and they post swatches on their blog--real swatches, not shitty Sephora like ones haha) and these were the shades that appealed most to me.



















Hayden is a pastel peach. It's described on the Julep site as a "neon peach cream" but just by looking at it in the tube, it doesn't really look neon to me. I love peach shades on my hands and feet tho in the summer. It just looks really clean and pretty, but not too over the top for work.

Courteney is a light green shade, described as a "key lime green" on the Julep site. That description is spot on. I don't have a lot of greens and they tend to be minty greens. This one is more warm toned and matte, so I'm looking forward to trying it out.

I know a lot of people are over the matte pastels after spring, but I think these will look pretty during the summer as well, especially Hayden. I'm really happy with my choices!




















The last item in the box is The Best Pedi Creme Ever!, a foot cream. I'm looking forward to trying this out on my feet, but I don't think I will purchase this one for full price because for a little less I can get some from The Body Shop that are absolutely phenomenal to use overnight. I will test this one out and fully review it though.

There you have it! My first Julep Maven box! Anyone else try this out? Are you happy with what you got? Let me know in comments!

{Swatches} Urband Decay Illegal, YDK & Cult Eyeshadows

L-->R: UD Illegal, YDK, and Cult


















Hey there! Today I just wanted to share some Urban Decay eyeshadow swatches. I don't own many shadows, probably around 6 or 7, but I'm only sharing 3 of my favorite Urban Decay shades today: Illegal, YDK, and Cult. I wear these more than any other UD shadows, and they work very well together.

L-->R: UD Illegal, YDK, and Cult



















Sorry for the over exposure in this pic! Illegal and YDK are a bit darker, but scroll down for better pics.

UD Illegal
UD Illegal






































Illegal is a very pretty neutral. It's a warm toned tan shade that is completely matte. The texture is so soft and smooth and buttery. It's so easy to just put this in the crease with a shimmery champagne on the lid. I use this a lot with cult (see below). Here's an EOTD I did last year (click here). Very simple and pretty for everyday or work. And because Illegal is warm toned, it really brings out my blue eyes. Actually, all three of these shades do a good job of bringing out my blue eyes.

UD YDK
UD YDK



















YDK is a VERY shimmery mid toned brown. The shimmer is silver-y, but the shade borders on metallic. I don't even think the magnitude of the shimmer comes across in the swatch below, but trust me on this. When I wear it during the day, not only do I tap off my brush really well, but I also have to blend it out more than usual to get rid of the excess shimmer. It is stunning for evening or clubbing makeup--especially when paired with any blues. I love it with black or navy liquid liner or just a pencil smudged around the lash line. Makes such an impact and draws attention straight to the eyes. Beautiful shade and if I'm not mistaken, it's included in the Naked 2 palette, for those of you who own it.

UD Cult
UD Cult



















Cult is a warm toned matte purple that is also completely matte. In the picture above it looks almost brown, but trust me, it goes on purple. I love to put this around the lash for day looks because it gives that pop of color without being too much. I also sometimes use it with a damp eyeliner brush, and do a pretty wing on the top lash line just with some mascara. So easy and simple but also very pretty.

L-->R: Illegal, YDK and Cult



















And finally, some swatches! Illegal and Cult work very well together for everyday looks with a bit of pop. They are more pigmented versions of the Nars Charade Duo (my absolute favorite duo from Nars), only matte. I tend to gravitate to these types of shades on a daily basis, and these three are stunning. This pic doesn't do YDK justice--it;s really a lot more shimmery in real life. Whenever I use it to do my friends makeup for a formal even or just out clubbing, they always want to know what I used because people gave them a lot of compliments on their makeup or how pretty their eyes look. I recommend all three and I do look forward to trying even more eyeshadows from UD (after I finish a bunch of what I already own haha).

Do you guys have a lot of UD shadows? How do you like them? Any shades I absolutely must try out? Let me know in comments!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

{Review} Smashbox High Definition Concealer

Hi there! Today's review is for a product I bought a long long time ago that I never got around to reviewing because I honestly wasn't using it enough to get a true opinion on it. I'm talking about the Smashbox High Definition Concealer. I purcahsed it the same time I got their gel liner (full review of that liner here!), but aside from the odd pimple here and there I wasn't using this product on a daily basis. I recently went through my stash, found it again, and really started using it. And I've gotta say, this is a great concealer!



















The shade I own this concealer in is fair/light. I don't remember them having a huge selection of shades, but this one fits my skin pretty well.



















The dispenser on this product is a slanted tip with a little hole. While it's not bad by any means, I think I would have preferred one of those pointy tip dispensers (like the one on the MUFE concealer). I feel like there is no reason for the slanted tip--I never apply this directly to my skin, I usually put some on my finger and dot it, or use a brush. Also, I need just the smallest amount of this stuff, and this type of dispenser makes it a little more difficult to judge how much is coming out. It's also a bit messier in the cap.



















I don't know how well you can tell, but it's a very thin concealer, but very pigmented--full coverage in my opinion. The way I've been using this concealer is to make a tinted moisturizer, but instead of moisturizer I've been mixing it with my primer (a cheepie Rimmel one). It makes such a difference from using foundation and moisturizer. The concealer and primer lasts much longer, sets to a kind of matte velvety finish (which I still powder) and lasts and controls oil better than any foundation I've ever used. If I've worn makeup for the past two months, this is what I've been doing and I'm loving it!

This concealer also works  very well to conceal blemishes and dark circles, which I think is great because usually most concealers work well for one or the other. They'll either look really heavy under the eyes and cover blemishes perfectly, or look horrible over a blemish and amazing under the eyes. No such problems with this one. As long as the shade works for you in both areas, there is no reason to use two or eve three different concealers on your face like I see a lot of beauty gurus doing. The texture of this concealer is perfect--thin, but not runny. It's very comfortable to wear, never looks heavy or cakey, and really lasts all day.

And a little tip for covering blemishes: gently exfoliate the blemish before applying your makeup. A lot of times concealers apply cakey and dry looking on top of a pimple because they exaggerate the dry flakes of skin (as gross as this sounds lol). If you gently exfoliate the blemish, you're reducing the amount of dry skin around it, and therefore your concealer and foundation will apply much more smoothly. Just be careful--if the pimple is scabbing, DO NOT PULL THE SCAB OFF. That's one of the worst things you can do because it will inflame the area, meaning more redness, and it will also cause the pimple to heal slower. And you never really want to apply makeup to open skin, so just don't do it. This tip is more helpful when the pimple is gone, but there is still some dryness and a little red bump in the area.

Anyway, back to the review. This is a great multipurpose concealer. A little goes a really long way and it lasts very well.  Although it is more expensive than many drugstore concealers, if you're looking for that one concealer that does it all--check this one out!


Info:


Price: $20 (for 0.27 oz)

Ingredients: Sorry I don't have the package anymore and I can't find them online. If I find them, I will post them. And Smasbox not posting the full ingredients online--not cool!!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

{Review} Cosmedicine Healthy Cleanse Foaming Cleanser & Toner in One



















Hey there! This review is for a skin care product. I've really been into skin care lately because all the stress and lack of sleep from uni had my skin breaking out really bad. My focus has been on cleansing my skin very well every single day, and removing all makeup. And any product that makes my skin care routine easier and less time consuming is a good idea to me. That's why, when I spotted this cleanser at TJ Maxx several months back for only around five or six dollars, I didn't hesitate to try it.

Now,  I know Cosmedicine is a brand that isn't as widely used simply because it is a more expensive brand. That being said, I think they pulled out of Sephora and a lot of their products were available at Marshall's and TJ Maxx for a while. I think you could probably find some of their products on sale online. They make a lot of products I don't see from other brands, which is why I've been loving trying out some of their stuff at a discount.



















The product I'm reviewing today is their Foaming Cleanser & Toner in One. According to the container it "Cleanses away excess oil, dirt, and makeup, removes mascara, doesn't sting eyes." That's a tall order. I don't know if you can tell, but I've actually pretty much finished this product. There is the barest amount in there for me to pump out for this review, but then I'm tossing it.



















One thing I love about this product is the dispenser. It is a foam dispenser that is very sanitary and user friendly. I love how light foam cleansers feel on my skin. And if you wanted to, you could probably recycle this product and use it to store your own foaming cleanser. Simply put about an inch of regular liquid cleanser and fill the rest with water. Give it a shake and you're good to go. You can do this with any foaming container, and that's how I reuse my Bath & Body Works foaming soap containers. Not only is it more Earth friendly, but it's also much cheaper too!



















The actual foam is very light. Given the manufacturers claim that it will remove makeup, I was a bit unsure at first because it seems very light.

How well does it work? Well is certainly doesn't remove mascara, waterproof or not, that's for sure. That doesn't really bother me because I always, regardless of my cleanser, use my Almay Moisturizing Liquid Eye Makeup Remover. It's my favorite, I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle and I'm not looking for a replacement. As as far as face makeup is concerned, this will remove it all. When I used my regular toner after to see how much of the foundation, concealer, powder, and bronzer was removed, the cotton pad came away clean which is great. It also claims not to sting eyes, but even when I tried removing my mascara with it, I kept my eyes firmly shut. I am a contact wearer with sensitive eyes and I've already had one infection, I'm not looking for another, thank you very much.

As far as this product being a cleanser and a toner, I really can't say much about that claim. I don't regularly use a plain toner. If I do use a toner, I tend to go for more of the astringent ones. They are the only ones I feel really make a difference when I use them. Other toners, while they feel good, don't really do much for my skin. If I don't use them for a week, I really can't tell the difference. That being said, my skin did not feel tight at all after I used it, so perhaps it's just a little bit more moisturizing than the average foaming cleanser.

All in all, this is not a bad cleanser. It got my skin clean, but I can say that I probably wouldn't purchase it for full price. It felt really refreshing, removed my face makeup, didn't have any noxious odor, but that's it. I think I would have liked this product more if the manufacturer hadn't made all of those claims on the package. I review a product based on those claims, and because of that little blurb on the container I find this product lacking. Had it been marketed as a regular cleanser I think I would have reviewed it a bit more positively.

Info:

Price: $24.99 (full price for 4.2 fl oz)

Ingredients: Purified Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cyclomethicone, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

{Review} Jemma Kidd i-Design Eye Colour in 04 In Season



















Hi there! Today's review is for an eyeshadow that I absolutely adore. Except for the eyeshadows and one liner, I haven't tried many of the Jemma Kidd products at Target because I honestly had a hard time justifying paying so much for makeup in a drugstore type store. However, this eyeshadow, number 04 In Season, is absolutely stunning and I can't rave about it enough!





































How stunning is this shade!?

The shade In Season is a beautiful light golden brown. It has a very antiqued vibe to it, and because it's got a good amount of gold in it whenever I wear it my blue eyes pop. The texture of this shadow is perfection! It is very soft and smooth, but not too buttery. I think I mentioned in another post (don't remember when, sorry) that I had a problem with the shade Vintage from Jemma Kidd, because sadly, like a lot of my Nars single eyeshadows, it would chip and crack easily. I think on that shadow all four corners were showing signs of chipping. I've had no such problems with this shade, mainly I think because unlike Vintage, although it does have a sheen, it's not glittery. The picture above is several months old, and I've actually hit pan on the shadow because I've been wearing it pretty much every day. As far a s wear time, it is not crease proof or anything like that, but I normally wear an eyeshadow base anyway because my lids are oily, so it's not a big deal for me. You also get a very generous amount of product in this shadow, 3 g. For comparison, a MAC eyeshadow is 1.5 g, meaning that for two dollars more, you get more than double the product.

If you love golden taupe-y colors, this one is stunning, definitely a keeper. And since there are Targets everywhere, you can swatch it before you buy it as well. I love and highly recommend this shade!!!

Info:

Price: $17 (for 3 g)

Ingredients: TALC, MICA, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, ZINC STEARATE, SORBIC ACID, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, TETRASODIUM EDTA, BHT MAY CONTAIN: BLACK IRON OXIDE (CI 77499), YELLOW IRON OXIDE (CI 77492), MICA & IRON OXIDES (CI 77019, 77491), MICA & TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77019, 77891)

Friday, July 6, 2012

{Favorites} June 2012!

Hey there! It's time for June Favorites! I know, I know a few days late, but better late than never. This month has been a pretty fuss free month. I've been focusing a lot on skin care because I had a pretty big breakout in the beginning of June and kinda freaked out haha. I don't really have a big problem with acne, so a breakout that big caught me off guard, hence all the skin care stuff in this post. Let me know if you want reviews of anything shown!


Banana Boat Protective Tanning Oil SPF 15: Before you say it, yes I do know that tanning is bad for you. That being said, I just got really tired of using self tanners nearly every other day. I don't tan often, and until the past couple of years I've been obsessive with the sunscreeen, but on me a real tan just looks so much better so I decided to go for it this summer. This stuff is great. It comes in varying SPF levels (5, 8, 15 and 25 I believe). The highest my Target had was the SPF 15 one, so that's what I went with. I'm very fair and this stuff works to give me a nice golden tan without that irritated red look to begin with. For me, this tanning oil worked fairly gradually, but if you're darker you may want to go with one of the lower SPF's for a quicker tan. And this stuff smells really really good, like sweet bananas!


L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self Tanning Lotion in Medium Natural Tan: This is the self tanner I've been using for the past few months. It gives a pretty natural color. On me the tan is a little more yellow than a real tan, which looks more of a cool brown on me, but I don't really mind. It works quickly, doesn't smell too bad, and for the most part fades naturally. The only thing I don't like about this is that it has shimmer in it, so I don't use it daily. I like to use it during the day so that I don't mess up my sheets, which means if I'm going out I won't use it or I'll look like a disco ball. Like any other self tanner, you really have to be careful with application or you will get patchiness/streaking, but except for on my fingers I haven't had too much difficulty getting it to look even. Overall, it's a pretty good drugstore self tanner.


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunscreen in SPF 70: I use this stuff on my face, neck and decollete area daily. This is my second bottle of this stuff and I love it. It's a thin consistency that goes on very easy, blends out well and layers easily under makeup. It does smell like sunscreen, but I don't mind, as long as it keeps me from burning. I think when I run out of it next time I'll try the Pure & Free Liquid one from Neutrogena to see how it's different from the reqular Ultra Sheer Liquid. {Full Review Here!}


The Face Shop Oil Specialist Fresh Cleansing Oil with Cherry Blossom: I got this last summer when was on vaca in NYC. I bought a cleansing oil (I think it was either $12 or $15) and I kinda forgot about it while I focused on finishing other cleansers. I rediscovered it when I broke out and really needed to deep clean, and now I'm in love. I've been using it morning and night and my skin feels soooo good! It took me a little while to really get the method down, but now that I know how to use it properly I'm hooked.

Murad Clarifying Toner: This is another product I started using again when I broke out. It is a witch hazel toner meant to really clean pores and kill any germs on the skin. I like it because while it acts like an astringent, it doesn't burn my skin or dry it out too much. The only place I'm careful with this stuff is my chin because I tend to get dry patches there. Other than that it works well. As nice as it is, for $22 I think I can mix up some of my own witch hazel toner and save some money, so I don't think I'll be repurchasing it in the future. I think I'll get a big jug of pure witch hazel (it's super cheap) and see how that works for me. Just fyi for all you people with sensitive skin: although this stuff is alcohol free, witch hazel can burn just as much if you have super dry or sensitive skin. It doesn't really irritate me (except for the chin), but I wouldn't risk it if you have sensitive skin.

Proactive Repairing Treatment: I don't use Proactive, but a friend of mine does. She says that she can never get through a full bottle of the Repairing Treatment before she gets another shipment, so she gave me the new one that came in the mail while she was still not even half way through her current bottle. This stuff is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide acne treatment lotion. I use it as a spot treatment and I've had this stuff for months because you really just need the smallest amount. It works well. Is it worth what Proactive charges for it? Not really because it works about as well as any other acne treatment I've used. I can't really do a full review because it's meant to be used in combination with the rest of the Proactive line. I've been mainly using this on pimples and to clear up any stray pimples that pop up on my shoulders here and there from using self tanners and tanning oils. I heard that Walmart makes cheaper versions of this stuff that you can buy separately, so I may try that after I run out.


Biore Skin Brightening Night Serum: I love this stuff. It gives me the perfect amount of moisture in the mornings and really brightens up my skin. I did an indepth review not too long ago which I will link--feel free to check it out! {Full Review Here!}





















Nars Lip Gloss in Gina: Gina is on the left side of the gloss duo (the other side is Boogie Nights). It's a matte, sheer nude. I've been loving anything that is orangy/coral and this is a perfect shade for my skin tone. Not too orange, not to pink, not too opaque. It's super glossy and just gives my lips a really nice finished look. I've been pairing this a lot with like a smokey eye look lately and it's perfect, never too nude/concealer like.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Sunrise Nude: I don't think you can get this shade anymore, but I'm sure that Revlon has something similar in their current line. This one is a super pale, sheer peach with a lot of pretty silver shimmer. I love this gloss because although you can't really see the peachy color it does even out my lips a little.Of all my glosses, the Super Lustrous ones have the best drugstore formula I've come across. They are thick, but not sticky, last a very long time, and have a great color selection. They are also feel moisturizing on the lips, which I love. You can't go wrong with any shade in this range. {Full Review Here!}

Calvin Klein Delicious Light Glistening Lip Gloss in Radar: I don't know where you can get Calvin Klein makeup anymore--they brought it back to Sephora, then discontinued it again. I know that Marshall's and TJMaxx had sets of CK stuff last year, but I haven't seen any in a long time. If you can find these glosses definately get at least one to try because they are great. Very shiny, fragrance free, a little on the thicker side, but not too bad. This shade is so pretty and brings out my blue eyes. I've finished close to 1/2 of this color, which says a lot for me. {Full Review Here!}

Lip Fusion Micro Collagen Lip Plump in Fresh: This is my first Lip Fusion plumper, and I've been loving it. The shade is a sheer, slightly shimmery orange that looks great with a tan. The formula is thin, and it doesn't tingle as bad as some of the other plumpers I've tried. It makes my lips look really full and juicy, a look I've been loving lately. Overall, I'm looking forward to trying out more shades from this line!



















L-->R: Lip Fusion Fresh, CK Radar, Revlon Sunrise Nude, Nars Gina. 

Of these shades, I think Radar and Sunrise Nude have been worn most. I've really got a lot of these orangy lip colors and really am trying to not forget about them in my stash, which is so easy when you've got as many glosses like I do. 




















Top row: Stila Starlight, Cloud, Grace, and Lemon.
Bottom Row: MAC MSF in Petticoat (some chipped of and I pressed it), Stila Barefoot Contessa, Mystic, and Sajama.  

Stila Eyeshadows: When it comes to shadow, I've been keeping it pretty simple. I've rediscovered Mystic and Sajama in my collection and stuck them in the 8 pan palette to keep them close. I've been mainly using those two along with Starlight and Grace. Grace looks really nice layered over top Mystic. It's a strange combo, but it looks really pretty--not too blue but not exactly brown either. Almost like one of those duochrome shadows from MAC--it looks different depending on the lighting.




















L-->R: Stila Starlight, Grace, Mystic and Sajama. 

Of these shades, Sajama is a matte formula and Stila's matte shades can be difficult to work with. I really had to dig in the pan to get this swatch. I like to use it along my upper lash line, over a dark liner or by itself wet. It gives this hazy smokly lash look that's very easy to do.


 

















Funky Fingers Nail Polish in Kingston:This last item is one I've been obsessed with for the past six months or so. It's a nail polish from a relatively unknown brand called Funky Fingers, and the shade is Kingston. I found this gem for $2.50 at a Five Below store and have been wearing it pretty much non stop since. It's a pretty neon orange that looks amazing in the sunlight. It's so bright and fun that I always wear it poolside or to the beach. The formula isn't the best and it starts to chip after about three days of wear, but honestly, I couldn't care less because the color is absolutely stunning. Also on the plus side, it dries to a matte finish (I use a topcoat over) and matte shades tend to dry really quickly. I've been on the hunt for a back up of this color because I'm more than half way through with it, but I haven't been able to find anything yet :(

That's it for my June Favorites! Tried any of these products? Loved them? Hated them? Want a review of one of the products featured? Let me know in comments!