{Favorites} May 2013

Hey there! Been a while since I've done a favorites post, but I figured I'd get back into the swing of things. This past month I've been relying on a few oldies but goodies as well as a couple of new products :)


Eyes:

For the yes I've been using my Shimmer Cubes Plette in 07 from The Body Shop. I bought this during their Black Friday 3 for $30 sale, so I got it for $10, a steal given that the original price was $22. I've been using it daily but as you can tell, except for the brown shade they don't even look dented. You're getting 4g of each shade, so a lot of product that I am never going to finish lol.

For me, this palette is incredibly versatile. I can use it dry for a natural look or wet for a more intense look (though it does mess with the shadows consistency as you can see in the pan). I use the light silvery shade as a highlight for not only my eyes but my entire face. The pink looks beautiful as a shadow or a blush/highlight. I've especially been loving the combo of the pink and the brown. It really brings out my blue eyes. I keep this in my makeup bag because paired with mascara and liner I can do anything from a simple day look to a dark smokey look in minutes just using my fingers. I highly recommend this palette and if you can get it on sale even better!

A word of caution with these, however: they do crease on their own. I always wear them with a primer, especially in the summer.

When you apply them dry they look very natural.

Applied wet they are more intense, both more pigmented and shimmery.

Face:

For the face I've been relying on a couple of oldies but goodies.

I found the Physicians Formula Health Wear Tinted Moisturizer in the shade Ivory to Fair at an Ocean State Job Lot last year for $4 (not the $12-14 I see it for at CVS!) and have since purchased my second tube. This stuff works great for me. It's got a bit more coverage than the average tinted moisturizer, but still feels light. It also seems to dry down after application, so when paired with a powder (lately my Rimmel Stay Matte) it lasts fairly well on my. I'm also loving that it has SPF 50. I don't know if you can still purchase these in regular drugstores but I still see them at Ocean State Job Lot if you're interested. The only downside to this product is that like many other drugstore tinted moisturizers the shade selection is lacking.

I've also been loving Benefit's Highbeam. I bought the smaller size that comes in a travel friendly tube with a doe foot applicator for $10. Honestly, I'm never going to finish this thing. You just need the tiniest little bit of it for dramatic effect. I'm loving how multipurpose it is as well. I use it to highlight my face, as an eyeshadow, I mix it with a cream blush or my tinted moisturizer, sometimes with my lotion. It just gives a beautiful glow.

And a tip: for a bit of an understated highlight put it on your skin first and then apply your base on top of it. That's how I've been wearing it with my tinted moisturizer. I have oily skin so doing the opposite can sometimes be a bit much.

Lips:

For the lips, I've acquired a few new goodies :)

First, Ive been absolutely loving any sheer tinted balms. The Skinnygirl Tinted Lip Balm in Bright Red has been a favorite this past month. Don't let the shade of the balm scare you--it is very sheer. It gives that nice just-been-kissed kind of red lip. Very understated, very moisturizing, and very chic. And best of all? I got it for $2 at Five Below.

Next up is the Jemma Kidd Red Carpet Lip/Cheek Stain and Gloss in Dress Up. It retails for $18, but I got it on clearance for $4 at Target. I'm loving it! It's a purply pink shade that I've been using mostly on my lips. The gloss on the other side is clear and not sticky at all. They pair beautifully and last very well! They have a red shade as well called Glam Up, but they didn't have it on clearance and I didn't want to pay full price.

My only complaint about the stain is the applicator. The stain side has a roller ball and it makes getting a precise application tricky. It can also look patchy if you go over one area too many times trying to get right up the the edge of the lip. I wish it was just another doe foot like the gloss side. My solution has been to use a lip brush or to put it on with a roller ball and then quickly pat it with my finger to blend it out. 

My go to gloss on days I didn't feel like making much effort has been the Victorias Secret Beauty Rush gloss in Melongrageous. It looks pink in the tube it applies clear. This stuff smells DELICIOUS!!! My roommate introduced me to this and I've been in love ever since. I can't even explain it--very sweet and fruity. My favorite scented gloss. Using it always puts me in a better mood. It's a bit stickier than I like, but it lasts well so I can't really complain. 

Finally, I've got the Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate. It's a nice peachy pink lip balm that is multitasking. I use it as a lip balm, a sheer lipstick, and in a pinch as a blush. I love it. It leaves my lips feeling very soft and it the color is so pretty--what's not to like? Well, actually one thing: it's in a pot. I've been such a germaphobe lately and have detested sticking my finger into the pot. I don't know if you can tell, but I've been using a lip brush to apply it (though I used my finger to do the swatch :/ ).

Top to bottom: Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate, Victorias Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss in Melongrageous, Jemma Kidd Red Carpet Lip/Cheek Stain in Dress Up, and Skinnygirl Tinted Lip Balm in Bright Red.

And here's how well the Jemma Kidd stain lasts--this picture was taken after about a minute of rubbing with a makeup removing wipe! Pretty good I'd say :)

I hope you enjoyed this post! What have you been relying on this past month? Let me know in comments!

xoxo
Natalie

{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!

{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!

{Favorites} May 2012!

Hey there! It's been a while since I've done one of these favorites posts, so this is really a what-I've-been-using-for-the-past-three-months post and not just a May favorites post lol!

I've got a good variety of things too! I've really just been sticking to mostly basics lately because I've been on the go and working out a lot in the evenings, so I haven't been wanting to pile on a lot of makeup during the day only to have it melt off my face at the gym.

L --> R: Being True Energy Work Active Body Peel, Rimmel Fix &
Perfect Pro Primer, and RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream.

First up is skin care! I've really been trying to use as little as possible on my face. My skin has calmed down, post uni stress, and I haven't been breaking out. I have been using a sunless tanner so exfoliation is a must. The Being True Active Body Peel has been my favorite way of exfoliating for a long long time now (original review here). I reviewed it fairly extensively last summer, feel free to check out that review! I love it so much that this is actually my second tub of it! It's on the pricy side, $43 plus shipping, but worth every penny to me. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and my sunless tanning gel applies very smoothly, with rarely any streaks or patches. I highly recommend!

The Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer has been another go to in this warm weather. I haven't been wearing a lot of foundation lately, but I like this as a hybrid moisturizer/mattifier. It's not necessarily the best of either that I've used, but at the price, around $6, it works well to make my skin soft and matte. It is a silicone based primer, so if you don't like the feel of those on your skin, this one will not be right for you. And it doesn't work as well as the Smashbox primers, but for the price, it does a good job.

Roc Retinol Correxion Eye Cream

The ROC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream my mom actually picked up for me because I mentioned to her I ran out of my Biore Cooling Eye Gel, which I was in love with at uni because I was pulling a lot of all nighters and it would make my eyes de-puff like nothing else I've every used. My mom has an obsession with eye creams and has tried to get me to use something with retinol for a while now instead of, according to her, wasting money on eye creams with no active ingredients. The RoC cream is a bit more expensive than other eye creams at the drugstore level, but then again this is supposed to be anti-aging, so around $22 really isn't too bad. Does it work to get rid of wrinkles? Well, I really can't tell because I don't have wrinkles, but my mom is also using it so I'll see how it works for her. I like it because it moisturizes, but absorbs very quickly. A lot of eye creams tend to be too heavy and just sit there. It also de-puffs! I was surprised because it's not really all that cooling or anything like that.

My only complaint with this product is the packaging. It's in like a metal/foil package, so I have to be careful to use it from the end in because otherwise too much product is squeezed out. Also, because there is constant pressure on the cream inside the metal packaging, the tip tends to seep a little into the cap, which can be messy sometimes. Other than that so far so good with this eye cream, but I guess time will tell! I'll be doing a full review in the future!

L -->R: Being True Energy Work Active Body Peel, Rimmel Fix &
Perfect Pro Primer, and RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream.

Stila 8 Pan Eyeshadow Palette

I've been meaning to get a palette for my Stila eyeshadows for a while now and when Stila was on Haute Look a few weeks ago, I jumped at the chance to purchase the 8 pan palette and I love it! So glad to not have to store my shadows in the little plastic containers they used to come in. I actually prefer organizing them in a palette as opposed to the compacts they are currently being sold in. For me it's a lot easier to store and travel with them this way. The case is sturdy and has a full size mirror. And the brush the palette comes with is pretty good too!

L -->R: Starlight, Cloud, Grace, Barefoot Contessa,
Jade & Lemon (empty was from Chinois--matte bone shade).

These aren't all of my Stila Shadows, just the ones that aren't packed away. I've mostly been using the top row, especially Starlight, Grace, and Barefoot Contessa. I really want Viola, which is similar to Grace, but warmer and deeper. Cloud is a nice shade, but more of a going out shade because it applies very silver. Jade and Lemon are nice, but I haven't been using them all that much lately. Lemon applies a bit too yellow/gold on my skin. The top row is my go to quad for any occasion.

L --> R: Starlight, Cloud, Grace, Barefoot Contessa, Jade &  Lemon.
(applied wet)

If you want to get similar colors for less, the CoverGirl trio in Shimmering Sands is a pretty good dupe for Starlight, Grace and Barefoot Contessa. Not the same shades, the Stila ones are a bit darker, but pretty close for under $5.

L --> R: Charlotte Ronson Lip Gloss in Anabelle, CoverGirl Lash Exact
Mascara in Black & Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished.

Other than shadows the rest of my looks have been pretty simple. Most days I only do mascara and gloss. Click here to read my review of the Charlotte Ronson gloss. I'm in love with it! Such an easy look, a little taupe shadow, touch of mascara, and juicy sheer red lip. Or, same shadow/mascara combo, but a shimmery sheer plummy lip instead. Effortless, and looks very simple and chic for summer.

L --> R: Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished, Charlotte Ronson
Lip Gloss in Anabelle & CoverGirl Lash Exact Mascara in Black .

And I've been loving the CoverGirl Lash Exact mascara for several reasons. If you've been reading my blog for a while you've probably noticed that I'm not a a bit fan of those plastic bendy mascara applicators. They tend to clump and leave my lashes looking long and spidery and clumpy, not a look I like. I'm more into thick and curled. This mascara, the waterproof version of it, for some odd reason, works. I was shocked. My sister had a tube and I borrowed it, fell in love, and bought one for myself. It gives me thick, lashes that stay curled day, and most importantly do not smudge at all at the gym, no matter how much I sweat! Not a big fan of the clean up at night, it takes forever to remove it, even with an oil based makeup remover, but totally worth it for me.

Top --> bottom: Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished
& Charlotte Ronson Lip Gloss in Anabelle.

This picture really doesn't do the Sally Hansen gloss justice. It's so much prettier in person and  it's appeared several times on this blog. It was a staple in my makeup bag (see here) and it's even a dupe for MAC's Dazzleglass in Datenight (see comparison here!). All in all, it's replaced my Chanel Glossimer in Imaginaire, which is crazy given I got this gloss for a buck at the Dollar Tree and paid over $26 for the Glossimer.

OPI Nail Polish in A Good Man-Darin is Hard to Find

My last fave for this month is a nail polish. I don't post many nail polish pics because I can never get the swatches or even pics of the bottles to show up accurately in pics. I'm gonna try to show more from now on, maybe swatch some on tape or something.

           OPI Nail Polish in A Good Man-Darin is Hard to Find

This shade is perfect for summer. I have been favoring neons a lot too, but this shade has been a go to for my feet. It's a bright orange, almost tomato-ish, but not too red. It looks very bright in some lights and almost red in others. A really pretty color for toes, especially with it being flip flop season. It's completely matte and you could get away with one coat in a hurry because it's very opaque. I've had it on my feet for the last three or four weeks straight and I always get asked what color I'm wearing!

So there's pretty much what I've been wearing these past three months. I've been keeping it simple, half out of laziness half out of determination to finish some of these products too haha!

Tried any of these products? Loved them? Hated them? Let me know in comments!

{Favorites} June 2011

Hi! I hope all of you had an awesome 4th of July! I went to a poolside BBQ and saw some fireworks later! I had a great Fourth and hope all of you were happy and safe as well! And here are June favorites, as promised!

1. Skin Care


The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue
I've really been liking this foot moisturizer for the past month. With all of the pretty flip flops and open toed shoes I love to wear in the summer, it is really important to keep feet looking nice, and this does the job. And it smells absolutely divine!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid SPF 70 Sunblock
Another summer staple is sunblock. I've been wearing this for a couple of months now and it really is almost undetectable under makeup, which for someone with oily skin is very very important! At a price of $12 I again highly recommend this sunblock! I wore it yesterday by the pool for hours on end and my skin did not tan in the slightest. And don't forget to reapply!

Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash
This has been my go to eye cream since January of this year. My mom actually picked it up for me because I mentioned I was close to running out of my No 7 Protect and Perfect eye cream, and she's a big fan of Clarins so she got me something of theirs to try out. It's a light eye cream that really moisturizes my eyes so well. I know, I'm a bit young to be using eye creams, but ever since I started wearing contacts my eyes and the skin around them are really really dry, irritated and red. This keeps my eyes happy! And although it is expensive, you get a 0.7 oz, a bit more than the 0.5 oz that are standard for eye creams.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Spot Treatment
This stuff isn't a miracle product, but for those looking to get away from very harsh products containing salicylic acid or benzol peroxide then this may just be for you! I like how it is liquid because I don't have to use a lot as it spreads easily. It takes about as long as any other treatment I've tried, but I find that it doesn't dry out my skin as much as the other treatments I've tried do.

2. Nails


Sinful Colors Hot Pink
I've been loving this obnoxious over the top color for my toes!!! Especially in the sun, it is blinding! I've never been crazy about such bright colors but lately that's all I've been wearing. For some reason these neon polishes tend to dry to an almost matte finish, with almost no shine what so ever, so you definitely need a top coat with this one.

OPI A Good Man-Darin Is Hard To Find
This bright orange cream came out with the Hong Kong collection. I bought it a while later half off but wasn't really into the color that much. I took it out about a month ago and really like it for toes. It's not as attention catching as Hot Pink, but it makes my feet look really nice!

Sinful Colors Base Coat
I bought this one with the accompanying top coat, but I don't really like the top coat. This base coat, however, is great! Somehow it just grabs onto the color! My lighter cream formula polishes go on less streaky and all of them last much longer. Plus, my nails don't get stained any more! I've got a full review of both the base and top coat coming soon!

3. Makeup


Jemma Kidd Eyeshadow in In Season
It's a lot like Vintage from Jemma Kidd, but it has a more olive tone to it. I don't really have any olive shades because honestly they tend to make my skin look really yellow, but this shade has enough brown in it that that hasn't been a problem. I've been reaching for it almost every day.

Stila Convertible Color in Petunia
I love love love this! I've only had it for about two weeks, so it's not exactly a month, but it's the only blush I own that I've worn on a daily basis since I got it! I like Camellia as well, but I feel like this uber bright color is better suited for summer.

Rubens Remedies Rose Water Lip Balm
Ok, so this is one of the best rose salves I've ever used, but is is impossible to find anywhere. I'm not kidding. I got this at TJMaxx for less than a buck and I'm about half way though, but I can't find any place that sells it, in store or online. It's similar to other rose salves (like the C.O Bigelow or Smith ones), but it's nicer. It's a bit harder, but still melts down into a thin salve. while the other two I've tried tend to be soft to begin with. I also like the scent of this one a bit better than the other two. It's less fake. If you can find it anywhere, snatch it up!

Thanks for reading!!! Empties will be up tomorrow!

{Favorites} May 2011!

Hi everyone! Hope you are enjoying your Friday as much as I am enjoying mine! Here are my May favorites! This was definitely a cheek and lip month!

1. Skin Care

(L to R) Natures Gate C For Yourself Vitamin C Serum and The Body Shops Tea Tree Oil.

I've been using these two nonstop this month. The vitamin C serum, which smells a bit of oranges, is very light and absorbs very quickly. It is meant to retexture skin, but honestly I think it gives my skin the perfect amount of moisture during the day. It absorbs so quickly that it doesn't effect anything that I apply over top which I love. I do have a full review coming. TBS's Tea Tree Oil (15% tea tree oil) is great as a gentle acne treatment, for me at least. On my oily skin the treatment is a lot less harsh than salicylic acid or benzol peroxide treatments and although it isn't a miracle worker, it gets rid of acne overtime (as well as the scar) without irritating my skin too much.

2. Perfume

Calvin Klein Obsession Night

I've had this bottle forever, and oddly enough, although it is a more masculine, cologne, night perfume type of scent, I really love it for spring and summer. It's a bit sharper than other scents that I own so it smells very crisp, something I love on a humid day.

I'm almost done! And I just throw this one in my purse all the time which is why the bottle is so beat up and scratched up. I usually sprits it once in the morning and then again around four or 5 o'clock. The scent just lingers, which is nice. One sprits is not overwhelming at all.

3. Makeup

(Top to bottom) Calvin Klein Summer Affair Bronzer, MAC Petticoat MSF, Nars Deep Throat Blush, and Nars Laguna Body Illuminator.

SO I am very very pale and in the summer, because I don't like to tan, I definitely use bronzer and blush a bit more liberally. I've been loving the above four. I don't usually just wear them on their own but layer at least two of them for the nicest glow!

(L to R) Calvin Klein Summer Affair Bronzer and MAC Petticoat MSF

This has been my favorite combo for the past couple of months actually. I just apply the bronzer in the 3 E on my face and a little down my neck and then apply Petticoat lightly on the cheeks and temples. I find that sometimes bronzers can look a bit flat on my face, so layering Petticoat makes it look a bit more natural and believable. Also, I find that a lot of bronzers can look too orange, while a natural sun bronze would have a bit more red in it. Petticoat gives my skin a teeny bit of that red tone, so it looks a lot more believable.

Here's how it looks:

(Top to bottom) Layered, Petticoat, Summer Affair.

I know, not the best pic (I'll post a better one later) but I hope this gives you an idea of how I apply it. And I've been layering Petticoat over other blushes too. Some of then I haven't touched in months. I layer Petticoat over it and voila, a new finish/shade that I'm in love with again!

Nars Deep Throat Blush

I've never been a big fan of Nar's Orgasm simply because I don't really like blushes with gold shimmer in them, but Deep Throat, for some reason works for me. It looks very natural on me. When I blush naturally, this is the color my cheeks become. I've also been wearing this with my Calvin Klein bronzer a lot lately and it just looks very pretty.

Nars Deep Throat Blush

(L to R) Rimmel Lipstick in Undressed and NYC Lipstick in Caramel

This month I've really been liking bronzy or slightly peachy mostly nude lips. I've never been much of a lipstick lip gloss girl, but these two I've really really been wearing a lot. The Rimmel one is really old too, as you can tell by the packaging. I actually like this packaging better than the newer packaging which I find really bulky. The shade is one of the nicest neutrals I own because it's not too brown and has quite a coral undertone.

(L to R) Rimmel Lipstick in Undressed and NYC Lipstick in Caramel

Rimmel Lipstick in Undressed and NYC Lipstick in Caramel

I reviewed NYC's Caramel here if you're interested!

That's it for now! I hope all of you have an awesome weekend!

{Favorites} March 2011

Not a lot this month, but more than a few cheap and effective goodies!

1. Skin Care

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream and L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cleanser.

I've really really been trying to get my skin looking as great as I can, that's why most of the RIP posts lately have been filled with skin care items. I've really been just wearing less makeup and being more conciencious with my skin care routines, making sure to almost never skip it.

L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser

I wouldn't say that this cleanser is foaming. It does lather, but not enough to qualify as a foaming cleanser. That makes this cleanser so different from others I've tried is that it contains clay. I've been washing my face with this cleanser for the past month and every two nights or so I leave it on as a mask for about 15 minutes before washing it off. It really cleans out my face and since the clays are a little abrasive, it gives me a good dose of exfoliation as well. It's just a really good all in one cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

Now, I know that the idea of a cold cream type product seems very old fashioned, but I have to say that I've seen a drastic improvement in my skin ever since I started first taking off all of my face makeup and only then cleansing. As good as a face wipe is, it's not going to dissolve all of my makeup. If I just use a face wipe to clean my face and then use a bit of toner on a cotton pad, the cotton pad almost always ends up with makeup that I've missed on it. If I do the same but use Noxema instead, my makeup is completely gone. There will be nothing on the cotton pad, and that really leaves my skin cleaner when I finish with my cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

How I use it (and I will have a full review posted soon), is I scoop a little bit out with my hands and massage it into my face and neck after I've removed my eye makeup with a liquid eye makeup remover. I make sure to get the hair line and neck very well because I apply makeup there but tend to neglect the area when cleaning. At first the cream feels thick, but it gets thin very very quickly. Because it is oil based it will dissolve all of the makeup, everything. I then use a cotton pad or a face wipe to remove it, but you can also wash it off. I love how clean but moisturized my face feels after using this stuff.

L to R: Noxema and L'Oreal.

Although the texture of Noxema seems solid in the tub it thins out as your hands warm the product and spreads very easily. ANd if you zoom in you can see the little particles in the L'Oreal cleanser.

2. Makeup

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer, NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat, Benefit High Beam, Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent and MAC MSF in Petticoat.

I picked up the pressed version of NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder because while I love the loose version, it simply isn't convenient for every day use. I was really surprised with the pressed version as well. It goes on almost invisible (not completely, but doesn't really add too much coverage) and doesn't look cakey or anything like that. I usually use the loose version in the morning just after applying my makeup and take the pressed version with me to go for touch ups. And because the case isn't as sturdy as more expensive drugstore powders, I make sure to keep it in a makeup pouch. It hasn't cracked/opened on me yet, but I don't want to risk it.

MAC's Petticoat MSF I bought last year around the time that Pret-A-Papier collection came out. At first I was absolutely in love, but after a while I kinda forgot about it. I found it again a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out my vanity and fell in love again. I even found a better way to wear it. I used to just use it as blush, but now I layer it over my bronzer and it gives the most natural finish and keeps my bronzer from looking too matte. I'll show you pics of this later.

And how stunning is the veining!?

Benefit High Beam, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

Whenever I'm breaking out because of stress I try to focus on concealing and illuminating, highlighting the good areas on my skin and concealing the bad. I found the Sally Hansen Carmindy concealer at the Dollar Store (I'll post a haul in a bit) and I love it!!! I completely gets out the red or the purple!!! It can look a bit heavy so I only really use it on pimples, not all over the face.

L to R: Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush and Benefit High Beam.

I love these two highlighters. I actually bought both of them because I couldn't ever find the Boots No. 7 Highlighting Lotion at Target, and I actually found the Shiseido one at TJMaxx for around $16! I usually just use them in the inner corners, cheekbones, and the cupids bow. I find that the pink highlighters don't work on the brow for me. They just end up looking unnatural. I use the Shiseido one when I need a more subtle highlight and the Benefit one when I want a little bit more oomph.

And I love the packaging of the Shiseido one!!! So chic and pretty!

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

I've always been a bit skeptic about color correcting concealers. Before this one, just about every single one would look unnatural, even under regular concealer or foundation. This one doesn't. It blends in seamlessly and looks barely there, even without regular concealer over it. It doesn't look too yellow either, which I like. I actually wanted the lavender version of this concealer, but they didn't have it :(

L to R: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

I've been wearing one of these every single day. That says a lot because I'm not really much of a lip person. I easily get annoyed with something sticky or something that transfers easily. For me, Nude Blush is the perfect my-lips-but-better color. It barely shows up but evens out my lips and gives me just a bit more color. Oddly enough, it also makes my eyes look bluer, which I love!

L to R: Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

I love the formulas of both as well. Nude Blush smells like watermelon and goes on very thin, almost like a thin balm. It's very moisturizing. The formula of the Chanel Glossimers is unlike any other lip gloss I've ever used. It's more gel than liquid, a bit thicker but not sticky and always very shiny!!!

Swatches:

Top to bottom: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

Top to bottom: Benefit High Beam and Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush.

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

It looks a lot more yellow than it actually is when blended out. I'll do a full review to show just how well it works!!!

Top To bottom: NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat: lightest shade, middle shade, darkest shade, and all swirled together.

That's it for March. No special perfume and you already saw my hair favorites earlier! Hauls and reviews coming up!