Bumble Beauty

Mini Haul

2011-05-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, this photo isn't great... but I picked up a few goodies over the weekend!

Ulta was having buy 2 get 1 free on Maybelline-- My all time fav foundation is Maybelline SuperStay and I was running low so I grabbed one of those. I'm also running low on my Fit Me pressed powder so I nabbed one of those too. I took a leap of faith on the Dream Matte Mousse and I have to say-- my first impression is not great...

I was in the market for some white polish so I found Ulta's Angel Baby for $1.99!

I picked up a Sally Hansen strengthening base coat-- hoping to improve my weak nails. I grabbed the cuticle cream too-- I had this years ago and I still love it today. It's the perfect last step to a perfect manicure.

So many people pass up Big Lots, but seriously guys, they have some incredible cosmetic deals. I picked up some Wet n Wild eyeshadow as I mentioned a few posts ago and the Almay intense i-color shadow. Looking forward to using both!

NEW Essie!

2011-05-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

Braziliant, 2011

Absolutely Shore, Meet Me at Sunset, Smooth Sailing, Super Bossa Nova, Too Too Hot, Braziliant

Fair Game Resort Collection, 2011

Fair Game, Your Hut or Mine, Lion Around, Da Bush.

Speaking of Zoya...

2011-05-19T04:28:00.000-07:00

On my nails right now?

Zoya's Gemma-- perfect mossy green with flecks of purple shimmer

How have I lived without this for so long?

2011-05-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Finally!! Got this as a little gift from the bf this weekend-- seriously, how have I been surviving all this time?
This bottle comes with a flip-top cap and then you just press your cotton ball onto the pump, and it magically fills with remover! Genius!

Even more genius...no need to buy one of these suckers every time you're running low...just buy a bottle of cheap polish remover and refill!

What is Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover

Zoya Remove Plus is an award wining, gentle, yet highly effective 3-in-1 nail polish remover, nail prep and nail conditioner. Longer nail polish wear starts with Remove Plus.

What Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover Does

Polish remover is just the beginning of what this wonder 3-in-1 formula achieves. Clean and prep nails while moisturizing, nourishing and fortifying the nail plate for guaranteed extended polish wear. Nails are left without a trace of nail lacquer, without streaking or staining, hydrated and ready for a base coat.

How to Use Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover

Thoroughly saturate a cotton ball or pad with Zoya Remove , firmly press pad to nail for a few seconds and wipe until existing polish is completely removed and nail bed is clean. Remove surface oils from clean nails and prepare nails for new color by wiping each nail with Zoya Remove.

New Obsession!

2011-05-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

Hi There!

Okay so after Christmas I decided to put a ban on purchasing eyeshadow since I had received SO MANY Smashbox shadows for the holidays. I literally must have almost 60 Smashbox eye shadows... a little much?

The point is: I knew I could never get close to using up all of those shadows so I wanted to be economical and hold back (hard as it may be) from buying eye shadow.

My love for shadow is relatively new-- Only in the last year did I really discover all the different looks that can be achieved with these cool little colors.

Anyway, I love a bargain, and I started to see all of these new Wet n Wild products popping up everywhere... I've steered clear of Wet n Wild since 6th grade (chunky glitter lip gloss was the thang, girl!) and haven't looked back... Until now...

BEHOLD:

The Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio!

This trio packs three (obvious.) shadows into one perfect palette. They come in so many beautiful shades and are only $2.99!!!!!! I was fortunate to find them this weekend at my local Big Lots for $2.80 (19 cents worth saving!)

I am obsessed with these for 3 reasons:

1. They're so gosh darn cheap! You get three shadows for less than three dollars!

2. Each color in the trio has in imprint telling you exactly where to place the shadow (please god remember to blend...) Although you could certainly play with these to create all kinds of effects

3. These shadows are SO pigmented... I love my Smashbox shadows, but seriously, if you want to skip the insane price tag and get a product with the same incredible color, wear-ability, blend-ability, and staying power-- go with this-- seriously, this stuff is amazing!

I currently have 3 palettes:

This one is called Silent Treatment-- I love love love the shade on the bottom here: it's like a silvery lavender.

This one is called Walking on Eggshells-- this is the perfect neutral palette!

This one is called Knock on Wood-- I LOVE this as an alternative to a smoky eye for nighttime...

If anyone wants a tutorial on how to use these just let me know, I would be happy to do one.

Cheers to Wet n Wild for creating such a great product at an even better price!

Birchbox #2!

2011-05-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Ya'll! (Moving to Kentucky soon, I might as well start talkin' like it)

SO happy to have finally received my May Birchbox! This thing shipped almost 9 days ago and I didn't get it until yesterday... Unfortunately, I already knew what I was getting thanks to an email sent by Birchbox titled "In your box this month!" ... Thanks guys...

Oh well, the point is that it came in the mail and I'm pretty happy with what I received! It definitely wasn't as great as last month, but what can you do? I'm always thrilled to receive new high-end goodies for just $10! This month, all products included items celebrating Mother's Day--

Moving on to said goodies:

Each Birchbox always includes a note card describing each product

Truly, this entire Birchbox was worth it JUST for the Stila eyeshadow. I received the color Coco- a medium toned brown shade. They sent the full size eyeshadow retailing for $18!! I paid $10 for the entire box... Love you Birchbox!

Along with the eyeshadow, I received the Ahava mineral hand cream, Archipelago pomegranate hand soap, Bulgari's newest fragrance, Mon Jasmin Noir (love this) and Birchbox always throws in a little something extra-- a Tiny Prints card: Tiny Prints lets you customize greeting cards. Cute!

I haven't had a chance to review all the products yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I still LOVE Birchbox even though it shipped a little late and it wasn't quite as exciting as last month, but for $10, this is so so worth it...

Looking forward to next month!

NewBeauty Test Tube

2011-05-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

Popularity is rising among beauty subscription services ie: Birchbox-- I recently came across NewBeauty's Test Tube:

The NewBeauty TestTube is a collection of some of the hottest and most in-demand products in beauty. In this tube, you'll receive the current issue of NewBeauty magazine, along with a mix of full-sized, travel-sized, and deluxe-sized samples from Bliss, Mally, Nick Chavez, Elemis, Dr. Denese, Kiehl's, Laura Geller, philosophy, and GO SMiLE. Who is it for: Anyone looking to sample a wide variety of fabulous beauty products at an unbelievable value. Why is it different: The NewBeauty TestTube combines luxurious beauty products with extensive product and how-to information. NewBeauty magazine, included in the test tube, provides insider information on trends and hot topics within the beauty world via respected experts from the beauty industry. How do I use it: This TestTube includes a booklet with instructions on how to use each product.

This beauty subscription was created by QVC and they have quite a few professional relationships with beauty companies so you can bet that the products you'd receive would be top notch--

I am hesitant to subscribe, however. TestTube is delivered to your door 4 times a year at $29.95 (plus shipping) per box. 30 bucks plus shipping, and only 4 times a year!? P.S...Shipping is almost $9...

I know what you're thinking... "Alex, you pay 10 dollars a month for Birchbox, you're spending a comparable amount..." I know, I know... and I almost hate to say this, but its just feels better to spend smaller increments of money and to get something every month-- that's what I love about Birchbox.

Test Tube has a good thing going for them, and I think it's a really great deal-- but I love getting my products every month, not every 3 months!

I truly don't have the capital to be able to test (ha) this tube out, but if you're interested and have a spare $40, I say go for it. The products are bound to be fantastic and it really is fun every time you get a little surprise in the mail-- Poor (literally) little grad school-bound me will have to put this off for a while...I suppose I do have a birthday coming up...

If you decide to subscribe let me know!

Something old, something new, something BORROWED, something BLUE!

2011-05-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy!!!

I have been searching high and low in stores for Essie's 2011 Wedding Collection in Borrowed and Blue... trust me, it's nowhere to be found...

Luckily, ebay came through for me! This polish is THE most beautiful milky, powdery blue and I cannot wait to wear this for spring and summer. It is a creme shade without any shimmer or duo-chrome, which is how I would prefer this anyway.

How beautiful would this be on toes for a bride?

Sally Hansen Salon Effects- Real Nail Polish Strips

2011-05-08T04:29:00.000-07:00

In love!

I apologize that this product isn't breaking news, but it's definitely worth a post...

I've been eyeing Sally Hansen's Polish Strips for months now but I haven't taken the plunge to actually purchase these because 1. They're 10 dollars and I can get a bottle of polish for less and 2. I actually like the process of painting my nails the good ol' fashion way.

After my good friend Kristyn sent me a photo of her wearing these strips, I knew I had to experiment. I found these at Target for about $8.50 which is $1.50 less than at other drugstores. From what Kristyn told me, Walmart has these for $8.50 as well. I decided on "Misbehaved" which looks to me like a pair of fishnet stockings, ooh la la!

While I don't love the $8.50 price tag (again, I can get a bottle of OPI or Essie for that price) these are phenomenal. I'm serious. I don't care for gimmicky beauty products but these things are the real deal. They are so so so easy to use, and quite frankly, I have no idea how the manicure industry isn't dead. I don't think I will ever pay for a manicure ever again, truly. They are designed to last up to 10 days so I'll have to report back on how that goes. After I applied these (which took me about 20 minutes) I put a top coat on just to seal any edges and to hopefully ensure a long lasting manicure.

I am seriously urging those of you who have not tried these to drive your butts to Target NOW and give these a shot! It's so fun and so easy. There is no drying time and you take these off with polish remover. I don't see myself wearing these all the time because I do like changing my polish every couple of days but I definitely see myself using these for special occasions or anytime I want a mess-free manicure. For $8.50 you get a manicure that takes just minutes to apply, no mess, no polish on your skin, long wear-ability and in designs you can't achieve with polish.

Each box comes with a set of instructions so I won't dive into those, but all I can say is that these are a must have. Truly, you're foolish if you're still paying 25 bucks for a manicure with all of these amazing products on the market now. I want to try Flower Girl next:

Fun tip: I have kept the remaining nail strips (16 come in each box to ensure a proper fit to each nail) and I am going to put one of these one both of my ring fingers with my other nails painted in a neutral- cute!

I am absolutely in love with these and I hope you fall in love too!

Best Mascaras... Ever.

2011-05-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

I had to laugh today thinking about my blog and my daily "beauty regimen" and if some of my co-workers new about this blog, they would think I was a complete phony...

While not true, I've been seriously slacking on my "look" for work. Since grade school I would wake up early, shower, blow dry my hair, do my makeup, put on the outfit I would have picked out the night before...

This all stopped about 6 months ago when I realized that I really had no energy left, no real need or want to keep up this routine, and a general disenchantment with the whole process (on weekdays at 4:45am, mind you!)

I need to clarify that on weekends I always step it up, and I actually have the time to put the effort in to play with all of my fun products! However, I had a chuckle this morning thinking about how many colleagues of mine would laugh if they new this page even existed... I come to work with no makeup, wet hair, a scarf wrapped around my neck and an outfit I pick out in the dark.

That said, let's move on, shall we?

Honoring the request of my good friend Laura, (Hi Zelly!) I am posting some information on what I consider to be 3 of the best budget-friendly mascaras on the market (I'm throwing a splurge in here, too...)

Mascara, like foundation, is highly variable in formula, design, features, color, etc... Most women have favorites that they rave over, while others might simple meh at the same product. It's very much a personal choice and there are SO many out there to choose from... Let's start from the top!

3. L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black, $9

I love this Mascara, I really do. L'Oreal's Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften lashes and build lashes to 4X their natural thickness. Dramatic volume with all day! Unique maximizing formula quickly thickens and builds lashes in a single application for a full and dramatic lash look. Patented volume maximizing brush thickens lashes evenly and smoothly, leaving them soft with virtually no flakes, smudges or clumps.

2. Cover Girl Lash Blast, $8

Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast's patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big-lash look. I love this one too! The applicator is pretty enormous but you get great separation, great pigmentation, zero clumping, and you can really build it up to get thick, dark lashes. The formula is a little more "wet" than I prefer, but I can deal...so can you!

1. Ulta Amped Lashes, $10

Volumizing mascara creates longer, thicker lashes instantly. Amped Lashes Mascara by ULTA features a unique applicator brush that controls clumping while increasing lash definition. Next to the mascara you're about to read about, this is my favorite. It reminds me a bit of Lash Blast in that the bristles are similar, but for me, this isn't as bulky and the wand is just much easier to handle. It's not nearly as wet as Lash Blast and this stuff just works, trust me!

Holy Grail Mascara: *drum roll*

SMASHBOX HYPERLASH! $21 (Yes, I know this is excessive, but you can find it on ebay for a few bucks cheaper and TRUST me, it's SO worth it!)

OMGOMGOMG... LOVE!

I have been using this mascara since December (Thanks, Christmas!) and I am in love. Yes, I use other mascaras, but I truly tend to reach for this one every single time. Rev up your lashes with this high intensity all-in-one mascara that lifts, lengthens, volumizes and defines. The unique dual applicator has a brush on one side and a comb on the other for beautifully full, amazingly long, clump-free lashes in seconds. Naturally derived peptides and antioxidants help protect and repair, while rich pigments bind to lashes for an ultra-dramatic look. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE, PEOPLE!

Well there you have it, folks-- I hope this was worth your time and I can (almost) guarantee that you will LOVE these mascaras. Of course, every woman is different, but I know these tend to be universal favorites and you just can't lose if you try these out-- so affordable (save the last one) and so fun!

Ombre Nails- Ooh la la

2011-05-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to post about a new trend in nails that I think is pretty unique without being too daring-- It's a fresh take on the standard manicure and I think this could be really gorgeous for spring and summer.

Ombre:

A French term meaning “shaded,” it refers to fabric (frequently ribbon) with color that graduates from light to dark.

Ombre nails employ several techniques, and I've posted a few photos to display the different ways in which to wear this look-- If I have a chance, I'll update this post with my own ombre rendition!

All you need to achieve this look: 5 polishes within the same color family. Paint your nails with color gradation in mind and voila: Ombre nails!

Truthfully, I'm not sure how I would pull this one off, but the photo up top is definitely more achievable!

Tres chic!

Review: Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer

2011-05-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I've been on a MAJOR nail polish kick and I feel like I've been ignoring every single other product I've picked up over the past few weeks... Hence, this post!

I was lucky enough to find Aveeno's tinted moisturizer in my Easter basket-- I've been using a lot of tinted moisturizer lately, particularly at work to try and save time in the mornings and so I feel like I'm slightly credible in this department. I have been carrying Elf's tinted moisturizer and Cover Girl's Aqua Smoothers as well and I really really really wanted to get my hands on Aveeno (I may have dropped a hint or two)...

"The only tinted moisturizer with clinically proven Total Soy Complex to brighten and even skin tone while providing SPF 30 sun protection. Natural, light-reflecting minerals and lightweight coverage blend away skin imperfections and immediately bring out skin's natural radiance. Choose from two luminous shades to blend seamlessly with your skin: Fair to Light and Medium. These elegant formulas provide extraordinary natural radiance and coverage at a much smarter price than the leading department store brand. This moisturizer is also oil-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic."

I really love the packaging with Aveeno particularly because the bottle comes with a pump that you can lock, making it really easy to toss in my makeup bag. You get 2.5 fluid oz and it runs around $12-15 which is not terrible. I requested the color "fair/light" since I'm fairly pale right now and it looks extremely light when you first pump it out, almost too light. Once you start to rub it into the skin it blends perfectly.

There are two things that allow this tinted moisturizer to stand out above all others that I've tried:

1. Since this is part of the Positively Radiant line, the moisturizer has a very slight sheen to it, making the skin look dewy, not greasy-- it allows your skin to show through while providing good coverage with the most beautiful dewy gleam-- I believe that it really does help to even out my skin tone and I love that about this product.

2. This product remained flawless the entire day. It's hard to say that about any product in general, but I was shocked at the staying power of Aveeno. I do apply a dusting of powder over the product just to lock it in a bit, but otherwise I feel like I look in the afternoon the way I look in the morning which is pretty fantastic.

Click here to watch Emilynoel83's review on YouTube

Two thumbs up for this product-- for those of you who have fairly clear skin and are looking for something to even out your skin tone, this is perfection and I am certain I am going to be wearing this every single day in the hot summer weather!

UPDATE! Today, (5/2/11) I was complimented on my "beautiful complexion" in an elevator wearing my Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer! How's that for proof??

Wanted: Strong Nails

2011-05-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

I had a few CVS Extra Bucks saved up so I ran to pick up a bottle of Sally Hansen's VitaSurge Strength Gel. You're supposed to apply this over your dry nails or polished nails once a day to see noticeable stronger nails in 5 days, which I desperately need-- my nails tend to crack easily (runs in the genes, unfortunately). I'll do an update in about a week to see if I notice a difference!

Adding to my Zoya Intimate Collection...

2011-05-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

While at the spa yesterday, I noticed Zoya's Intimate Collection for Spring 2011 was on sale!!
Each polish was only $4! I spent nearly $50 tipping for my spa treatments, so I only allowed myself to choose 2...but I love them!

I received Jules in my April Birchbox so I decided on Caitlin and Gemma. Caitlin is a blu-ish grey without any sheen and Gemma is a duo-chrome with green and purple metallic. It's very mossy, but I absolutely love the multi-dimensional tone.

Click here to view the color inspiration for this collection

Tiny Ulta Haul...

2011-04-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist! After my post yesterday, I HAD to feed my polish addiction...

Strangely enough, I didn't buy any of the new polishes that I reported on -- see my picks below! (The following photos are not of my hands, I just wanted to show off how the polish will look!)

Essie in Splash of Grenadine- A bright pinky-lavender

Essie in Turquoise and Caicos- love this!!! A darker version of Mint Candy Apple

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Grey Area-- This was less than $3 and I Thought this would be a great color all year long!

Essie in Long Stem Roses-- It looks cherry red in the bottle, but see below-- it's actually has quite a bit of pink to it

I think these are great options for Spring/Summer-- Splash of Grenadine and Turquoise and Caicos are both from the 2010 Resort Collection-- timeless if you ask me!

New Spring Polish Collections!

2011-04-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would do a post on new polish collections for spring-- Spring colors are so fun to work with because you don't have to feel limited in what you can experiment with. Check 'em out!

OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean Collection-- I love these! I love the names even more... ie: Skull & Glossbones

Deborah Lippman, Spring 2011- These are really beautiful and tropical-- a little on the pricey side, but the quality is phenomenal

Orly's Precious Collection for Spring 2011-- You can find these at CVS stores

Essie's French Affair Collection- Gorgeous neutrals and a pop of blue shimmer

China Glaze's Anchors Away- Wide variety of color, China Glaze never disappoints

Zoya's Intimate Collection- I have "Jules"-- a soft golden shimmer


Finger Paint's Palette of Petals-- beautiful bright colors! You can find these at Sally's Beauty Supply

Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen Salon Manicure

Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Salon Manicure

I love these collections for spring because they include muted neutrals and bright pops of color-- something for everyone! It will literally take everything within my soul not to splurge on every single one of these polishes...

Perfect Easter Gift!

2011-04-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

With Easter upon us, I thought I would include a super cute idea for an Easter basket you could gift to the women in your life-- These baskets are so affordable and your family and friends will absolutely love these!

Start with a small easter basket, such as this yellow tin.
I found this one at Target for just $1!

This was only $1 at Target!

Yummy Summer Fruit

Pick up an EOS (Evolution of Smooth) lip balm. You can find these at Ulta or Walgreens and these run about $4 each. They come in lots of yummy flavors, and the ones featured in this post are Summer Fruit, Sweet Mint and Lemon Drop

Add some Easter grass and you have the perfect gift for all your friends and family! These are super inexpensive and so so cute! You can open the packages and place the balm in the grass (so they look like Easter eggs!) or you can place the balm in its packaging directly in the basket-- love this!

Top budget-friendly polish picks for spring!

2011-04-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung!

I thought I would give a few polish recommendations to get your nails in tip top shape for springtime!

Essie in Mint Candy Apple- A GORGEOUS mint green-blue: $7.50

Ulta Professional in Uptown Girl- A muted purple: $7.50

Essie in Van D'Go- An opaque super peachy pink: $7.50

Love & Beauty for Forever 21 in Light Green- A true spearmint green: $2.80!!

Essie in Lilacism- My absolute FAVORITE shade of lavendar: $7.50

OPI in Significant Other Color- A translucent purple with green and gold: $8

Ulta Nail Lacquer in Peach Parfait- An opaque tangerine: $5

Ulta Professional in Strapless- A true shimmer "greige": $7.50

L.A. Colors in White- A nail art polish: $1 from Dollar Tree!


A lilac ribbon manicure! Essie Lilacism and L.A. Colors nail art polish (both pictured above)

How fun is that? You can create so many different designs with the nail art polish, and for just $1?! SO CUTE! Pssh, Who needs a $20 dollar mani now, huh??

Rejoice Recessionistas!

Ulta News!

2011-04-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

Heads up!

Ulta has now started selling Butter London nail polishes!

Butter London has recently gained some attention due to their shade "No More Waity Katie"-- a tribute polish for (future) Princess Kate Middleton.

These polishes are pretty pricey compared to other budget brand polishes, but up until now these were only available online. Prices range from $14-30 and currently, with any Butter London purchase you will receive a FREE Powder Room polish remover!

Not too shabby...

Summer Lips! Muah!

2011-04-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm SO happy with the positive feedback I got on my Birchbox post! It's such a cool little idea and I hope you all love your new Birchbox subscriptions!

With summer approaching, I'm always curious to find what's new in lip color and while a bold matte lip is super hot, sometimes I like something a little lighter for casual days.

I've always enjoyed Revlon's Super Lustrous lip gloss so I decided to pick up a few of the new Color Burst lip glosses when they were on sale at Walgreen's for $4.99. Revlon's Color Burst is pretty fantastic, I must say. It's great because they're in gloss form, but they have so much pigmentation that they offer as much color pay off as a sheer lipstick. They're light, non-sticky, and provide multi-dimensional color. The staying power is average, and it's actually fun to re-apply! The packaging is beautiful, true to form for Revlon, so it looks MUCH more expensive than it actually was...my little secret.

The applicator is a doe-foot applicator and almost pivots around the base of the wand for a perfect pout!

From left to right: Orchid, Peony, Crystal Lilac

I would highly suggest these-- Perfect for spring and summer, glossy, colorful-- a perfect addition to any makeup bag.

Birchbox Bonanza!

2011-04-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I've been away for a bit, and I apologize for that, but I think this blog post is worthy of the wait... Birchbox!

Birchbox "delivers luxe beauty samples to your door each month. Find out what you love, and buy with confidence." You can enroll in Birchbox for $10 a month, and each month a beautiful box of high-end goodies are delivered right to your door! The samples are deluxe samples, so they are all larger than the samples you might get free online or as gifts with purchase. I can't say enough good things about this company. They have partnered with a number of high-end hair, makeup and skin companies to bring you the best of what's new in the beauty world without the hefty price tag. For each Birchbox you receive, you acquire points to use on the site to buy your favorite full size products. You can also acquire points by reviewing the samples on their site. It's the perfect way to experiment with expensive brands while still only spending $10 a month!

I got my first Birchbox the other day and the first thing that instantly stands out is the packaging. It is so beautifully put together! This month, my products were themed around Earth Day and the samples were paraben free, and Earth-friendly! Birchbox always includes a card inside describing the products they chose for you each month (When you sign up, you take a questionnaire that takes note of what your beauty preferences are!). Below are my goodies for the month of April:

Gorgeous packaging! What could be inside...?

Yay! So many cool new products to try!

This card is included every month to provide information about each product

Zoya samples!

This makes me SO happy! Zoya polish in Jules!

LIV GRN perfume!


So excited to try this!

Paraben free body butter!- This alone costs $12-- the entire Birchbox cost me $10!

I can't wait to give all of these items a try! To sign up for Birchbox, go to www.birchbox.com

10 bucks for awesome new products every month? Yes please!

50% off Elf Mineral Makeup!

2011-03-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Elf at eyeslipsface.com currently has 50% off ALL of their mineral makeup including brushes!

Here's a link to a flat eyeliner brush you can use to apply the Elf cream liner-- only $2.50!
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/minerals/eyes/eye_brushes/mineral_eyeliner_brush

Happy Shopping!

Help! Adult acne...anyone? Anyone?!

2011-03-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

I've been (unfortunately) experiencing a bit of acne lately and It's driving me completely nuts. I got through all of my teenage years without acne of any kind, why now?! Why me!?

I started noticing in January that my face took a turn for the worse...breakouts, redness, super sensitivity. I have extremely dry skin which an issue all on its own, but it turns out that adult acne is most likely to occur in women with very dry skin... figures...

It's obvious at this point that my current skin care regimen isn't working. (Exfoliating scrub, toner, Pond's Dry Skin Cream) so I went to Walgreen's tonight with my girlfriends to pick up a few new products...

::Drumroll::

I'm hoping these items will keep my skin issue at bay until I can see my dermatologist... has anyone had any luck with these products? I'm desperate!

Cream Eyeliner... Budget friendly!

2011-03-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Keeping with my commitment to find the very best products on my very low budget, I've been a sucker for all the deals on eyeslipsface.com, otherwise known as Elf. Elf is sold at Target stores as well but their site is packed with items that can't be found in stores AND they have a new sale up literally every time I blink. I took advantage of one of those deals (50% all Studio makeup) a few weeks ago and I'll review some of the products I ordered at a later date.

Elf flew under the radar for a while at Target stores offering $1 makeup. I may have bought a lip gloss or two back in the day but Elf has stepped it up majorly. The packaging, the pigmentation...for the price, can't be beat. I was talking with my friend Sam today (who also enjoys Elf) and she wanted to see a review for some of the new products I recently picked up. That is coming (promise!) but I couldn't hold off on reviewing one of my favorite new Studio products I've found recently...

Do you have $3? I know you do. And if you don't...SCROUNGE! That is all this little pot of joy will cost you! I'm talking about Elf's cream eyeliner. I used to be a pencil liner only gal...those days are O-V-E-R! I own a few cream liners from Smashbox which are really fantastic but I had to try this one from Elf... I actually nabbed this at my local Target 2 weeks ago as I failed to add it to my "cart" during my Studio line binge. I decided on "Plum Purple". It has the slightest sheen to it and it's absolutely gorgeous. Other colors include: Coffee, Midnight, Copper, Gunmetal, etc... Also, whoever bought up all the Black from my local Target: sharing is caring!

Smashbox Cream Liners

Plum Purple

The product claims to be "smudgeproof and budgeproof" and they aren't kidding. The photo below showing the swatches is after I've rubbed my fingers back and forth over the product leaving it undisturbed. Amazing! I wore this liner this weekend and I probably had it on for a good 12 hours and it looked perfect at the end of the day. It's magic, I'm convinced. I like to use a flat liner brush for application (Smashbox) and it goes on flawlessly. It does come with a cheapo mini angled liner brush which didn't particularly work for me so I tossed it.

The packaging is very nice. There is quite a bit of plastic surrounding the actual product, but I truly can't see myself ever having to scrape the bottom of this pot. A little goes a very long way.

I HIGHLY recommend this liner. If you are a cream liner novice, you can absolutely afford to experiment with this one!

Cover Girl Natureluxe- Luxurious, lightweight feel; Infused with jojoba and cucumber extract

2011-03-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening... what to do?

I've been relatively unsatisfied with my foundation selection as of late. I've been using Maybelline's Dream Liquid Mousse for about 2 years now but lately I've found that my skin seems to get oily after about 4-6 hours...
I always set my foundation with powder but I just can't win lately. I do have extremely dry skin but this foundation just isn't doing it anymore. I needed a new solution. What to do?

I turned to my late-night addiction, youtube beauty videos, in particular: emilynoel83, one of my absolute favorites, along with many others. She (and others) spoke of Revlon's Colorstay foundation and its long wearing formula. I made my way to Ulta to pick it up and I was SO excited to try it. I got home, I moisturized, I primed, I applied... not a win. The Colorstay does not BLEND! I admit, I probably didn't make the best color selection, but this product was awful for me. The product comes in both dry skin and oily skin formulas and even the dry formula left my skin feeling beyond dry, it felt like it was cracking...

Back to Ulta it goes.

I was at Target yesterday and I was strolling through the cosmetics aisles and I came to Cover Girl. I don't own a ton of Cover Girl, but the Natureluxe foundation has been intriguing to me, particularly since I'm paying more attention to the chemicals I'm allowing to be placed on my face and/or body. To my surprise, someone had left a buy one foundation, get a free Natureluxe gloss balm coupon! I gave in...PLUS Target had the foundation on sale for only $9... it tends to retail for around $13-14.

I woke up this morning, sprung out of bed to use it and was pleasantly surprised! The smell is interesting-- it's a soft cucumber scent, nothing too potent. The color match was pretty decent as well. They don't use names like "sandy beige" or "creamy natural" which might throw some women off, but my particular color is 320 Aspen. I used a dense flat top brush from Smashbox to blend and it worked pretty well. The overall coverage is light to medium and it leaves a really silky feel. It's definitely more of a mousse texture than a liquid, but I prefer moussy foundations anyway. As I feel the blended swatch on my hand, I'm almost wishing I had a moisturizer that felt this good. It's very silky. I set it with a powder, but I think without a setting powder you'd have luck achieving a dewy look. I would say it lasted a good 6-7 hours before I felt like I need to touch it up. Overall, I'm really happy with this foundation. It feels more like a tinted moisturizer to me than a foundation-- super light weight, good coverage, silky feel, pleasant scent. I think this will be a fantastic summer foundation.

The Gloss Balm I picked up is called "Marble" and it's a very sheer light pink.

I would definitely recommend giving this foundation a try if you're in the market for a light weight foundation. I don't know how well this foundation would fare on oily skin, but there's only one way to find out! If you pick it up at Ulta, they will let you return it if you're not satisfied which is fantastic. Otherwise, give it a go!