Cherie's Beauty Blog

Tarte Intro to Amazonian Clay Beauty Insider 500 point Perk

2012-02-26T19:22:00.001-08:00

I am trying to make the effort to buy cruelty free products, and Tarte happens to have the bunny seal :) I got this as a 500 point perk from Sephora, trust me it was hard not to spend any of my points until now but so worth it.

They included two full size products (the matte lip pencil, and the emphaseyes pencil). I will do a review on the lip pencil once I have a chance to try it out, but let me just say I am happy with everything so far.

Undercurrent Pearl Glide Intense Eyeliner (MAC Vera)

2012-02-26T19:11:00.000-08:00

I saw this eyeliner and fell in love :) The Vera collection at MAC has many things that sparked my interest, unfortunately I'm low on the cash flow. In any case I'm very happy to have found this pencil.

Like a teal lagoon :) Lovesit!!! The pencil glides on really smooth and it is long lasting, it will be a favorite of mine for years.

$15 @ MAC

Viva Glam Nicki Review

2012-02-26T18:53:00.001-08:00

As soon as I saw the promotional picture of the new Viva Glam lipstick I swooned! For some reason I've never owned any Viva Glam lipsticks, and I love how they donate 100% of the proceeds to and HIV organization.

This lipstick is quite unique in my opinion, well see for yourself :)

*The picture kind of washes out the color.

MAC describes this as a bright yellow pink (satin), it looks like a bright coral pink on my lips. This folks is not your everyday pink. It is very bright and takes some time to get it to look right. I put it on my lips without a lip balm or a lip pencil. I think that this lipstick does exaggerate the imperfections in your lips, so use a lip balm before hand. This is a color I would use on a day I want to stand out. I would also pair it with a lip liner.

Overall I really like it, there is nothing I own that is similar to it, but it is not a no fuss lipstick so be warned.

February Glam Bag Review

2012-02-26T17:45:00.001-08:00

I know, I know, I'm super late on this post. It's part I wanted to try out the X-Out and NYX eyeshadow roller products, part extreme laziness. Well in any case here's my review:

Let's start with the bag itself
Pros:
-Totally cute! The best one yet, and totally appropriate for Valentines day :)
Cons:
What's not to love?

X-Out Shine Control
Pros:
-Gel-like consistency that dries fast and is easy to rub on.
-I do feel somewhat of a difference in the amount of oiliness on my face when I use this product.
-Really decent amount of product
Cons:
-I feel like the oil control doesn't last all day.
*I use this product after putting on moisturizer, before putting on foundation.

NYX roll on shimmer
Pros:
-Packs on a lot of pigmented shimmer on the lids
-Don't necessarily need an eyeshadow brush to use this product.
-Did I say it was pigmented already?
Cons:
-I feel like the color doesn't last crease free and pigmented all day, even with a primer.
-It can be a little tricky to use in order for it to look nice and not just slapped on. I recommend rolling the shadow on in the middle and then using a brush to spread it out on the inner and outer corners.

Freeman's Mask and Premier samples:
-To be honest I will probably not use these any time soon. I'm not really a mask kinda girl, and the other skin care samples don't really seem appealing to me.

NuMe $100 dollar giftcard
-Many people had mixed feelings about this this. I personally had no use for it as I have a very nice and new straightener from GHD, and the devil curling iron that is Sultra (aka it will burn your face iron). I gave the gift card away on my YT channel. Also you have to spend money to use the gift card so I don't know if it was really that great of a deal.

It wasn't a bad month, and I did get to try two new products that were interesting to me. I just don't want anymore face masks or get gift cards that make me have to spend money.

Looking forward to next month!

Sultra The Bombshell Clipless Curling Iron...

2012-02-20T11:53:00.000-08:00

So I have been rather upset lately because I burned the side of my face the other day with my Sultra clipless curling iron. This is the second time I have burned myself. The first time I burned my wrist and it left a nice little scar which is awesome when I'm trying to take pictures of swatches (sarcasm). Anyways this time it's in a much more noticeable place and I am left praying to God I wont be left with a nasty scar (I can hear God telling me "be thankful you didn't get a worse burn").

*Sigh...In any case, this iron does a great job of leaving beautiful curls, but it is tricky to use. The glove is only slightly helpful in not burning your hands as it is not heat resistant, just a small barrier to the heat. In all honesty I have never burned myself before with a straightening iron or a traditional curling iron before, so I believe it really is not so much my own carelessness (somehow it's the curling iron's fault).

The point of this post is to let you the consumer know that this thing will burn you if you aren't vigilant and careful. Take your time to learn how to use this thing. *If you are right handed put the glove on your left hand

Here's a pic of the curling effect from awhile ago and now:

Stila in the Moment Eyeshadow Palette Look of the Day :)

2012-02-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to use this palette for the first time, and I was totally planning on using the purple shades, somehow I ended up with a neutral look lol.

I used the Revlon lip butter I got (sweet tart), my Maybelline Illegal Lengths mascara, and a gel eyeliner from Essence in London baby.

Yup I still love this palette :)

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart Review

2012-02-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to receive this from my friend Meredith, check out her blog:

http://meredithenroute.blogspot.com/

Let me just say I am in love :) The product is so creamy and pigmented, I was really impressed. I dare say I like these more than the Baby Lips! They also last longer than the baby lips, and act more as a half way point between a lip stick and a lip balm. I can't wait to get more!

Stila in the Moment Eyeshadow Palette Review

2012-02-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

You might remember that I put up a blog post about wanting one of these new Stila Palettes not long ago. Dreams do come true, well at least Valentines Day comes around and my boyfriend has another reason to gift me makeup lol.

Handy instruction booklet the palette comes with:

Swatches:

Close ups:

Smudge stick:

I have to say this palette didn't let me down at all. Such nice colors, and great for a purple or a neutral smokey eye. The only color with lighter pigmentation was the light purple but all the rest of them were great, and I love that they included a highlight shade.

This palette is a little pricey at $39 but it comes with a full size smudge stick which makes this palette a good value (smudge sticks are $20!).

The palette also includes a nice little booklet of different looks you can do step by step.

I suggest you check it out!

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Palette Review

2012-02-13T19:33:00.000-08:00

My lovely boyfriend gifted me this for my birthday, I was so excited to get this palette :)

Okay, so I have to say that the left side of the palette is far less pigmented than the right side. Intentional maybe? In any case I am in love with the colors on the right side, the green is my favorite. Only one matte color which is the blue and it is a little powdery but they color pay off is nice.

The left side is kind of meh to me. The purple and pink colors were not very pigmented and the color all the way on the left is sheer as well, kind of an opalescent white.

The pencil color is a nice shimmery navy but I do have to say that it started crumbling a little bit when I was swatching it.

Overall this was a decent palette but I wish all of the eyeshadows were pigmented. This is the first eyeshadow palette from Kat that included vibrant colors so it was a nice first attempt and I hope she comes out with more in the future.

*I do have to note that this palette came broken, as in it wouldn't close. The new palette design I have to saw isn't constructed very well and I think many people will have the same problem at some point.

NYX Stick Blush Review

2012-02-12T19:22:00.000-08:00

NYX has come out with some nice new products lately, let's check out their new stick blushes :)

These cream blushes are phenomenal! They apply smoothly and blend out easily. The pigmentation is great and can really be layered on. I've incorporated these stick blushes into my daily routine because I love them so much. They don't dry to be completely matte and dry feeling, more moist feeling. They last for most of the day, at least 6 hours, and even longer when layered under a powder blush. They come in a variety of colors and in shimmery or matte finishes.

I really suggest you check them out @ Ulta.

About $5.

Valentines Day Nails 2012

2012-02-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

As you may know I am a big fan of doing holiday day themed nails, and I extra love Valentines day as it falls in my birthday month. Well here's what I came up with. I did a google search and found some inspiration. (Clicking on the pictures makes them larger)

Here's a collage of the steps I took for the owl and the cup cake:

I used really tiny art brushes and some regular old nail polish. I used Pink Friday by OPI as the base color.

Hope you enjoyed and are inspired to make your own creations :)

Urban Decay Hautelook Sale

2012-02-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you guys know :)

Click here to sign up:

http://www.hautelook.com/short/2OkZ6

ELF Hypershine Gloss Review

2012-02-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

So I was looking through my makeup collection for things to review and I decided to review these lip glosses.

I really like these glosses from ELF, especially since they are only $1. They aren't sticky and have a nice smell to them (kind of a vanilla scent). I find that they last at least 3 hours, generally as long as any other lip gloss. Bubblegum is perfect for any light pink lip, and the cherry color is a great topper to any red lipstick.

Overall definitely worth checking out :)

Revlon Colorstay Blemish Concealer in Light/Medium Review

2012-02-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

I was on the hunt for a good concealer for my blemishes and I happened upon this concealer while perusing the new lip butters (anyone wanna send me one ;)

So I would say this concealer gives a light coverage. The color is really perfect for my skin. It's best to wait for each layer to dry if you want to really build the coverage up. I like it because of the fact that it has Salicylic Acid (.5%) so it treats while it conceals. I wish it had a better coverage but it does a decent job at concealing.

*Tip: dab some on the back of clean hands and then use a finger to dab it on. You don't want to contaminate the applicator by putting it directly on your acne.

The scent smells like MAC Studio Fix Fluid, interesting...Anyways, I say it's worth picking up, and let me know if you do :)

Katy Perry Lashes by Eylure

2012-02-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

Katty Perry collaborated with Eylure for these new fun lashes. There was a display in Ulta showcasing all the new lashes and I thought they were fun so I picked up two of them. I have to say that the one's I picked up are the least drag queen looking of the whole lot. Have a lookey!

Once I wear these lashes I'll do a better review. Initially I think they are nice lashes but are expensive at a whopping $6.99 a pair. We'll see how they do after I wrangle them on. It does come with a small tube of eyelash glue, but I will use my trusty Duo adhesive :)

New NYX Products :)

2012-02-03T19:14:00.000-08:00

Lordy, NYX has brought out a lot of new things! Tons of new mascaras, cream shadows, stick blush, and miscellaneous. I picked up a few things today from ULTA and luckily they were on sale buy one get one half off. I'll be doing a review soon :)

I love my bunnies :)

2012-02-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

The day we got Roberta:

The day we got Alfonso from the ASPCA:

Them today:

I love my little troublemakers :)

Favorite Liquid Liner- Urban Decay @24/7 Liquid Liner in Perversion

2012-01-31T21:11:00.000-08:00

So for the longest time my favorite liquid liner was Revlon color stay which is a felt tip. Nothing could sway opinion, but then I was watching some beauty gurus use this new(ish) liquid liner from UD that looked so nice and shiny. Revlon's liquid liner is more of a matte finish. Anyways, I bit the bullet and payed the $19, which in my opinion is a ghastly amount for a liquid liner but I digress.

As you can see it is a brush tip which I was unsure about but it's not that bad. Not to toot my own horn or anything but I'm pretty good at lining my eyes with liquid. The brush is flexible but still stiff enough so you have some control.

The only thing I don't like about this liner is that when I blink my eyes right after applying to often transfers to the top of my lids. I try to remind myself to give it a few seconds to dry before blinking.

The formula is very wet and a nice dark black. Overall this is a favorite of mine and I've been using it for awhile.

MUFE has a really similar version that is more expensive, let me know if it's worth the money :)

Rimmel Glam Eyes HD Eyeshadow in Purple Reign

2012-01-28T20:29:00.000-08:00

Finally a drug store eyeshadow to write home about! I am so impressed with this new eyeshadows from Rimmel and you'll see why!

This is what I based my eyeshadow look on:

The colors are shimmery as heck but I like shimmer (if you didn't already know). All of the shadows in this palette are nice and pigmented. The triangles in this quad are hard to reach if you don't have a tiny brush. Those of you that like using the sponge applicators will find them useful because they have a pointed tip.

They are $5.69 at ULTA.

Stila Love At First Blush Set Review

2012-01-27T17:46:00.000-08:00

After being disappointed in the new Physicians Formula blush I decided to give this adorable blush a shot.

Can we just talk about how cute it is!!!

The pictures kind of wash out the pigmentation but trust me when I tell you that this blush is very nice. The finish is a little shimmery but I actually like that. I really recommend this blush and by itself it's only $14!

I was hesitant to get these lip glazes because I had heard they are sticky and I can't stand sticky lip products. I tried it on at Sephora and it was a sticky I could tolerate and the colors were just so gorgeous. These are actually deluxe size lip glazes instead of full size but it has a nice amount.

Overall, at $20 for an awesome blush and two great lip glosses this is a steal! It says $25 on the sticker on box but it's actually $20, guess they miss labeled. Also, online it says you can only get this set online but I picked it up at Sephora inside JCP.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara

2012-01-26T12:16:00.000-08:00

I'm not one for spoilers but the jist here is that I loved the mascara before I realized later in the day that it had melted off of my lashes and onto my under eye area.

Anways...

Let's talk about the packaging. The mascara itself is rather large, as well as the applicator. It doesn't bother me so much but it's worth noting. The applicator reminds me of Cover Girl Lash Blast. It is a plastic applicator with sort spikes bristles.

Before:

After:

I don't know if you can tell but the mascara does a really good job of curling the lashes. The mascara wand also does a good job of coating each lash without clumping. The formula is wet just so you know. It's a good everyday mascara, but not a dramatic look mascara. I actually was really happy with it until I checked myself in the mirror after a long day at school and time spent under the Florida sun. It looked like I was crying...yup that was fun.

I don't usually buy non-waterproof mascara but I guess in this case I wasn't paying attention. I haven't used it long enough to asses the lash boosting aspect.

The bottom line is if this comes in a water proof formula I would definitely purchase it again but as of right now it's scheduled to be returned.

Zoya Nail Polish in Trixie and Charisma Review

2012-01-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

Zoya has these random deals all year round, this one was get two nail polishes for free and just pay for shipping. I actually ordered these nail polishes the 18th and they just came today. I really love Zoya and they are so good to their fans with these deals. Friend them on facebook or twitter for future steals.

Here's the ones I got:

Charisma is a neon color so it dries matte, I put a top coat on it for the swatch. I did three coats but two is fine. It's a fun color and would be great for your toes in the summer.

Trixie looks like liquid silver, not for everyone but I like out there colors. Two coats is opaque enough.

Let me know if you picked up any nail polishes during the sale :)

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punch and Tough as Taupe

2012-01-25T15:01:00.000-08:00

Everyone seems to be getting these lately in the beauty community so I jumped on the bandwagon and picked up two of them.

Now many people have compared them to MAC paint pots. I don't think it's a bad comparison however there are many differences between the two. The packaging is very similar as they are both in a glass pot. I believe that the Maybelline one has a longer staying power as well as better pigmentation. Also, MAC paint pots come in more neutral colors that are sheerer.

Anyways, the pigmentation is great and these can work well without a primer especially if you have dryer lids. The variety of colors is exceptional, there is even a bright orange!

Overall this is a great drugstore buy and is pretty cheap at about $7.

Smudge Crayon Waterproof Eye Primer + Shadow + Liner in Rose Review

2012-01-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

Stila is coming out with a lot of new products lately, there's even a B.B. cream in stores already. I believe Stila wanted to make like a Jumbo version of their smudge stick liners and this is what they came up with. *Note this particular color does not seem to be on the Sephora website but it is in Ulta.

So you can see how big it is compared to a UD eyeliner.

Stila claims:
A three-in-one gel-based eye primer, shadow, and liner that glides on with ease and stays in place until you say when.

I think that this product compares better to a MAC shade stick than anything else. The product isn't hard but it isn't necessarily soft either. It's a good idea to warm up the product with your fingers or on the back of your hand first or it might tug on your eye a bit. The color is absolutely gorgeous and I think it would go well with most neutral looks. It was very smart of Stila to include a sharpener in the back.

If I had to give it a grade I would get it a B. The product does stay on and works well as a base, but I wish it was a little creamier. I like how it comes to a point so you can line your lower lash line with it as well, and sharpen it when it starts getting rounder.

I think it does start to crease a little bit around the end of the day, so it would be a good idea to use a primer with this. There is another one called pink violet that is lovely as well, and one called midnight blue that is very pigmented.

Retails for $22

Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil Stash

2012-01-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

I was eyeing these during Christmas time but passed because I was more interested in the eyeliners. It's a good thing I waited until now to get them as they are ten dollars cheaper now. So when I went to Ulta to return the Physician Formula products and the L'Oreal lip balm I was thinking about getting another Stila Smudge Crayon (review will be up after this) but then I realized I could get 5 similar products for $3 cheaper. Anways, here's the review:

Ummm...can I just say how much I love these pencils! They are so pigmented and creamy I want to use them everyday. I tried them on without using a primer and actually they worked very well. They also don't tug on your eye. Overall very happy with this purchase!