In Her Makeup Bag

Exercising my green thumb with LUSH Love Lettuce mask

2013-05-14T13:51:00.002-05:00

I won't lie, I've been having quite a lot of fun using my latest foray into LUSH skin care products: Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask. If you guessed the mask was green, you're exactly right. The only thing you need to add when using this mask is a few sliced cucumbers over your eyes! It's perfect for sleepovers, yes, but also as a quick pick-me-up for your skin. Keep reading to see my thoughts so far.

Masks aren't something I use often, but they're definitely a treat for your skin after a long week. I've always been curious about LUSH masks- their skin care products in general, really. I've tried out the limited edition Let The Good Times Roll facial scrub, as well as Aqua Mirabilis and Buffy body butters, so Love Lettuce was a necessary next step in my LUSH investigation.
If you're ordering online and aren't familiar with the products, the LUSH website outlines each one in pretty clear detail so you won't be confused. However, I recommend going to a counter to find out which mask/product is best for you. I never would have picked out Love Lettuce on my own doing, but I'm glad it was recommended to me!

As you can see in the pictures above, it contains crushed almond shells and lavender oil as the main ingredients (see the full list for more detail). It's a rougher exfoliant, but should be gentle enough for more sensitive skin types. Beware: it goes on green! Not to worry, though, as it washes off with ease and you won't look like the Hulk when finished.

I love that this works double-duty as a mask and exfoliator, so while you're getting rid of dead skin cells, you're also leaving your skin with a glow!

Love Lettuce is an affordable $6.95 per 2.1oz size, available at most LUSH counters. Have you tried Love Lettuce, or any other LUSH masks? I'd love to hear your experiences!

Saving Without Sacrifice: Tips for Affordable Living

2013-05-13T20:02:00.001-05:00

I'm all about finding great deals, especially as a college student on a minimal (microscopic) budget. Sharing tips and tricks for saving money is one of the great things about the blogging community! If you're a fellow budget-conscious shopper, my friend Morgan is here today to share her (let's face it, pretty fantastic) ideas. Please welcome her to the blog!

If you’ve ever known the feeling of having too many days left until payday, you can appreciate the importance of money-saving tips. I don’t know anyone who has been able to get through life comfortably without spending money, but I do know a number of tricks that can help limit the amount of money I spend.

When it comes to fashion, I have a tendency to spend a lot of money. Fortunately, there are many ways to acquire the latest trends without breaking the bank.

(Photo Credit)

When I want a fresh look, I often consider new eyewear. While many retailers charge high prices for designer frames, I can always find hot trends and great styles at Warby Parker where prices are considerably lower. Spring is around the corner and I’ve already been scoping out their sunglasses! Low price, great quality and amazing designs---what more could a girl ask for!?

The vintage trend in fashion today gives me great opportunities to save money. Rather than spending a fortune at jewelry and department stores on accessories, I shop with relatives and at secondhand stores for pieces to spice up my wardrobe. One of my favorite ways to do this is by spending an afternoon with one of my elderly aunts, going through her costume jewelry. We have a great time finding pieces to accent some of my favorite outfits.

Beauty products can quickly dry up disposable income, but I’ve found a few ways to put the cap on spending here too. Fortunately, many of my favorite brands have great costumer-loyalty programs. As a member of Sephora’s Beauty Insider program, I get vouchers for free product on my birthday each year. When I shop with Victoria’s Secret, I use the coupons they send me as a part of their costumer-loyalty program.

Ways to save are nearly as prevalent as places to spend. I love taking advantage of online resources to get deals on things I buy. At RetailMeNot.com, I often find deals for both online and retail purchases that I plan to make. Whenever I want a new outfit and know I shouldn’t go shopping, I’ve learned to shop my own closet. This used to be really difficult, but now that I have the Stylebook mobile app, I simply snap photos of wardrobe items and get help working them into fresh looks that I never thought about before.

I, too, am obsessed with Retail Me Not- it's a must if you shop online. Thanks so much for your lovely guest post, Morgan, and hope you all enjoy!

Morgan Gray is a huge fashion enthusiast that is joining the community that has inspired her over the years.

Easing into bright, summer lips with Revlon Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon

2013-05-08T12:58:00.003-05:00

Bright lips are the thing right now, making the dark, sultry lip colors of winter a thing of the past. Let me tell you: I'm all about saturated, vivid shades of lipstick. I think they're fun and fabulous! My problem is that I don't think they look so fun and fabulous on my own lips. Being a strong advocate of the idea that "everyone can make a trend work for them," I've been obsessed with the recent sheer-lipstick craze that makes these brighter shades more wearable. So, in an attempt to separate myself from my favorite wine/berry lip colors, I picked up one of the new shades of Revlon Lip Butters, Wild Watermelon.

Keep reading for my thoughts and swatches of this perfectly summer-appropriate tinted lip balm!

Wild Watermelon is a sheer-ish cherry red that seems to lean a bit pink in some lights (see my swatch below). If you've ever tried a Lip Butter from Revlon, you'll know they have more tint than your average tinted lip balm. This can be a good or bad thing- they pack a pigment punch, but still have that slight translucency that separates them from a regular lipstick. There you have my reasoning for trying out a "brighter" shade of lip color in the Revlon Lip Butter range. They're a great pick if you want to go more vivid without the commitment. Besides, the glossy finish they provide is really pretty.

Applied on lips, they're comfortable- moisturizing and a little bit heavy. You'll notice the product is there, but from personal experience, I find it a comfortable wear. As for wear time, I got about two hours of wear from Wild Watermelon before needing to reapply.

Swatches:

Look for all four shades, including Sorbet, Juicy Papaya, Pink Watermelon, and Wild Watermelon at Target (where I found mine!), and other places where Revlon is sold. I picked mine up for around $7.00.

What's your favorite product to "ease" into brighter shades of lip color? Have you tried any of the new Lip Butter shades yet? Thanks for reading!

(Real) Textured nails with Milani Spoiled in Fuchsia

2013-05-05T20:17:00.002-05:00

*Crickets* Hello again! Tonight I have swatches of my first and only textured nail polish, and it's one of six newly-released Milani Texture Creams. You've probably seen these either online or in-store already- I believe they've been out for awhile (I picked mine up a few weeks ago). I was a little intimidated by the textured nail trend, but definitely needed to try it out. Why not go full-force and do it in bright pink? Keep reading to see swatches and thoughts about the Milani shade I picked up, Spoiled in Fuchsia.

Spoiled in Fuchsia isn't as crazy of a color as you might think from looking at the bottle. I feared it would be too "funky" for me to pull off, but the darker shade of pink almost makes it easier to wear. My pictures are pretty color-accurate, and I have to say that I'm seriously loving everything about this color. Application is fuss-free- as a textured nail polish newbie, I had no issues working with this one.

Two coats are shown in pictures, no top coat. You definitely don't need a top coat to extend the wear time! This manicure lasted a good five days before I saw any chipping.

What do you think of this real textured nail polish by Milani? I made a silly blog post below on how to "fake" the trend (kidding), but I promise this one is in all seriousness.

You can find Milani Texture Cream nail polishes in drugstore chains like Walgreens and CVS for about $4.99 each.

Have a good rest of your weekend!

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup- April 12, 2013

2013-04-17T19:00:00.000-05:00

Mama Fashionista: Quinn of Mama Fashionista shares her monthly favorites; did any of her picks make your faves list?

Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: Limerance All Natural Skin Care- face cream, body oil and lip balm

BeautyTidbits: Love gel manicures? Enter to win Couture gel nail polish kit (3 winners) over at BeautyTidbits!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: For those who favor gorgeous green eyeshadows, behold the beauty that is the new Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Shimmer Palette in No. 9 Medusa. It is as dreamy to use as it is gorgeous to look at!

My Highest Self: See what Tina is loving about bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 REMIX Edition!

TheFabZilla: Do you believe in folklore? You might with Laura Mercier Summer 2013 Folklore Collection. Hop to TheFabZilla for her spellbinding review.

D.G.S.Beauty: Want to "Rock Your Hair"? Check out these amazing hair products.

The Lacquered Lady: Are you ready for shorts season? The Lacquered Lady tries out some varicose and spider vein lotions to keep her skin in tip-top shape.

BeautyJudy: At IMATS NYC, BeautyJudy learned more about the amazing Kryolan makeup brand - check out lots of photos and more info on this amazing brand!

Scottish Beauty Blog: Tuning forks and ear candles, have you heard about the Sound Bath treatment? Sarah from Scottish Beauty Blog finds out what it's all about.

Pammy Blogs Beauty: Ready to dive into some delicious scents for Spring and Summer? Pammy Blogs Beauty details the lastest assortment of products from The Body Shop!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle: Finally! An at-home teeth whitening system that works quickly, is safe, and totally affordable

Blushing Noir: NARS Puerto Vallarta Multiple is the perfect, cheeky look for Summer 2013!

Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Destany tests out FEVERshadow from Wishful Bath & Beauty is the amazing Effie's Trinket!

Get the look: Textured nails without spending a penny!

2013-04-17T14:04:00.002-05:00

Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you've tried and/or seen the massive wave of "textured" nail polishes released by brands left and right. I'm definitely into it! I've yet to try any out for myself, but I'm definitely into the likes of Zoya PixieDust Summer (there's a really pretty coral in the collection!), Orly Mega Pixel Fx, and the Jessie's Girl JulieG Gumdrops shades. If you've had success with any in particular, do tell!

Sometimes I don't like to spend money on something if I don't have to, and honestly, I don't need any more nail polish. When this DIY idea came to me, I was MORE than excited to share it with you all. Keep reading to find out how to "get the look" of textured nails for free!

It's super easy. All you have to do is follow these three steps:

Paint your nails with your nail polish of choice (shown here is Julep Lily).
Wait about 10-20 minutes, and then lie down and take a nap. Don't worry about trying to keep your hands in one position; the more you move around, the better.
Wake up with "textured" nails!

Pro tip: Sleep with your hands around a blanket for extra fuzzy texture.

It's especially great for those of us who get overworked painting our nails- this way, you can take a nap and have your nails turn out even better.

What do you think? Have you tried this method of textured nail polish? :D

Question of the day: The influence of blogger reviews

2013-04-14T19:09:00.001-05:00

This question came to me as I was thinking about some of the recent beauty purchases I've made; specifically, MAC's Chilled On Ice Pro Longwear Paint Pot that I blogged about last week. Chilled On Ice wasn't something I sought out to try, but was shown to me by the makeup artist after I had asked her suggestions for a peachy-pink Paint Pot. As soon as she pulled it from the rack, I hesitated, knowing exactly the far-from-raving review it got on Temptalia (my "bible" for makeup reviews). I still thought I would test it out- upon swatching, I was ever so glad I did! No, it's not perfect, but has found its way into my makeup routine and is quickly becoming a favorite.

It makes me curious, though. Obviously beauty blogs are important to most of us participating in the beauty community, whether you're a blogger or not. And I think we'll all agree that when a favorite blogger raves or hates on a product, our opinion as consumers is influenced to some degree.

This all leads me to my question of the day: what value do you place on blogger reviews? Do you still seek out certain products, even if they've received a scathing review?

I think I personally lie somewhere in the middle- I won't actively go searching for a (supposed) sub-par product, but if I come across it in person, there's a possibility I'll change my mind.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Happy Sunday.

What's on my face? March edition

2013-04-13T12:13:00.002-05:00

Apologies for how late this is! The end of March was spent celebrating Easter with my parents, and then this post kind of slipped away from me. Still, I wanted to share with you the things I've been loving lately, so keep reading to see what products have been in my daily rotation for the month of March.

For eyes, I rediscovered an old favorite: Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes mascara (click link for review). It's a funky brush, but once you get the hang of it, it's fantastic at providing volume and length. I decided to put my MAC Nubile paint pot to rest this month and get more use out of my Too Faced Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer, which came in the Sweet Indulgences palette I received for Christmas. I haven't compared this to the likes of Urban Decay Primer Potion, but I've never had serious issues with creasing- I like this well enough to use it up (probably won't purchase another tube due to the price, though). I've also been obsessed with the new Rimmel ScandalEyes waterproof eyeliner in Nude (click link for review). It's been on my waterline just about every day this month, and it's the perfect shade to brighten eyes without being too obvious.

I raved about the Lumene Vitamin C+ Illuminating BB Cream early in March, and it has continued to exceed my standards for a lightweight/medium coverage/natural finish base product. I think I have to say it's holy grail status for me, though I don't think I've used that term more than a few times, ever! If I haven't felt like my skin is "glow-y" enough, I've been reaching for my Benefit Watt's Up highlighter. It's a natural shade of champagne peach that blends out to a not-too-shimmery finish- the sponge makes it nearly impossible to mess this up. Love!

Swatches:

Left: Benefit Watt's Up heavily swatched, blended; Right: Rimmel ScandalEyes in Nude

I haven't talked in too much depth about my skin care routine, but this month I started using a few products worth mentioning. First, I am ALL about these Neutrogena Night Calming makeup remover towelettes to take off my makeup with before cleansing. I took a break from my Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser (I have two bottles in my bathroom now, and have previously gone through several)- see this post for a run-down of why I like it so much. Lastly, this Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer has been a lifesaver in transitioning into warmer weather. My skin isn't overly dry or oily, so I need something in-between to balance my skin.

What have you been loving lately? Can you believe we're almost half-way through April already? That means I only have about a month left of the school semester!

Happy Saturday,

Disclaimer: One or more products in this post were sent to me for consideration. This in no way dictates my opinion. I will always be 100% honest and only recommend those products I truly am confident about. Also, I will never accept anything to feature on this blog that I feel does not interest or relate to my readers.

An Essie nail of the day: Penny Talk

2013-04-11T19:45:00.002-05:00

As soon as I saw swatches of Essie Penny Talk, part of the Mirror Metallics collection, I knew it needed to make its way into my collection. Remember last spring when accessories everywhere were rose gold? It shouldn't be a surprise to me that I didn't start liking the trend until a year later (at the time, I felt like I saw rose gold EVERYWHERE and just couldn't stand it). Since getting my rose gold Jewelmint watch, though, I've been kind of liking it. Side note on Jewelmint: Remember that it's a subscription service. This had totally slipped my mind. If you don't choose to skip the month within the first five days, they charge your account $29.99. Fortunately, you have a 30-day grace period in which they will refund you the money if you'd like- which is what I did.. D'oh!

I digress. Penny Talk is a great way to rock the rose gold trend if you just want a taste. In this manicure, I used Sonia Kashuk Hocus Pocus on my ring finger as an "accent" nail.

I was initially drawn to this polish because of its finish- for some reason I don't have anything metallic in my collection. You can tell it definitely gives that "foiled" look to your nails, something a shimmer doesn't exactly achieve. I think it'd look especially cool with some chunky rings (wish I had some!).

I believe my only prior experience with Essie was Turquoise & Caicos, which has a rather sheer formula. I'm happy to report that Penny Talk isn't the case- the only thing I'd add is that brushstrokes are slightly noticeable upon inspection. It's opaque in one coat, but pictures show two for good measure.

I'm not too fond of the accent finger with this manicure, actually- I think I prefer Penny Talk all by itself. What do you think? Are you into metallic nail polish this spring (or rose gold)?

You can buy Essie nail polishes at stores like Ulta, Target, Walgreens, and more for around $8.00.

Thanks for reading!

Mac Patina, Chilled On Ice take the "boring" out of neutral

2013-04-09T00:36:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend, I did some shopping. The MAC counter was a destination during my outing- I've spent far too long trying to suppress my need to own Patina, so if you read the title of this post, you already know that I caved. I have a weird thing for neutral eyeshadow; I really can't mask my obsession. You can wear them every day! Anywhere! So, how do I feel about neutral eyeshadows with a duochrome, you ask? Exhibit A, Patina, and its sidekick, Chilled On Ice Pro-Longwear Paint Pot. The latter was honestly an unintended purpose, but it definitely fits into my theme of duochrome-neutral loveliness.

Behold! I give you pictures:

The small sample in the picture above is of MAC's Cleanse-Off Oil, a product I was intrigued by until I saw the price ($28.00). It's OK, but I think I'll try to hunt down a cheaper alternative. Let's get back to the point of this post- the eyeshadows!

Patina (frost) eyeshadow:

Patina is described by MAC as a "taupe brown with golden pearl." The golden pearl appears to have an almost reddish duochrome quality, as well, though this doesn't translate much to the lid. I can say good things about this formula (Lustres, not so much)- my well-loved Naked Lunch is also a Frost finish and has never given me issues in application. If you're familiar with MAC eyeshadows at all, just know that this is one of the better, "not fussy" shades, so it's quite nice that you don't have to sacrifice formula for a pretty color.

Chilled On Ice Pro Longwear Paint Pot

Chilled On Ice is one of the (somewhat) newly-released Pro Longwear Paint Pots, described as a "frosted white gold." Unfortunately, this doesn't apply as smoothly and pigmented as other Paint Pots you may be familiar with (from what I've seen/read, most shades in the regular line are of better quality). I was immediately sucked in by the- you guessed it!- gold duochrome and peach-tinged base; pretty much everything I want from eyeshadow. It's sparkly and brightening on the eyes, but is difficult to build up to the color you see in the jar. All of that being said, I still think it's a gorgeous shade if you can look past the somewhat patchy formula and appreciate some glitter (I really like to return things and I'm keeping this, for sure!).

Swatches:

L-R: Patina, Chilled On Ice

Before I sign off, I wanted to share a quick look I did using solely Patina. It's applied all over my lid and along the outer corners of my lower lash line in the pictures following:

MAC eyeshadows retail for $15.00, Pro Longwear Paint Pots for $18.50. What's your favorite MAC eye product?

Thanks so much for reading, and have a great night (or day)!

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup- April 5, 2013

2013-04-07T19:54:00.001-05:00

Hope you all had a great weekend! Here's the Weekly Roundup from the BBC (I can't help but think of the British network when I type that!).

Mama Fashionista: Quinn of Mama Fashionista opens up and shares the beginning of a different kind of beauty story...

Fabulous Awesomeness: Mina Slater shows off vibrant nail polish with the Julep Maven April 2013 Turn On The Brights collection. See swatches & reviews of all 5 maven boxes including Rock Candy Nail Glaze!

Emily hudspeth, hair and makeup: Subtle Changes to Freshen Up your Look for Spring. Without Spending Too Much Time or Money.

D.G.S.Beauty: Dinah reviews and swatches Rouge Bunny Rouge Loose Glitter Pigments, Highlighting Liquids, Anti-ageing Moisturiser, and Make-up Melt Cleanser

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen raves about the new Jane Iredale PureGloss Lip glosses, her new favorite glosses for spring!

TheFabZilla: Get Yo Funk on with Eddie Funkhouser New York Makeups! TheFabZilla has the deets for ya!

Painted Ladies: Sheila from Painted Ladies is raising awarness for Autism by sharing her son's journey.

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If ever there was a perfect Kaleidoscope, Le MÃ©tier de BeautÃ© created it with their stunning Bauhaus Lip Kit! It is pure unadulterated magic!

The Advice Sisters: Red lips are like a little black dress, a must-have classic. Mally Roncal's Perfect Red Lip Kit helps you get the look

Beauty Professor: The Beauty Professor discusses some of her favorite beauty products of the spring!

Endless Summer: Elena tried and tested the newest Gatineau Renew 7 Detox serum, which promises to change your skin in just 7 days!

Scottish Beauty Blog: Dubbed the beauty accessory of 2013, Sarah from Scottish Beauty Blog is checking out the inking at the Scottish Tattoo Convention

Lipgloss Break: Angela from Lipgloss Break shares her review of Mane Teeze hair perfume.

Some blog-related spring cleaning

2013-04-07T01:36:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to type this as my eyelids beg to be closed, but I wanted to make a quick note about my impromptu blog redesign. I simplified the header, links, etc., of course (the visuals are the most obvious change). More importantly, I updated my social media/email/RSS feed icons- which you can find at the top of my left sidebar. You can click each one of the links to either send me an email (to my gmail: inhermakeupbag@gmail.com), view my RSS feed, subscribe by email to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Bloglovin'.

The newest addition is that you can now subscribe to my posts via email. I'm not sure why I didn't think to do this sometime in the last three years, but it's finally an option. Yay!

That's all- everything should be working properly (if not, please let me know!).
Thanks everyone.

What's in my shopping bag? Lush, MAC, and Ulta

2013-04-06T18:02:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday! It's been a lovely 70 degrees today in the Windy City, and that's enough of an excuse for me to get out and do some shopping. I (conveniently) live right down the street from some of my favorite stores: Ulta, Sephora, Zara, F21, Urban Outfitters.. and the list continues. It's tempting living so close, and on this nice of a day, what more can you really expect from me? I can't NOT join the masses and go shopping on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time justifying this shopping spree, because let's be honest- this dose of retail therapy served the sole purpose of lifting my mood. My wallet is crying, but at least I now have some new things to blog about. ;) I'll do individual reviews of these products in the coming weeks, but keep reading to see a preview!

First stop: Lush. I went to Macy's to get my Jewelmint watch resized, and obviously had to take a stroll through the cosmetics department. The Lush sales associates are such enablers. I instantly fell in love with Aqua Mirabilis, one of their exfoliating "Body Butters" that can be used in the shower as a body scrub. I actually saw this and asked if it was similar to Buffy (which I purchased last fall, love), and it is- it's just a little less heavy-duty and looks to have a finer exfoliation; also kind of smells like peanut butter.

I also picked up the Love Lettuce face mask. As a Lush mask newbie, I'm definitely eager to try this (it was recommended to me by the SA for normal-combination skin that leaves your face feeling fresh and glow-y).

Next up, the counter I (unintentionally) spent the most money at: MAC. I knew I wanted Patina; it's been on my to-buy list for what feels like forever! I was also interested in their Cleanse-Off Oil until I saw it was $28.00. The makeup artist helping me actually offered to make me a sample of it, so that was nice. Lastly, I ended up falling in love with the looks of the new-ish Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Chilled On Ice. It looks beautiful on my hand, but be warned: the reviews you might have read about these being patchy/kind of sheer are true. More on that in a separate post!

Last but not least, I stopped by Ulta for some much-needed hair products. I lopped off 6-7 inches of my hair on Thursday and had my bangs cut up, so I figured I should probably invest in a few hair styling products. Not pictured is a TRESemme Flawless Curls mousse. I also purchased this Got2b Rockin' It dry shampoo and John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Glosser, in hopes that they will help me achieve a bunch of different styles. The Got2b dry shampoo worked great on my bangs when I tried it earlier!

Stay tuned for reviews once I've given these a thorough trial. Have you used any of the products I showed? Thanks so much for reading!

Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer to save my (non-existent) skin care routine

2013-04-04T21:43:00.003-05:00

My skin care routine has been sort of, well, non-existent in recent months. That's not to say I don't keep up with makeup removal, cleansing, and moisturizing (blasphemy!), but I've found it rather difficult to stick to any kind of routine, for one reason or another.

I should probably mention here that my skin isn't very problematic. I've never had bad acne/scarring, with exception of the occasional pimple/hormonal breakout. This is one of the reasons I think I don't have a "strict" skin care system- as long as the products I use aren't too strong, I can get away with most basic cleansers/moisturizers without my skin overreacting.

All that being said, I've long been curious of the Simple range of skin care products; and, in hopes of revamping my skin care routine, this Protecting Light Moisturizer is of great interest to me. Keep reading for my thoughts!

I've been testing this for a little over a week, and I'm happy to report that I haven't had any issues (yet!). I will mention up front that if you need your moisturizer to tackle a lot of issues (excessive dryness, fine lines/wrinkles, spots, etc.), this probably won't be a pick for you. I like it because it does what it says- lightly moisturizers, is non-greasy, doesn't stink, and an added bonus, melts into my skin without interfering with makeup.

It sort of reminds me of Clinique's Dramatically Different lotion, if you've tried that and know the consistency/formula. This is obviously not yellow and is a little thicker (see my pictures below), but still feels more like a lotion than a cream- and doesn't take long to be absorbed into skin.

ALSO, can we talk about packaging for a second? First of all, it's huge. 4.2 ounces is a lot of facial moisturizer. If you decide this isn't a product for you, hopefully you will either A) return it, or B) use it.. on your legs. I also love that it's in a squeeze bottle; while I've never been a packaging junkie, I still appreciate the convenience!

I'd recommend this if you have normal to combination skin and/or aren't in need of any bells and whistles in your facial moisturizer. It's affordable (about $12.99 at most drugstores/Target/Ulta), lightweight, and easily absorbed. Oh, and it doesn't have an unpleasant fragrance- that's great, too.

Have you tried much from Simple Skincare? If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Thanks so much for reading, and have a great night!

Disclaimer: I was sent the mentioned product for consideration from Glam Media. I have no affiliation with the company whatsoever. All thoughts are 100% true and my own! I would never recommend something I wasn't pleased with.

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup- March 29, 2013

2013-04-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

Fabulous Awesomeness: Mina Slater shares how you can win 2 sets of the NAAT Brazilian Keratin Collection by nuNAAT! It's a GOGO (get 1, give 1) giveaway so you could snag a full set for you and a friend!

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shows us her favorite lipsticks from Rimmel London: Kate Moss Collection.

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog is utterly smitten with the Maybelline Color Whispers, and loves them so much that she went back for two more in pink!

Mama Fashionista: March Julep It Girl Unboxing!

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen is celebrating her 3rd blog anniversary with a giveaway! Enter to win!

Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Destany tests out FEVERshadow from Wishful Bath & Beauty is the stunning Rue's Wildflowers!

TheFabZilla: Giveaway alert: Enter to win Too Faced Better Than False Lashes via TheFabZilla. Ends 4/7/13.

D.G.S.Beauty: LA FRESH is refreshing. You will be wanting these items in your purse today.

Painted Ladies: City Color Beauty's Elegantly Bold is a budget-friendly palette that packs a punch!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Website: PONDS has some user-friendly, really affordable and brand new skincare items that smell like roses.

In Her Makeup Bag: Stephanie shares an easy eye makeup trick to simplifying your beauty routine (or for days you're just feeling lazy)

Beauty by Miss L: This week Miss L showed one of her favorite daily look done using MUA Undressed palette.

Beauty Professor: The Beauty Professor discusses her way of using the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate compact in Intensity 01!

The Lacquered Lady: Try your hand at this easy and fun nail art from The Lacquered Lady.

Pamm Blogs Beauty: The MAC Matters Challenge Continues!!! See how Pammy Blogs Beauty is continuing to build her MAC Core Collection with (less than) $21 a Month!!!

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: Nyx Angel Blush Review and Swatches!

Endless Summer: Elena opens, applies and closes Vault Lip Gloss with one hand!

Portrait of Mai: Mai swatches and reviews some choice eyeshadows, finishing powder, and lip lustres from Fyrinnae's 50s Retro Collection!

Worth it: Neutrogena Night Calming Makeup Remover Towelettes

2013-04-02T14:29:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, I have to thank my mom for this one- had she not left these at my apartment, I would have never bothered to try them! She and my dad came to visit me in Chicago for Easter, and several times she mentioned looking for Neutrogena wipes that worked great at removing waterproof eye makeup. When we finally found them at Target on Saturday night, I was preoccupied with the Essie Penny Talk nail polish I had picked up so I didn't think twice about them.

Makeup remover wipes are makeup remover wipes to me. I don't buy them all the time, but when I do, I usually pick a type from Pond's or the generic Target brand. I've just never found one that blew me away enough to justify spending more than $5 (so call me cheap, I kind of am). My first thought about these Neutrogena wipes was that they were probably ridiculously priced, and I would never purchase them on my own.

But... you know I had to try one out. Did the Neutrogena Night Calming Makeup Remover Towelettes change my outlook on makeup remover wipes?

Um... YES. Yes they did. I'm going to quickly hit the main points (things I look for in a good makeup wipe) so I refrain from blabbering.

They actually remove makeup: Shocking, I know, a makeup remover towelette that actually does what it should. What usually happens is a product will claim to work on eye makeup, but only lightly remove face makeup. I don't want to take two steps to remove my makeup, and with these, I don't have to. They remove face AND eye makeup without scrubbing.
They don't suck the moisture out of my face: To compare, I kind of like my Pond's Luminous Clean makeup wipes- their major downfall is that they leave my skin pretty dry. I don't feel compelled to immediately grab a tub of body butter and smear it all over my face after I've used these Neutrogena wipes, so that's nice! They actually leave a light, moisturizing film over your skin, even though they aren't particularly wet.

You'll see in the picture below they're a nice size, too, so you have room to clean your entire face with one wipe.

Love these, and I think I may have to start investing in them on a regular basis. They're $7.99 at ULTA and will be similarly priced at stores that carry Neutrogena, so I know, not exactly cheap. I'll be looking for coupons and sales, because for me, these are new favorites.

What do you guys think? Have you tried these- like, dislike? If you have another favorite makeup wipe that is great on eye makeup, let us know! Thanks so much for reading.

NARS Jolie Poupee: Review, swatches, and a love story

2013-03-29T10:36:00.000-05:00

Oh, NARS Jolie Poupee duo eyeshadow, how near and dear you are to my heart. If you're a makeup junkie like myself, you'll read that sentence and know exactly how I feel; if not, I'm sorry- this is a beauty blog and I can't apologize for random proclamations of my love for makeup. Writing a blog post of this sort really sums up why having a beauty blog is so great: I get to share with you all products that I genuinely love and have enjoyed for quite some time. No one likes writing nasty reviews, but it's rare that I find myself talking about a product that has been with me as long as Jolie Poupee.

Keep reading if you love NARS, or just have a sweet spot for purple eyeshadows.

One of the reasons this NARS duo eyeshadow ranks high on my list is because it was ultimately given to me by my sister. You see, when I was in high school and lived with her, this still part of her makeup collection and it was all I could do to stop myself from using it. Every so often, though, I couldn't resist and found myself obsessing over the shimmery purple shade (right side). Before this, I really hadn't experimented with purples and had no idea they complimented green eyes so well! Shocking! Alas, I found myself so in love with this little duo and, in the years following, wanted so badly to own a Jolie Poupee of my own.

You can understand my excitement when, last year, my sister gave this to me as an add-in to my birthday present. I guess she figured out my love for it (pretty sure I told her at some point), and knew I would put it to better use (she was right). Although! I am sad to say that this year I've really shied away from any type of color on my eyes, so I haven't used this as much as I'd like to. There's still time for that. :)

Swatch:

As Jolie Poupee was really the first purple pairing of purple eyeshadows I fell in love with, I wanted to see if anything in my current collection could be a possible dupe. Side note- does anyone else experience this with "old-time" favorites- you treasure a certain product or shade so much, to the point that you forget you have plenty of other shades that are either very similar or exactly the same? I do this often with products I began using when I was a teenager and now maintain that love affair (hello, MAC Naked Lunch).

I digress. I really don't have anything in my own collection that is an exact "dupe" of Jolie Poupee, but you'll see below a comparison of sorts.

The "dupe-finding process"

Nothing I own comes close to the matte periwinkle shade (left side), but I did find two eyeshadows that were similar to the shimmery purple (right side). Its an interesting purple, surprisingly- not too blue, not too red, and that blue sheen sets it apart from others in my collection. Maybelline's Amethyst single eyeshadow immediately came to my mind, although its a tad more red. I also found Meow Cosmetic's Jessica R (ScandalEyes eyeshadow) to be in the same family, but you'll see below that neither of the shades are an exact match:

From left to right: Maybelline Amethyst, NARS Jolie Poupee, Meow Jessica R

NARS isn't cheap- the duos run for $34.00 at NARS and Sephora- but if you love purples, I'd say check this out next time you're at a counter. Worth a splurge (or at least a second look).

What makeup product brings back memories for you?

Thanks for reading,

Put some spring in your step... and on your nails!

2013-03-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

I talk enough about nail polish here on the blog, so it was about time that I switch into spring mode and make my nails reflect the new season. Spring is probably one of my favorite months- the fashion is KIND of weird to me (not quite hot but still nice enough to shed layers), but I love the weather and how pretty things begin to be. I also love the colors, which are easy enough to replicate on your nails. In this post I'll show my favorite springtime nail colors, calling out specific polishes from my own collection that I prefer to wear this time of year.

Keep reading to find out what will be on my nails this season!

Lilac/Light purples-

My roommate is currently wearing this 10 Professional Nail Lacquer polish in Spring Awakening on her nails, and seeing it again reminded me how great of a shade it is! You can find 10 Professional Nail Lacquer at CVS stores for only a few dollars, but don't limit yourself to this brand- any shade of lilac or light purple is great for spring. It's not too bright, and if you're not crazy about all the vibrant shades of clothing we're seeing lately, you can safely rock color on your nails without being over-the-top. I've posted a nail of the day featuring the 10 Professional polish here!

Turquoise-

This is another shade that, like lilac, is an easier-to-wear color that is a great transition into warmer weather. Shown here is Essie Turquoise & Caicos, a fabulous light turquoise that reminds me of a tropical destination. I almost grabbed Sinful Colors Mint Apple, but decided it was better suited for summer- it's just a hint deeper and has shimmer. During the spring months, I think the best shades of turquoise are lighter, subdued, and not too bright (those I reserve for summer!). See swatches of the Essie polish here

Glitter-

Everyone should own at least one or two bottles of fun glitter top coats- they can be paired with a variety of shades and are great to spice up an otherwise boring manicure. The one I chose for this post is Wet n Wild (Fergie) Flossy Flossy, which has pieces of gold, pink, and color-shifting glitter in different sizes, floating in a clear base. You can see this paired with Covergirl Non-Stop Stone here.

Nude ("Mannequin Hands")-

Nude is a classic for nails, but it's especially in style right now for spring. It's also perfect for just about everywhere- the office, daytime activities, and going out (just add a metallic accent nail!). Shown is OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons, which I've shown in a previous NOTD here.

Taupe-

I had an internal battle trying to decide between this Covergirl Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Non-Stop Stone and my roommate's bottle of OPI You Don't Know Jacques!- both FABULOUS taupes, both quite different from each other. Non-Stop Stone (shown) is definitely much more of your typical taupe, not too brown or gray; You Don't Know Jacques! is very brown. Again- like nude nails- taupe is appropriate year-round, but I really love it to tone down all the bright and pastel shades we see so often in fashion this season.

Navy blue-

So a few weeks ago I purchased two lightweight sweaters for spring- one navy blue (borderline black) with white polka dots, and one short-sleeved navy blue and white horizontal stripes. Sensing a nautical trend here? Though it's a dark shade, I think navy is actually better suited for the spring than the fall/winter. It will also give you a slice of that nautical/preppy trend that has been pretty popular for awhile now. See swatches of this particular polish on my nail here.

Swatches:

From left to right: Spring Awakening, Turquoise & Caicos, Flossy Flossy, Don't Pretzel My Buttons, Non-Stop Stone, Noble Navy

What are your nail polish picks for spring? Thanks so much for reading!

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup- March 22, 2013

2013-03-26T21:28:00.001-05:00

Hope you are all having a lovely start to your week! I'm on Spring Break as we speak, trying to find a healthy balance between giving myself a chance to breathe and not procrastinating homework/cleaning/work/etc. My parents will be here over the weekend, so I have a lot on my plate at the moment! Here's the BBC Weekly Roundup to catch up on some of our favorite bloggers:

Money Making Makeup Artist: Q&A of a successful makeup artist and what keeps him inspired and working in the business.

Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Destany tries on the plums and berries lipsticks from the new Milani COLORstatement line.

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: After having been frustrated by her makeup brush storage, Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog finally found a viable solution that works! Take a peek!

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen is giving away the new Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush! Enter to win!

Midnight Manicures: After this harsh Winter season, get your hand and nails in perfect condition. Find out Jeanie's 6 Favorite Julep Hand and Nail Care Products.

datyorkLOVES: Undecided on colors for your mani? Check out datyorkLOVES red and white manicure, its simple and a classic!

Beauty Professor: Always seeking to keep it simple, The Beauty Professor shares her current skincare routine!

TheFabZilla: After posting rave-views on Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation and Ambient Lighting Powder, will this Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick be a hit to TheFabZilla?

Painted Ladies: Sheila from Painted Ladies has 5 ways to freshen up your beauty routine for Spring

Beauty Info Zone: If you want a cosmetic subscription box that will know your socks off then try the March Wantable box.

My Highest Self: The St. Ives Revitalizing Pear & Soy Body Wash leaves Tina craving a pear martini!

Beauty by Miss L: Miss L reviewed one of her favorite hair care products by LÂ´ Oreal.

Lipgloss Break: Lipgloss Break makes waves with Sally Hansen Magnetic nail polish. Check out her review.

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shows us the hair products she has been using: Rock Your Hair!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Website: What you can't see CAN hurt you. CeraVe has a bunch of new physical & chemical sun screens that make protection, a pleasure

Pammy Blogs Beauty: Pammy Blog Beauty checks out Beauty Addicts' new PLAY Collection. See what she thinks!

Mimi's Mani's and Other Beauty: It Cosmetics Will Have Others Saying Hello Beautiful to you!

Blushing Noir: Blushing Noir shows you the jewelry in her March RocksBox! Help her decide what to keep!

Visions of Turks & Caicos on my nails with Essie

2013-03-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

The temperature hasn't reached higher than about 35 degrees lately here in the Midwest, so spring hasn't seen a very warm welcome from me (ha ha, get it? So sorry). Actually, I believe it was about 20 degrees on the first official day of spring last week! I'm SO over winter and cold weather, and ready to bust out my colored pants, sandals, and flats.

That all being said, it's been a little difficult for me to transition my beauty routine into the current spring trends we've been seeing. I've been quite overdue to change the polish on my toes, so I figured today was as good of a time as any! I first grabbed Essie Turquoise & Caicos and then realized Spoiled Shrimp On The Barbie was practically screaming at me to be used- so, on my tips and toes they went. If you're like me and in need of a warm-weather boost, these are some great shades to help the seasonal transition!

Keep reading for a brief look at both shades, and then a nail of the day courtesy of Essie.

My toes are a little shy towards the camera (LOL, sorry, had to put that in here), so I'm not posting any pictures of myself wearing Shrimp On The Barbie. I did an entire post on it here, though, so be sure to check that out for swatches!

Turquoise & Caicos is currently on my nails and seriously makes me think I'm in some tropical location, dipping my toes into clear blue water....

Yes? Anyway, this is a lovely shade of turquoise with a cream finish, not too bright or subdued. The color is fabulous- the formula, not so much. It definitely requires three coats to get the even color you'll see in my pictures below. Personally, I'm a huge fan of OPI polishes because they're insanely pigmented and smooth upon first application. If Turquoise & Caicos applied that flawlessly, we'd be in business. I still can't deny my love for this shade and its beauty once you get it right. It's perfect for getting me into spring/summer mode quickly!

Pictures show three coats, no topcoat.

I'd love to know what's on your nails, and if you have any recommendations for a similar shade of polish with a better formula, do let me know! Thanks so much for reading.

Makeup for the lazy girl: Complete eye looks with one eyeshadow

2013-03-24T13:58:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things is learning tricks to speed up my makeup routine. It's my favorite part of getting ready, don't get me wrong, but it's also AWESOME to sleep in an extra ten minutes with the knowledge that I won't have to skimp on my makeup.

I've always found that the most time-consuming part of doing makeup is eyes- I can slap on some foundation, blush, and mascara and be ready to go, but it's eyeshadow and eyeliner that take some care (if you want it to look put together, that is!). The easiest way to get around this- without totally skipping on eyeshadow- is to find one shade that you can work all over the lid and crease area. This tends to give enough depth and dimension to your eyes that you don't have to mess with the "inner highlight, lid, and crease" method of application that typically takes more time.

That being said, keep reading to see my favorite eyeshadows that will give you this "one and done" eye look! I tried to include a variety of shades for different tastes/eye colors.

theBalm Schitzo (from the Nude'tude palette): A beautiful, medium bronze shade with warm undertones. I LOVE this, as the warmth is quite flattering without being too much. This definitely gets wear on my "neutral" days when I want deeper color, and is a great shade for blue, green, and hazel eyes.
**Tip: look for gold shimmer (or, with indie/mineral eyeshadows, a different color iridescence) to give you that extra dimension and the illusion of wearing multiple shades.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Masquerade: A purple-tinged taupe with gold shift. Such a beautiful, complex shade that my swatches really can't capture. I actually forgot about this sample as it was overwhelmed by the masses of my eyeshadow collection, but I'm so glad I recently discovered it. This is a great one for a variety of eye colors, as the different undertones (purple, gold, brown) will be more prominent depending on your eyes.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Cydonia:

If you like olive shades that aren't too "GREEN!", definitely look into this guy. Like all my Darling Girl shadows, Cydonia has a great formula and can be worn wet (foiled) or dry. It really flatters my green eyes and I'm sure would look equally as pretty on hazel or brown eyes, too.

Clinique Copper Penny: I always think this is a brassy, pinkish-mauve, but you'll see in the swatches below that it really does come off very copper (no way, with a name like Copper Penny?). This is a fabulous eyeshadow all around- the color is deep enough to give eyes definition, and it's pigmented, smooth, and beautiful to work with. This would look great on blue or brown eyes!

MAC Retrospeck: As you can see, this is a LOVE for me. Retrospeck is a wonderfully muted shade of gold with intense shimmer and sparkle. In the past, I've found most golds to be far too warm on my complexion, but this is one that's incredibly flattering and truly eye-brightening. And I'm convinced it would be great on all eye colors and most skin tones!

Too Faced Satin Sheets: How many times can I talk about Satin Sheets? If you've followed my blog for awhile, you'll already know my love affair for this peachy-pink shade, that has the most gorgeous golden metallic shimmer throughout. I wear this when I need to look bright and awake in an instant. It's pretty universally flattering, as I think most of these champagne or peach/pink shades are.

Swatches:

In the order of reviews, from left to right: Schitzo, Masquerade, Cydonia, Copper Penny, Satin Sheets, Retrospeck

I'll use any one of these as my allover lid/crease shade for a super easy, "lazy girl's" approach to eye makeup. It'll depend on the type of look you prefer on a given day- obviously, I reserve the lighter, brighter shades for the times I want to make my eyes appear bigger, and the deeper shades for when I want a smokier look. I find them all equally gorgeous and flattering.

What are some of your go-to shades for a quick, "one and done" type of eye? Let me know in the comments- I'd love to hear your favorites!

Feels like spring: Rose gold watch a la Jewelmint

2013-03-20T14:32:00.002-05:00

What cost me all of $10 (and some change) and embodies the highly anticipated Spring season? This gorgeous, rose gold watch from Jewelmint, that's what. :)

I'm going to jump right to the point of this post and share with you the lovely Jewelmint Regal Rose Watch, pictured below:

I feel like I've turned over a new leaf since receiving my first order from Jewelmint. I had serious reservations about the site and its offerings- moderately attractive and ~~some strange~~ unique jewelry at rather expensive prices, if I'm being honest. I can imagine that if you're used to paying lots and lots of money for high-end jewelry, roughly $30 for a necklace/earring/bracelet isn't too bad. Factor in that you can only shop online, though, and I'm not really interested. However, for whatever reason I've remained on the email newsletter list and keep note of their frequent promos/coupon codes.

Well! When, last week, I received an email from Jewelmint saying first-timers could get their first piece for $8.99, I knew exactly what I needed to do. The Regal Rose Watch was instantly placed in my cart and purchased (where else can you find a watch like this for that great of a deal?). My total came out to around $10.75 after tax! I'm thrilled, as this is the style of watch I've been on the hunt for for well over a year.

It's gorgeous, and as soon as I get my friend to take out the extra links for me (it's huge!), this will find a lovely spot on my wrist.

Try using the code PIECE8 to get your first piece of jewelry for $8.99, and let me know if it works. Thanks for reading!

Make a bold statement with new Milani Color Statement lipsticks!

2013-03-19T08:06:00.004-05:00

As Spring is peeking just around the corner, I'm beginning to gravitate more towards fuchsias, lighter berries, and roses for lip colors. I like to think you can wear whatever shades you want no matter the season, but I do typically favor seasonal-appropriate trends when the times change. That being said, this new Milani Color Statement lipstick I have in the color Black Cherry is a little bold for me right now. My goal is to still get as much wear as possible out of it, regardless- it's really a lovely lipstick and I'm dying to try more shades.

Keep reading for more pictures and swatches!

Milani Color Statement lipstick in Black Cherry

One thing I love about these vampy shades of berry is the stain they typically leave behind. Even after the glossiness wears away, your lips will remain kissed with a soft tint for hours after. Black Cherry is pigmented, smooth, and non-drying. It applies slightly patchy, but it's nothing too noticeable and can be fixed by making sure you've adequately prepped lips prior. I get decent wear out of this- my favorite part is, like aforementioned, the rose-tinged stain it leaves after a few hours (and it stains evenly, even better). Since I prefer the glossiness of the shade, though, this is a lipstick I'll keep in my purse for touch-ups later on in the day.

Swatches:

I found my tube for about $6 at Walgreens, but you should be able to find these just about everywhere Milani is sold.

Have you tried any of these yet- thoughts? What's your favorite shade of lipstick to transition into Spring? Also, apologies for my absence this week; life has caught up with me and I needed a chance to catch my breath!

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup- March 8, 2013

2013-03-15T08:15:00.003-05:00

Mama Fashionista: See what's new from Biore and Quinn shares the products that have made it into her daily routine!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: By Terry Baume de Rose Luxury Lip Balm enjoys an undisputed cult status, but does Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog think it lives up to all of the hype?

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen shares a new fabulous drugstore discovery - Prestige Cosmetics Total Intensity Eyeshadows!

Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist : Great way to save Money and TIME stocking your makeup kit. Save 20-40% by using pro makeup artist discounts

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shares her reviews on Mario Badescu products for Combination/Oily/Acne-Prone skin!

Beauty by Miss L: Miss L showed her favorite beauty products of February 2013.

TheFabZilla: Have you met Matt(e) Nude? I did and I'm ready to Kiss and Tell!

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 Review & Swatches!

D.G.S.Beauty: Check out the gorgeous MAC Candy Yum Yum lippie!

Polarbelle: Polarbelle has found the perfect universally appealing smokey eye quad in the Burberry Smokey Grey Complete Eye Palette

Painted Ladies: Sheila from Painted Ladies indulges in luxury with Guerlain's Atrrape-Couer (501) purple eyeshadow palette.

Curls N Pearls: What's better than when a self-admitted makeup junkie finds their ultimate favorite? Learn which foundation Curls N Pearls is obsessing over.

Beauty Professor: On a hunt to find a shade that matches her winter skin tone, The Beauty Professor swatches all the Revlon Colorstay and Colorstay Whipped foundations in the NC23-NC30 range!

Project Swatch: NARS just released a new product, the Satin Lip Pencil, and Emi has a review of one of the shades.

My Highest Self: Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm - Haute Pink Twist

Pammy Blogs Beauty: How I Avoid Self-Tanning Mishaps; Jergen's Natural Glow Review and $250 Giftcard Giveaway!!!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Website: The Advice Sisters know that redheads are all the rage, but this particular hair color is really prone to fading.

Beauty Info Zone: Amazing colors, fabulous wear, a site to behold - Le Metier de Beaute nail polish on Beauty Info Zone

Mimi's Mani's: Spring Is In The Air With Butter London Trout Pout

Portrait of Mai: If you're a fan of both Blade Runner and lipstick, check out swatches of OCC's Sci-Fi Lullabies Lip Tar Collection with its myriad of metallic lip tars

Scottish Beauty Blog: Want glowing skin? Facialist Fiona Brackenbury, the lady behind Oscar winner Adele's flawless face, gives her top tips and skin care advice to Scottish Beauty Blog

Blushing Noir: Zoya shares the magic of Pixie's with their latest collection! See full collection swatches & macro shots here!

Switching from Disqus to IntenseDebate/CommentLuv

2013-03-10T13:41:00.001-05:00

A quick note in regards to some blog housekeeping information: I'm trying out IntenseDebate/CommentLuv for comments and trashing Disqus. I personally didn't mind Disqus; the only thing that really bothered me about it was not being able to go directly to a commenter's blog by clicking on their username. I know Disqus has a love/hate relationship on the commenter's side of things, so I've spent this morning looking up some alternatives.
I tried installing Livefyre but had some difficulties. After remembering CommentLuv and how much I've enjoyed using that on other blogs (I love that it links to your most recent post), I decided to give it a whirl. It looks to be running smoothly at this point, but if you notice any kinks, please shoot me an email- inhermakeupbag@gmail.com.

I'm all for changes that make viewing the blog/commenting easier and more efficient for you guys, so I'll try things until we find something that works. Let me know if you're liking CommentLuv. Thanks so much!