Never Eat Your Weight in Sushi

I have moved!

2014-02-01T11:32:00.002-08:00

If you have been following my blog and would like to continue with this exciting adventure, please go to my new site at http://neywis.blog.com/. I will be deleting this blog soon and I don't want anyone to be caught off guard!

How to: Use pigments to make your own eyeliner!

2014-01-03T21:07:00.001-08:00

A friend of mine saw a picture of some graphic double winged eyeliner. The wing close to the lash line was a typical black line, and the line above it was a neon pink. She said the site she was on was out of the color, so I suggested that she make her own out of pigment.

Now, there are TONS of things you can do with pigments like foil it on your lid, add it to a nail polish, highlight, and several others. Today, I am going to show you how to make an eyeliner out of ANY pigment.

Above are my three pigments that used. I chose three different brands so that you had a variety :)

From left to right: Jesse's Girl "Flambe", ELF "Beachy", The Balm "You Buy, I'll Fly"

Above you will see that I have put a small amount in the caps of each pigment.

Then I add one drop if this Makeup Lock and Seal by ELF, but you can use water, or saline (aka eye drops)

I then mix the liquid and pigment together to make a sort of paste, not too thick, but not too thin. Then I use an eyeliner brush to apply. This is a really cheap art brush that I got in a paint brush set at Wal-Mart, but it works for eyeliner and small detail work.

I apologize for the next pic because I have had my makeup on for over 12 hrs now, and things and slipping and sliding around. I applied the "You Fly, I'll Buy" on the left and "Flambe" on the right

Like I said, you can do SO much with pigments, but I really enjoy them as liners because it adds a fun element to boring makeup.

I used to use "Beachy" as a liner all the time, and always got compliments when I wore it this way. So, don't be afraid to be bold and wear something out of your comfort zone! You are beautiful and should wear what you want!

Review: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

2014-01-02T17:57:00.001-08:00

Real Techniques Sponge retails for $5.99

I saw one review on YouTube for this product and my interest was peaked. The main reason is because everyone raves about the Beauty Blender which is a soft sponge that helps give a flawless and airbrushed finish to your foundation. I have wanted to get the Beauty Blender for a while now, because everyone seems to love it, but it retails for about $30 and I just cannot justify spending that much money on a sponge.

I had a coupon at Ulta and saw this there, and had to purchase it to see if it was at all comparable to the Beauty Blender. Now, I have never used the Beauty Blender, but I have tried other sponges that claim to be the same, but completely missed the mark. Most of the time, those other sponges are too dense and feel like you are punching your face with a hardboiled egg, so needless to say I was apprehensive about trying this product.

Above are some pictures of the sponge. The picture on the left are of the sponge straight out of the box. The picture on the right is a picture of the sponge after it has had time to soak up some water. I have also placed a bobby pin next to the sponge so that you can see the difference in size, I know it is a little difficult to see how much bigger it gets, but I tried my best.

Steps to using the sponge:

Step 1: Wet the sponge under the faucet and keep squeezing so that it can reach its maximum fullness.

Step 2: Squeeze as much water out of the sponge as possible.

Step 3: I dotted my foundation all over my face and used the flat angled portion of the sponge to pat and blend the foundation in. I used the bottom point to blend in around my eyes.

Step 4: I put soap on the sponge, ran it under water in order to clean it. I then put it on a towel to dry.

Final Verdict/Outcome:

What I liked about this product was how my face felt after using it. I felt like it applied just enough foundation to my skin so that it didn't feel cakey at all. It felt vey light and natural, even though I used a full coverage foundation. Since it is a sponge filled with water, you actually save product because you don't lose any in a brush and the sponge only absorbs a small amount.

I only have one complaint about this product and that was the staying power of my concealer. I used the sponge to blend my concealer in and was very pleased at how well it did that with a very thick concealer, however it applied it so thin and natural that it only lasted about 4 hours, which is still great, but if I would have used my fingers it could have gotten a couple more hours.

Overall, I LOVE how this applies and works, and I might even give up brushes all together. We shall see.

Have you tried this or the Beauty Blender? What are your thoughts?

Winter Cleaning

2013-12-27T22:21:00.002-08:00

This Holiday season has been one of the most trying for me. The holidays are always a hectic time, full of stress and running around. However, this year, my family endured some hardships that were completely unforeseen.

My boyfriend lost his job, leaving me to pay most of the bills, but since I work for a school district, I have two weeks off, unpaid. We decided that the only thing we could do in order to pay the bills was to return our gifts for one another. So, last Thursday, I came home and we unwrapped our gifts to each other and that following Monday, we went to all the stores we bought gifts from and returned everything.

My boyfriend was irate over the fact that I wouldn't be getting the Samsung Tablet he had picked out for me. He said that he felt like a failure and he told me that I deserve so much more than the situation had granted us. I told him that they are just things and that what matters to me during the holidays is being with the people that we care about and spending time with them, eating and making memories.

I know that this post is random and has little to do with makeup, but I started thinking about everything earlier when I was cleaning my room. See I am a goo-hoarder. I have way too much makeup for my own good. I will NEVER use all of what I have and yet I continue to buy more unnecessarily. I want the new and hottest makeup because I truly enjoy trying new things and seeing how they work. That is precisely the reason I started this blog. Makeup is fun, but I started to realize that I spend a lot of money on things that aren't important.

I think for 2014 I want to start making the most of the time that I have with those that matter most to me. Instead of being the introvert that I normally am and focusing on myself, I want to start spending time with the people that truly love and understand me.

Things can make you happy, but that happiness never lasts, we just move on to what is shiny and new. People caring and supporting one another because they thoroughly enjoy being in that person's presence and understand how important and special that person is makes it all worth it. All the stress and anxiety, anger and sadness we suffer through as humans is worth it when you have people you can turn to in those times, and people you can have fun with after the hard times have passed.

Life is full of give and take, but make the best of both with the people that matter most.

Covergirl "Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation"

2013-11-20T18:30:00.001-08:00

I have been eyeing this product for a while now. It has been out since the summer, and I have seen several reviews already. ALL of the reviews have been extremely positive. It retails around $8-10 depending on where you go. I got mine at Target because they had it on sale for $7. I have combination skin and it is difficult to keep foundation on all day without it sliding off on my forehead and nose area but I have been trying it out for about a week now, and I am pretty impressed with this product.

Above is a picture of what the foundation looked like on first thing in the morning, which is about 7:30 am. I used Physician's Formula "Youth Boosting Powder in Translucent" to set everything. It has a shimmer to it, which is why my skin doesn't look matte (I like some dimension to my face)

Above is the picture I took around 6:00 pm that same day. I think that I look a little bit more oily which is normal for me, but I never had to retouch during the day. Normally the oil is so out of control I have to blot a few times in the work day. The thing I was most impressed by was how well my blushed stayed on over the foundation. Normally I would give credit to the blush, but I wasn't wearing anything that had particularly good staying power, and I had worn it before and at the end of the day, my highlight looked more like oil and the color was faded.

My main complaint about this foundation is that I think I got a color that was a shade too light, but that is more my fault than the product.

The pros are the coverage, the fact that it has a pump, and the consistency. It is so easy to apply. Most fuller coverage foundations dry very quickly which causes you to pay more attention and take time while doing make up in the morning (ain't nobody got time for that lol). This is simple, dot on the face, blend in with a brush, done. You could even use your fingers if you wanted.

Final verdict: If you have oily skin and you struggle with finding a matte foundation at the drugstore that lives up to its claims, look no further. If you have dry skin, I would probably steer clear, and try something like Loreal Lumi.

Lorac Pro Set at ULTA!!!!!!

2013-11-05T23:02:00.001-08:00

Yes, I broke down and bought this... but only because it was a great deal.... and my curiosity got the best of me.

If you don't know, this is the LORAC Pro Palette. It has 16 shadows with the top row all being completely matte, and bottom is shimmers.

The palette alone normally retails for $42, but I was at ULTA last weekend, and I saw this. You get the palette, a primer, and a full sized eyeliner, all for $39, so I had to grab it. It is an exclusive set from ULTA and is available in a limited quantity.

I decided to do a rusted coppery look today at work, and I LOVE THIS PALETTE and its shadows. They are so creamy and so buttery. I want to play with it a little more before I do an in-depth review, but I am so happy I purchased this. I think I have swatched/ used all of the shadows except for the gray color, "Slate". I have tried the primer, and it works wonderfully for keeping eye shadows on ALL day.

The eyeliner in this set is AMAZING. It is a similar applicator to my Physician's Formula Eye Booster, but it is so much blacker and smoother, not to mention a bit more precise.

I can't wait to play with this set a little more and possibly post a look using it.

Let me know if you are interested in a full review of this set including swatches of everything.

*This is just a reminder: I purchase everything you see her with my own money. I am not sponsored by any third party, and all thoughts or opinions about a product are my own.

Current Favorite: Mascara

2013-11-05T22:43:00.002-08:00

I already have an extensive review of one of these products, but I have been pairing it with another mascara lately, and absolutely loving the combo.

In the picture above, we have Physician's Formula "Fake-Out" Mascara on the left, and on the right is NYX's "Pin-Up Tease" Mascara.

"Fake Out" is a perfect dry-ish formula which doesn't clump lashes together. I apply this mascara first and top it with the "Pin-Up Tease" mascara which is a little more wet, but it helps curl the lashes as well as give a little more volume.

The picture above illustrates the layering method I described earlier. I don't even have to curl my lashes to get this kind of lift! It separates, lifts and gives volume wonderfully. The "Pin-up Tease" works well on its own, but I really like the combo of the two.

I purchased the NYX mascara from Target because they are finally carrying the brand... yay! I think it was around $7 which is an average to low price for drugstore mascara.

I definitely recommend that you try it out if you have issues with droopy lashes, or mascara running or smudging throughout the day. I have neither of these issues, but I realized that even though the NYX mascara is not waterproof, it is very long lasting which helps when it comes to keeping curl.

Let me know your thoughts if you decide to try this product!

Review: Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer

2013-09-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

This is a new eye shadow primer from Rimmel. I currently use NYX's HD Primer, but I was running low, and had a coupon, so I decided to try out Rimmel's primer. The claims of this primer are as follows:

1) Allows shadow to wear up to 7 hours

2) Instantly smoothes and preps lids

3) Makes your color smudge-proof

I decided to compare the Rimmel and NYX primers. On my right eye (your left), I have Rimmel and on my left eye (your right) I have NYX.

The picture below was taken at 7:00 am.

The picture above was taken the same day, at 5:00 pm.

So which one do I prefer?

The price of the primers are about the same around $6-$7 depending on where you go.

I think that both primers did a good job helping the shadows pop more, as well as helped keep them on the eye. I typically use a primer and a base when applying shadows, but I wanted to just use the primer, and I think that both performed well. I was wearing a $2 trio from e.l.f. and the shadows themselves are not the greatest quality, but I think both primers help them look great.

As far as which I can recommend it depends on your preference. The NYX goes on more wet and helps the eye shadow stick a bit better. Whereas the Rimmel primer is a silicone based primer and therefore has a very smooth texture. It is also white, where as the NYX is more of a cream color.

Final Verdict:

In person, I thought that the NYX side looked smoother and the shadow applied more evenly, but in pictures, both sides look the same. Both did well as far as lasting for a long time. I was very impressed by the Rimmel, but I think that I like the texture of the NYX primer.

If you have tried either of these out, let me know your thoughts!

Sorry

2013-09-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

I know I have been away for a while. I have been caught up with school and a new job, but I will hopefully be posting two reviews on some new products I have been trying out.

Someone also suggested that I do a review on some BB Creams, which I will also do a quick post for.

See you soon!

WnW "Nude Awakening" Tutorial

2013-07-27T15:29:00.006-07:00

I recently posted a review of the LE Spring eye shadow palettes from Wet n' Wild. Along with the review, I posted looks for each palette and someone requested that I do a walk through of the look from the "Nude Awakening" palette.

The picture tutorial is from completely bare eye, to complete with mascara and eyeliner.

It is always important to apply a primer to the lid. I use NYX HD primer and then I applied a base using Urban Decay shadow pencil in Sin, but a cheaper alternative would be a Milani Shadow Eyez pencil in "Champagne Toast", or for a matte option, "Almond Cream".

On the left you will see what primer and base looks like on the lid.

I put this warm brown in to the crease as a transition color.

I mixed the colors above and applied them in the crease and blended it out.

I then reapplied the warm brown in the crease to further blend everything together.

I also reapplied the lid color in order to make sure it was nice a metallic.

I applied the matte cream on the brow bone and a cream colored eyeliner to the waterline in order to make the eyes look brighter.

I took the brow bone and eyelid shadows on the right and applied it on the lash line with an angled brush.

I then applied a black liquid eyeliner and winged it out.

After applying the liner to both eyes, the last step was applying mascara.

And the final look (excuse the wet hair, I had just stepped out of the shower).

Review: Wet n' Wild LE "Spring Foward" Collection

2013-07-20T00:38:00.002-07:00

"Nude Awakening" (L) "Going in the Wild" (R)

"Going in the Wild"

"Nude Awakening"

These two palettes came out around April/May. I had looked everywhere for them, but never had any luck. At the beginning of July, I decided to search my local Rite Aid for some deal that they had going on. While I was there I almost jumped for joy when I saw that they had both of these palettes! Apparently, they have re-released these. I am not sure how long they will be available in stores, but I would definitely recommend checking them out.

"Nude Awakening" on lids

"Nude Awakening" with flash

"Nude Awakening" without flash

"Nude Awakening" is probably my favorite of the two palettes. The colors are more wearable, not to mention the pigmentation is better than "Going in the Wild". Most of the shades are shimmery but all of them look gorgeous on the lid. I got several compliments on the look above.

"Going in the Wild" without flash

Again, most of these are shimmery, but they are not as pigmented as the other palette. The colors look beautiful in the pan, and even swatched, but when applied, you have to really pack on the color. I think that the colors are fun, but had I known about pigmentation, I think I would have passed.

"Going in the Wild" with flash

"Going in the Wild" on the lids

Both of these palettes have some hits and misses, but "Nude Awakening" has way more hits than misses, the same cannot be said for "Going in the Wild" unfortunately.

Be sure to check your local Rite Aid for these LE shadows and buy the one you feel suits you the best.

I LOVE WnW LE anything, so I knew I had to have these, are you the same way?

Empties Video: Part 1/2

2013-06-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

I recently finished up some products and decided to make a couple videos talking about the products that I had used and whether or not I would repurchase them again.

I think this is a really good way to get a lot of information out at one time and it can be really helpful if you were thinking about trying some new stuff. The first video I am linking is part one of the series, and focuses on body and hair products, and the second focuses on makeup products.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skIs8qg0GRk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khzxPQ1KcTI

Rant/ Vlog on Physician's Formula

2013-06-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! So I know I have not posted anything in a while, but I just moved, and started a new school term so I have been a bit busy. This post is going to be the first of hopefully many where I have a video attached.

I was inspired the other day to make a video on my opinion of other people's opinions on PF and how you can get some great deals at the drugstore. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckApXymSnAA&feature=youtu.be

Physicians Formula "Circle RX" vs "Conceal RX"

2013-06-04T22:19:00.002-07:00

I recently decided that I would try a concealing product from Physicians Formula (PF). I bought the "Circle RX" a few weeks back when there was a deal at CVS. This week, they had another deal where if you spend $10, you get $7 Bucks back, so I decided I would get the "Conceal RX" so that I can review both, and see what the differences are.

Below: Conceal RX on my right eye, nothing on the left

As you can see, even though this isn't the lightest shade, it shows up very light on my already fair skin.

On the right eye, Conceal RX, on the left eye, Circle RX.

Overall, the look of both of these concealers, are very similar, and they are both in the same shade. The Conceal RX has a more matte finish, and is a lot thicker.

The Circle RX is more moisturizing, but does not last as long as the Conceal RX.

With both formulas, a little goes a long way which is nice.

They are both around $10 at the drugstore.

I would have to say that both of these products are comparable, but I will have to work more with the Conceal RX to make a final verdict, but I think that the matte formula will suite me better given my oily skin, but the Circle RX is good for the summer.

If you have any other questions about this product, please ask!

Till next time!

Purchase of the Month!

2013-05-27T00:44:00.001-07:00

Lately I have been shopping A LOT, but not for makeup. Since I am moving soon, all my money has gone to purchases for the new place. However, I had been holding on to some coupons for CVS and waiting for a sale, or good deal.

One of my coupons expires tomorrow, so I decided to go into CVS, even though there was a super great sale (there is their HUGE clearance sale going on, but my CVS was completely void of those particular items).

I looked around and Loreal had a special where if you spend $10, you get $3 back. I will get back to this info in a minute.

While I was there, I ran into a woman that was in her 70s and she was asking me some questions. She saw the sign about the beauty rewards, and I felt inspired to share my knowledge with you.

CVS has a beauty rewards program. Every $50 you spend, you get $5 back. Now, CVS is always having deals like spend $10, get $3, $4, and sometimes $7 back! When you use the "bucks" it counts as if you spent that money out of pocket. So, if you had a $20 purchase, and spent $20 in rewards, it would count as $20 toward that $50 mark you have to earn towards your rewards.

You can also sign up for emails to get even more coupons, plus every time you scan your rewards card at a CVS kiosk, it prints coupons tailored for you.

Okay, back to my "deal". I had my $5 reward, a $3 reward and a 25% coupon,

The Loreal "Lumi" foundation is about $13.50. After taxes, I paid about $3.50!

I had been wanting to try this foundation for the longest time, and have heard great reviews. I plan on doing my own once I have tried it out a few times. I am a loyal Revlon foundation user, but this has some potential.

For the best drugstore deals, you can always go to store's websites, and plan out how you want to spend not only your money, but "free" money as well.

I hope this was helpful.

Influenster Palmolive Review

2013-05-16T20:32:00.002-07:00

I received some products from Influenster. If you don't know what Influenster is, it is a free program where you take surveys in order to earn badges. Once you earn certain badges, you may be selected to receive some products to try out and review. This box as different from others that I have received in the past because it was two full sized products from one brand (there are normally about 3-5 samples or full size items). So I made a little video of my review, which you can watch below.

Overall, I am pleased with this product. They both smell delicious, and my hands are super soft after washing dishes.

I have given the Coconut Butter version to my mom, and she seems to be enjoying it as well.

Hope you enjoyed this review, and I hope you get a chance to check out these amazing dishsoaps!

Have a great day!

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Some empties

2013-05-14T21:59:00.001-07:00

I am currently working my way through some products so that I can make an "empties" post. I was actually thinking about making a video instead, just so that I can give quick reviews on the products I have used up and if I would repurchase them. Below is a picture of what I am currently almost out of (minus a couple other larger items).

I am actually really excited about working through these products and letting you know if you should check some of them out!

I am hoping to make the video before I move because I don't want to take empty bottles with me, so look out for a vid!

Just a head's up....

2013-05-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

I know that many people in the online beauty community do monthly favorite's videos or posts. I was thinking about doing that, but in addition, I was thinking about featuring one product each week, so "Weekly Favorite" (just because I am uncreative with names). Let me know if this appeals to you.

The product featured may be something new, or something that I have had forever, but decided to start using it more.

I think that this will be helpful for me as well because I will have to think about what I use, why I use it, and if I should streamline my collection.

Thoughts?

Earth Day Look (Wet n' Wild)

2013-05-07T23:47:00.001-07:00

I know Earth Day has passed, but I did a look to celebrate the day a few weeks back (and am just posting it now).

I really wanted to use the mint color in the Wet n' Wild Color Icon Medley palette that I did a review for here. The staying power was not as good as other WnW colors I have used in the past, but it is a great color, and appropriate for Earth Day.

Here a couple pictures of the look below:

I feel like the color really makes my eyes look chocolaty, which I love.

Overall, I do like the palette, and the price is a bargain.

Let me know if you like when I do these "look posts". I like sharing what I have created from time to time :)

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Medley

2013-04-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

I heard about some limited edition sets that Wet n Wild was coming out with for the Spring. I searched high and low to find something, and then finally, at the FIFTH drugstore I went to, I found something. I was still not able to find the 8-pan palettes I was searching for, which I will continue to hope and pray that I find, but instead I found the "Medley" palettes. I decided to get the one with the blue because I like matte navy colors.

Overall, the quality of the shadows is on par with what WnW has been putting out lately, however, the top three shades are very sheer. I'm pretty sure that is because they are just supposed to be used as an overlay on top of the other shadows. I was very pleased by the bottom matte shades as well as the center copper color. You also get a black liquid liner in the set and I like the brush and the formulation. There is another palette with a similar set up, but has more neutral tones I believe. They retail for $4.99 and are exclusive to Walgreens.

Also, keep your eye out for the LE 8-pan palettes because those shadows from swatches I have seen online, are gorgeous. The nearest place to have them from me as far as I know, is a 20 minute drive, so hopefully we will get some out this way *fingers crossed*.

Happy hunting ladies!

the Balm

2013-04-18T22:17:00.001-07:00

I was online last week and I saw that the Balm was having a huge sale online in order to launch their new website. Everything was 50% off for 24hrs. I had been eyeing a few things, so I jumped on the chance to make my birthday just a little bit sweeter.

I only bought three things because I didn't want to get too carried away. I picked up the "Nude'tude" Palette in "Naughty", "Mary-Lou Manizer" which is a beautiful highlighter, as well as an Overshadow in "You Buy, I'll Fly".

I am in love with the Balm's packaging and just their overall company vision and I am VERY happy with my purchases. I literally got my package today, and I am already posting my overall take on what I got.

Let's start off with the highlighter and "overshadow".

You Buy, I'll Fly (left), Mary-Lou Manizer (right)-with flash

No Flash so that you can see the sparkle in the overshadow.

Again, I am in love with the packaging! Also, I know everyone has talked about this highlighter, but it is absolutely gorgeous. Below is a picture so that you can see it on the cheeks.

The shadow is also sparkly and can work well on its own, over another shadow, or foiled.

Next up, the "Nude 'tude Palette"

From Left to Right: Sassy, Snobby, Stubborn, Stand-offish, Selfish, Sultry, Sophisticated, Seductive, Sexy, Silly, Serious, Sleek

(Here is a really quick look that I did with Stand-Offish on the lid and Selfish, Sophisticated and Sexy in the crease.)

(Back of the packaging)

I don't think that ANY palette has been made to compliment me more. I love golds and taupes, however, I have recently been fiending for burgundy colors, and "Sexy" and "Silly" satisfy that need completely. I also love how all the names are adjectives that begin with "S", and I feel that each describes me ;) "Sassy" also surprised me because it is beautiful in the inner corner. For some reason I thought it was going to be matte, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was frosty.

This palette does come with a double-sided brush, but I have yet to try that out. The liner side seems as thought it would be a good brush, but the shadow brush does not have densely packed bristles, so I was a little scared to use it.

You can find everything mentioned here on thebalm.com. The eyeshadow palette is normally $36, the highlighter is $24, and all of the overshadows are $15. I know that most of this is on the more pricey side of things, but hautelook.com is always having sales for the Balm, so I would suggest keeping an eye out when they have deals there.

Please let me know if you have any questions about anything posted here.

I Never Thought This Day Would Come: NYX is Coming to a Target Near You

2013-03-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

I was just checking some of my blog subscriptions, and one in particular stood out to me. I saw a post here that had a picture of a NYX display in a Target. Be sure to check out the post for more info, but this is exciting news to say the least. At this moment, the only place I can really buy NYX is at Ulta or on their main webiste.

So, keep and eye out, and you can bet I wil be doing the same. If I spot anything, you will all be the first to know!

Top 3 Favorite Mascaras

2013-03-10T18:17:00.001-07:00

I have tried A LOT of mascaras over the last few years. There are some that have been so so, but this post is about the one's that I feel are must buys! The following mascaras are tried and true and I have repurchased all of them.

I do try my best to purchase cruelty free when I can. Unfortunately, I have yet to find an amazing mascara that is CF. I know that there are some high end CF mascara's, but I don't buy high-end mascara because I feel like drugstore can do the same job for less.

*There is one brand that is CF and makes some good mascara, which is Essence. I have tried a few of their mascaras and all of them work really well, the only down side is that they dry out fairly quickly. The best part is that none of their mascaras are over $5, which is a great deal.

That being said, here are my top three favorite mascaras!

1) Rimmel Glam Eyes- This is a lengthening mascara. I use it for my bottom lashes because the brush is so thin and small. I also put this on top of any other mascara I use in order to separate my lashes. I have repurchased this several times, and will continue to buy it until I either find something better, or they discontinue it.

2) Almay Get up and Grow- This mascara is amazing. It helps your lashes be stronger (supposedly), although I have seen an improvement with my lashes. It volumizes and coats wonderfully. The formula is not wet at all, but not too dry either. It lasts for a long time, it does not dry out quickly, and does not flake throughout the day. Both the water-proof and non water-proof version are great.

3) The last mascara is kind of a brand. Loreal makes some of the best mascaras ever. Voluminous is always a win, but currently I am really loving the Extra Volume Collagen mascara. It coats really well, and you almost don't need anything else to help it along (again, I use "Glam Eyes", to finish every mascara, but it is really unnecessary with this mascara).

I have a few mascaras that I am waiting to try, and I will write a review when I get to them, but I have a few mascaras I am trying to finish before I open another one.

Hope this was helpful. Please comment if you have any questions!

FOTD: Sweet Indulgence

2013-03-10T01:24:00.001-08:00

I decided to get creative on Friday and play with my Too Faced Sweet Indulgence pallette, and I really loved the look I came up with.

All eyeshadows are colors from the Sweet Indulgence Pallette.

Eyebrows: NYX eyebrow cake powder (CF)

Mascara: PF "Fake Out" (CF)

Foundation: Revlon Nearly Naked

Blush: ELF "Mellow Mauve"(CF), NYX's "Taupe"(CF)

Lips: Milani "Fruit Punch" (CF)

Eyes: Milani Liquf"eye" (CF), PF Eye Booster

NYX Haul!

2013-03-10T00:55:00.002-08:00

I was browsing the Internet about a week ago, and I saw that there was a deal where you spend $30 on a website, and then you get an e-coupon to use on NYX's Site to get $60 worth of product. I immediately jumped on the deal because there have been a couple products I have been wanting to try, but every time I go to Ulta, they are sold out. I also asked one of my friends if she wanted anything since she seemed interested when I posted my post about NYX's Soft Matte Lip Creams. She said that she wanted Amsterdam and also a lip pencil, which I was happy to order for her.

I only got a few things since some of what I wanted is more expensive than I am used to spending on NYX.

So, let's check out what I got.

WARNING: This post will be longer than normally because I want to give you a little review about each product :)

Above ("Stay Matte But Not Flat HD Powder", lip gloss in "Beige", Eyebrow Cake Powder, Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in "Snow White" and "Louisiana", Soft Matte Lip Cream in "Addis Ababa", and the Wonder Pencil in "Light")

I will start with the lip products since I was able to swatch them.

From top to bottom: Beige, Louisiana, Snow White, Addis Ababa (The mark on the left is a swatch of the Wonder Pencil)

Lip gloss: Beautiful color, and it wears for a while. It feels nice and smooth on the lips, not too thick, or too thin.

Lipsticks: I like "Louisiana" more than I thought I would. I originally just bought it for the name, but the color is amazing, and very moisturizing. "Snow White" is still a color that I am on the fence about. I have a lot of reds, and I want to try this one out a few more times before I reach a verdict. As of right now, the texture is smooth and moisturizing, but I want to see what the staying power is really like.

Soft Matte Lip Cream. Again, these are wonderful, and I want all of them! The color is vibrant and right up my alley.

Wonder Pencil: This pencil is supposed to be multi-functional. It can act as a concealer, eye liner, and reverse lip liner. I bought it because I like putting light pencils on the water-line to make them appear bigger, but I could never find one that worked well for me, so I decided to give this a try. So far so good. I mean, I don't feel it's a life changing product, but it does its job.

Stay Matte Not Flat: This has to be THE BEST face powder I have ever used. There are some that come close, but this is the best. I have combination skin; my forehead is an oil slick, and my nose, chin, and sometimes cheeks, are flaky and dry. In order to tame things, I HAVE to set my liquid with a powder. What tends to happen is that in some areas it will be patchy, cakey, or disappear when the oil starts to show. I purposely used this powder with Wet N' Wild's "Coverall" Foundation because I knew that it has a matte finish everywhere except my T-Zone. I wanted to see if it kept things from melting, and from caking. This powder lived up to its claim about not being flat. I had dimension to my face even though it was matte. It also did not cake, and did a wonderful job of keeping my oily forehead at bay. Simply amazing stuff!

Eyebrow Cake Powder: This comes with a wax and two different shades of powder. The wax is amazing because, unlike most waxes that warm up when they hit your skin , this stayed sticky and kept my hairs from being unruly. Since the hairs were in place, I was able to have more control over the arch and overall shape. The package also contains a mini spoolie and angle brush. I would definitely repurchase it.

The last thing I got which is not pictured is a backup of a product that I am in love with. It is the "Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer" in "Yellow". It is definitely full coverage, a little goes a long way, and it is also creaseless. Now, with concealer, it typically always creases on me, but this concealer has yet to do so. I also have very dark under eye circles and not many concealers can cover them, and last. This concealer covers them, and helps brighten up the area. They have various correcting colors, as well as your regular concealer shades. I highly recommend it of you are looking for a new concealer, or have had trouble finding a good one.

I hope this was helpful.

My next post will more than likely be my favorite cruelty free products, so stay tuned!

*To the best of my knowledge, all of NYX's products are cruelty free.

**One of my friends recently asked me about cruelty free products, which I try and buy more than not. I told her that I would make a list of come companies that I know to be cruelty free. Now, sometimes there are loopholes that companies can take to make it appear that they are CF, but in fact, are not. From here on out, if a product is cruelty free (to the best of my knowledge), I will denote it with "CF". Again, I am not an expert, I just post what I have learned, or seen, so educate yourselves too. You can go to leapingbunny.org for a comprehensive list of CF companies.