Steal This Style

Revlon polishes for Spring/Summer

2013-04-14T17:45:00.000-04:00

These are not new colors for Revlon as far as I can tell, I just wanted some bright/interesting colors to add to my collection for the upcoming Spring and Summer season and grabbed these. I already have different versions of each of these colors but Revlon always manages to come up with new twists on them. You can almost always catch these when they are on sale (I picked these up for $2.99 each- what a steal compared with Essie or OPI at $8) and I find Revlon to be the best quality out of all the polishes I've ever tried; plus they dry in record time. (colors from left to right - Siren, Cherries in the Snow, Trendy, and Fashionista).

Siren

I got photobombed! lol

Cherries in the Snow

Trendy

Fashionista

Outfit of the day 04-13-13

2013-04-13T20:36:00.000-04:00

It's my favorite time of the year - sweater weather! We had a few days where it was 80 degrees (I am not ready to deal with that!) but it has finally cooled down again. I love just being able to throw on a cute sweater and jeans; add a few accessories and you have a great looking outfit that seriously took no work to put together. This is what I wore today - perfect for Saturday errands.

Sweater - Loft : I sized way up so it was extra loose and could be worn off the shoulder.

Scarf - Loft Outlet : Leopard is the new neutral. I literally wear this with everything and receive tons of compliments.

Jeans - DKNY Outlet : Love how distressed these jeans are. Sometimes when the rest of your outfit is really polished and put together, it's nice to throw in something unexpected to break it up.

Purse - Vince Camuto : This purse is made of such luxurious leather and the neutral color makes it very versatile. Such an awesome birthday present to receive since I would never buy something this nice for myself!

Bracelets - Gold bracelet is from Cache, Lionhead bracelet from Steinmart.

Shoes - Toms : So comfortable, easy to just throw on, and they match everything. Can't beat that.

NEW Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter - The Pacific Coast Collection

2013-03-30T09:55:00.002-04:00

My all time favorite lip product just came out in four new colors for Revlon's Spring 2013 collection!

These are part of The Pacific Coast Collection by Gucci Westman who has been the Global Artistic Director for Revlon since 2008. This is their Spring 2013 collection and is meant to reflect an irresistible island vibe inspired by sculptural sea glass with a touch of Tahitian glamour. The look is confident and fresh with exotic shades of the surf.

The new collection includes four 'looks' complete with eye shadows, cheek colors, the Lip Butters and new nail polishes. I was only really interested in the Lip Butters since the eye shadows are a little too bright for me, I have a million nail polishes already, and I don't wear stick cheek products due to my oily skin.

Left to right - - -

047 Pink Lemonade

053 Sorbet

027 Juicy Papaya

063 Wild Watermelon

Taken with a flash : 047, 053, 027 and 063.

Taken in natural light : 047, 053, 027 and 063.

I did four passes across my hand with each color to really get a feel for the pigmentation. Like the other Lip Butters, these are buildable and not overwhelming. They are all non-scented and very moisturizing for a lip color. If you are hesitant to wear color like I am, these are great! They give you a pop of controllable color without having to worry about how it is wearing throughout the day.

Zoya PixieDust in Godiva

2013-03-26T12:55:00.000-04:00

Yikes, it's been forever since I've posted! But a new job + no new products will do that. I have been watching and waiting to try and buy this new Zoya polish and was finally able to find it yesterday. I don't normally do glittery polishes at all since I feel like they tend to look a bit young and are a serious pain to remove, but this one seemed like it might be different since it is described as a matte textured polish.

Zoya PixieDust in Godivia, a shimmery neutral.

For the first PixieDust collection, there are six colors - periwinkle, red, green, grey, black, and the gold/neutral that I purchased. I just read that they will be coming out with brighter colors for summer, so if shimmer is something you like, those might be the thing for you.

By force of habit, I always apply a base coat before I apply the polish. It is not recommended that you use a base coat before applying the PixieDust polishes. They also recommend that you skip the top coat to keep the matte look. I did apply one just because the glitter gives it kind of a rough feel. Nothing bad enough to snag clothing or anything, but it just felt weird to me.

Taken in natural light. Clear base coat + ONE coat of polish. No top coat.

Clear base coat + ONE coat of polish. No top coat.

Base coat + TWO coats of polish. No top coat.

Base coat + TWO coats of polish + one top coat.

For me, this is the most wearable shade out of the current collection. I tend to stick to more neutral colors to get more wear out of them and I think this is a fun way to do a neutral without it being blah. This polish looks just fine with only one coat, the second coat really just fills in and evens out the shimmer effect. I just used a cheap top coat from Ulta so it didn't really give me a glossed over look and still left them feeling kind of rough. Maybe if you have a thicker or better top coat, it would help with that.

I might venture on to try either the black or grey because I am pleasantly surprised by how this polish looks after applied. It was so hard to tell in the store whether I was going to like it or not since it just looks like another sparkle-y polish in the bottle, but once applied, it really is a unique effect.

UPDATE: I wore this polish for five days and I have to say it was awesome. Didn't chip or lose any glitter because they are so small (unlike when I did the Ciate sequined manicure and the glitter was coming off in large chunks.) I used acetone nail polish remover to take it off; it did require some muscle but wasn't too tough to get off. After almost a week of wear and tear (and I work in retail so I am really rough on my hands), it still looked great.

Chanel Lilac Sky

2013-02-09T17:56:00.003-05:00

I bought this a long time ago before wearing kind of crazy colors became a thing and honestly have only used twice. I was looking through my polishes today and decided that since I paid so much for it, I was going to give it another shot. I normally never pay a lot for nail polish (I think this was $25 - yikes!), but again, this was the first time I had seen an out of the ordinary color being sold. After all this time, it hasn't clumped or turned gooey and still went on perfectly. I have a gold Chanel polish also and find that they dry very fast but don't last nearly as long as most.

This turned out to be a very soft pinky-purple with some shimmer.

(Above you can see my dog's paws as she was looking out the window trying to figure out what was so interesting to me lol)

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters - part two!

2013-02-01T16:34:00.001-05:00

So since this is my second post about these and I now own 10, I think it's safe to say I'm slightly obsessed. As I've mentioned before here, this is the best formula for colored lip products that I've ever found. I no longer even try lipsticks because despite all these 'new formulas' I still find them incredibly drying and un-wearable. These Lip Butters are seriously like a pigmented chapstick.

These are the six new ones that I've purchased, be sure to click on the link above to see the other four that I own - - -

Colors from left to right- - -

1 - Gumdrop: this color is my favorite! You can see in the pic that it's been used a bit already lol I like this color so much that I actually purchased another one as my 'back up.' I am decently fair with yellow undertones so this really compliments my skin well.

2 - Creamsicle: this is a really soft peachy color. I liken it to a nude but with a little hint of color. I haven't been wearing this now because it's winter and I'm afraid that against my pale skin it might make me look sickly, but during the summer I think this is going to look phenomenal. Don't get me wrong, this could look amazing on pale, silky smooth skin (which I have not been blessed with) so don't be scared away.

3 - Strawberry Shortcake: this is a really sweet pink color with blue undertones. Again, this is another one that I can't wait until the spring/summer to wear.

4 - Tutti Frutti: a wonderful coral/orange color. If you want to try an orange-y color but are hesitant to try a 'wow' orange, give this one a go. Because these are Lip Butters and not lipsticks, the colors aren't super bold or solid. I'm the first to admit that I'm afraid to try bold lip colors, and these are really a nice way to gently build up my tolerance.

5 - Brown Sugar: again, because these are not solid colors, this goes on more like a brown nude. I didn't find that it gave me much color (fine with me!), which makes it a nice everyday color that goes with every outfit.

6 - Fig Jam: out of all of the colors that I own, this is the most pigmented. While it is a brown shade, it has almost reddish-orange undertones.

These next two pictures show Gumdrop, Creamsicle and Strawberry Shortcake - - -

The following two pictures show Tutti Frutti, Brown Sugar and Fig Jam - - -

January faves

2013-01-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

Here are my current beauty faves this month - - -

1 - Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Crème Brulee. This is my favorite nude lip product out of all that I have tried. Some of the color of my lips still peeks through, as opposed to a true nude that I find completely washes me out. Plus, this formula works for me because the Lip Butters are moisturizing and very wearable.

2 - Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup. Because I have acne prone, oily skin, I have tried what feels like a million concealers to try to find one that doesn't break me out or make my face very oily. This is the best one I have ever found! This contains 0.5% Salicylic Acid and really cuts down on the oiliness. The only thing I don't like about this is the lack of shades. I think there are maybe 5 or 6 shades, if that. Because I am treating acne with prescription creams and face wash on top of using this which contains the Salicylic Acid, sometimes my face does get a little dry, but I just apply oil at night to combat that. Plus, this is buildable and really does a good job at helping cover acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Acne is a cruel cycle lol. I bought this at Macy's for around $25 I believe; making it also the least expensive concealer I've tried. I would not suggest using this around the eye area because of the Salicylic Acid.

3 - Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. This is kind of like a creamy gel that feels amazing. I don't use this everyday because it doesn't have SPF but apply it to dry spots whenever I need a little extra moisture. I love applying this to my neck and décolleté because it is just so luxurious feeling!

4 - Lorac Take A Brow in Brunette. I bought this at a Sephora in Las Vegas about 6 or 7 years ago and am still using it! It contains two shades of brown, one light and one darker, and a clear stay-put brow wax. I only use the lighter shade because, for me, the darker one is just a little too severe because I am so fair skinned. This little kit has traveled all over the US with me and is a definite makeup staple. When I was home visiting in NY recently, I saw that Ulta now carries it (but not in my store in VA). Yes this is $22 but I can honestly say that I have spent more on much less useful things.

5 - tarte eyelash curler. Just my luck that tarte came out with this adorable pink and purple ikat design eyelash curler right as my old one was on its last leg. I found this at Ulta for $16. It also came with a mini mascara that I always stash away for traveling.

6 - L'Oreal Voluminous Original mascara in black. I was torn about this mascara when I first purchased it but it has definitely grown on me. This makes such an impact that I love to wear it on days when I feel kind of blah. It isn't the smoothest mascara so beware of some clumps, but it delivers on big, notice-me lashes that will open up your eyes and make you feel glamorous.

Rose Gold jewelry

2013-01-04T15:41:00.000-05:00

Rose gold became popular in jewelry quite awhile ago but I found that it wasn't really until recently that I've been able to find affordable pieces that didn't look cheap. I find that it still is hard to locate good looking and good priced pieces but I've been slowly able to add some to my jewelry collection.

This is the most expensive out of the rose gold pieces that I own. I purchased this at an Armani Exchange store for around $49. It has a lobster claw clip in the back and is made up of navy blue strings that are partly wrapped in rounded sections of rose gold. I just love the combination of the blue and rose color of this and how unique it is.

This is a really simple ring that I picked up from Kohl's on sale for $9.99. The shape is different than any ring I've seen and I really like that it is somewhat adjustable so that I am not locked into wearing it only on one finger.

I often wear pretty large and elaborate necklaces so this one is a refreshing change. It's very delicate and simple looking with a chain that is doubled up and just a single small heart. For the most part this necklace is gold in color but one of the chains is rose gold, giving it that light, elegant touch. I buy a lot of my jewelry from Forever21 and this is no different. This one only cost me $3.80.

January Faves - non beauty

2013-01-04T14:50:00.000-05:00

I thought I would include some other things that are my favorites right now that are not beauty products - - -

1 - Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange candle from Altar'd State. This candle smells so amazing! And it looks great, too. I have to admit that one of my pet peeves is having a well decorated room that you spent all this time and effort on making beautiful and then cheap looking candles mixed in. I am obsessed with candles because I just love how warm and comforting they are. Just the smell from a great candle can change your whole mood. This candle itself is made from a coconut blend wax and is in a beautiful red glass container that I plan on re-using once its finished.

2 - Moleskine lined journals from Target. Target sells these in 2-packs that come in the same color but different shades. So one of these is a darker green like a forest color and the other is more like a jade green. I find these so useful because they aren't bulky so I can carry them anywhere and great quality.

3 - Michael Kors Rain & Stain Repellent from Michael Kors. I've been trying to buy less based on quantity and more on quality. I picked this up with my last Michael Kors purchase and have since been using it on all my other leather purses to ward off stains and dirt and protect from the rain so that they last longer.

4 - Mint with gold polkadots makeup bag from Forever21. I was looking for a makeup bag that was slightly larger than what I had and found this one for less than $5! It keeps everything together and is really cute - I just couldn't deny that deal.

5 - Rebecca Minkoff iPhone 4 case. I love changing up cases and skins on my phone for an instant update. This case is from Nordstrom but be sure to check places online like eBay for some affordable options.

6 - Yogi Raspberry Passion Perfect Energy tea from Wegmans. I try to lay off drinking too much coffee since it sometimes makes me very jittery but I still need some caffeine in my day so I've started trying on different teas that contain caffeine. This tea is 100% natural (I found it in the organic section of Wegmans) and is a combination of Organic Green Tea and Organic Assam Black Tea. Both green and black tea have health benefits that may even help prevent cancer and other health issues which is a wonderful benefit.

Ciate Sequined Manicure

2012-12-28T16:24:00.000-05:00

This was another awesome Christmas gift that I received. I love this because it's something I never would have bought for myself. I'm a pretty practical person so, while I may have seen this and wanted it, I would probably never actually purchase it. But that's the fun in gifts - sometimes you just get really cool, whimsical things!

This is a sequined manicure kit by Ciate. I've never purchased anything from this company but I was familiar with the name because their caviar manicures have recently become very popular and are all over the Sephora website.

It really was as simple to apply as the instructions on the back of the box indicate. I've only used it this one time so far, but I would suggest doing it over a table so that you can easily wipe away any stray glitter. Luckily, the glitter is pretty large so you don't have the problem of trying to clean up that vey fine glitter dust that never seems to really go away. I, however, did this while sitting on the couch...I definitely do not recommend that.

The kit comes with a pot of multi-color glitter, sequin glitter grip polish and a mini brush. All you have to do is:

- Remove any nail polish, including base coat, from your nails

- Apply one coat of the glitter grip polish and let dry

- Working on one nail at a time, apply a second coat of glitter grip and gently roll into the glitter pot

- Gently press down the glitter on your nail and use the mini brush to sweep away any excess

- Apply a final top coat of glitter grip over the nail and allow dry for 15-20 minutes

- Done!

I just did it on one nail to try it out. I can't yet speak to how easy or hard it will be to remove but the instructions claim that it will be easy. We'll see. I like glitter polish but my only hang-ups are that sometimes it can take forever and lots of work to remove. Because these are bigger pieces of glitter and they are applied on top of polish and not mixed in with polish, I'm optimistic that it won't be a treacherous task.

Urban Decay Naked Basics palette

2012-12-28T13:58:00.000-05:00

The Basics Palette

How crazy is it that I almost bought this for myself, decided not to, and instead received it for Christmas - and I didn't even drop hints or anything! I only wear neutral shades so when I saw this awhile back, of course, I immediately wanted it. Trying to save money, I put it down and stepped away. It stayed in the back of my mind because I knew it would be a good, practical buy for me. I must have had some good karma points to cash in because come Christmas day, this palette made its way back to me.

This palette contains both matte and satin colors, along with a high quality mirror. I point this out because I find that so many quads, palettes, etc often skimp on a good mirror which can make it very difficult to apply while on the go; which is, after all, one of the selling features of palettes.

In the box, all fresh and new :)

Samples of the colors on the back of the box. Very accurate.

The actual case looks just like the box.

Six very wearable shades.

OPI If You Moust You Moust review

2012-12-23T12:58:00.000-05:00

Here is another random discounted polish I picked up the other week. This one is from OPI and is called If You Moust You Moust and is one of four of the Minnie Mouse Collection. I would describe this as a bright pink; not quite a neon but no where near a baby pink. For these pictures I applied one base coat and two coats of color. I found it to be a little thinner in consistency than I normally like and it could probably do with three coats to even out the streaks.

Don't mind my cat in the background lol

Outfit of the day 12-22-12

2012-12-23T12:25:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I needed to venture out and run some last minute errands so I wanted to wear something comfortable but, because it got super windy and cold, I figured it would probably be a good idea to dress somewhat warm. Good thing because I'm pretty sure that the end of the Target parking lot where I parked was in a different zip code than the actual store. 'Tis the season.

1 - Wool-blend coat from Old Navy. Every year I am able to pick up some really nice coats from ON. I purchased this one about a month ago and at the time it was 50% off so only about $25. Can't beat that! I saw the other week that they still had it in stores but they were 60% and then an extra 30% off so I'm not sure if they would still have any left. For me, I like having good quality and good looking coats but I don't want them too nice because then I just worry non-stop about getting them dirty. This one has a really interesting tulip collar and is a neutral beige so no need to worry about coordinating; I just throw it on and know that it looks timeless yet unique.

2 - Blue/white stripe long sleeve tunic from Old Navy. This bad boy was only $17 and then 30% off. Once again, I sized way up because I really wanted it to be long enough for leggings and account for any shrinking. I love that this is long sleeve because so often I find tunics that are only 3/4 sleeve which drive me crazy.

3 - Grey leggings from Wal-Mart. I really can't ever see myself paying more than $10 at the most for just plain leggings which is why I get them at places like Wal-Mart or Target. These ones only cost $5 and have lasted me years.

4 - Gold knotted necklace from Express. I don't always love all of the jewelry at Express but they normally have at least one piece every time I go in that is unique that I just have to have.

5 - Boots from Bass Outlet. Okay, I know, another kind of odd place you might not have thought of to shop. I was shopping in the outlets home in NY with my mom last year and she wanted to go in this store. I was initially just tagging along but then I noticed all the boots that they had. Of course since it is geared towards an older customer, not all of them were my taste but I did walk away with about three pairs. It's so hard for me to find comfortable boots with heels which is why when I found these I bought them in two colors. I'm not the kind of girl who can just grab up a pair of cheap shoes from places like Forever21 because I have very thin, yet also flat feet, so I have to really spend time searching. Plus, who really wants to be that person whose feet hurt so bad that they are hobbling around. You must know that people are secretly making fun of you in their head. Personally, if my feet hurt, I am a miserable person so I really don't mind taking more time and spending more money.

Christmas Town!

2012-12-20T18:27:00.000-05:00

So, a totally random post - we went to Christmas Town yesterday and it was just so gorgeous that I wanted to post some pictures. If you're not familiar, Christmas Town is something that Busch Gardens does every year where they turn most of the amusement park into a Christmas wonderland. They keep a handful of rides open, mostly kid-friendly ones, but honestly, I go to binge drink hot cocoa and be dazzled by the lights.

Look how adorable it is there!

Snowflake shaped lights hanging from the trees.

It's a forest of decorated trees!

I actually got talked into going on the spinning tea cup ride. So horrible!

Vivid blue trees. Maybe something I'll try this year with my own.

They decorated one of the rides to look like water.

Too cute!

Branches of tree that was completely wrapped in lights.

I just love the way this looks.

China Glaze Sweet Hook review

2012-12-20T16:03:00.002-05:00

In natural light - clear base coat, two coats of color and clear topcoat.

I found this in a discount bin in the beauty store at the mall (you know, that time I attempted Christmas shopping but mostly bought things for myself.) and for $3.50 I couldn't resist. The color is Sweet Hook and is a gorgeous light lilac color. The consistency of this is very nice - full color, thick formula, and fairly quick drying. If you are in a hurry, you could get away with just one coat but I always apply two just to ensure even coverage. I've read previous reviews where people have complained about streaks or thin consistency but I did not find this to be the case.

This color is part of their Spring 2012 Electropop collection which contains 12 colors in total. I didn't know this when I purchased them since, by that point, they were just thrown into a bargain bin but, unbeknownst to me, I also picked up another color from the collection that I will post later.

Pastels are pretty hard to accurately photograph so I apologize in advance!

Taken under a flash - clear base coat and two coats of color.

Outfit of the day 12-17-12

2012-12-17T15:27:00.004-05:00

1 - Collared shirt from Old Navy. This shirt has such a great color combination that I couldn't resist. Its main color is cool grey with stripes of mint green and thin yellow stripes. It's cut in a loose style that can either be worn with long sleeves or rolled up. I sized way up for this (XXL) so I could wear it with leggings. Most things I get from Old Navy also shrink a bit so I wanted to account for that so that it would still be oversized after washing (this shirt is 100% rayon, though, so honestly it shouldn't shrink). This was already on sale for $15 and then another 30% off on top of that.

2 - Black denim shorts from Forever21. I bought these awhile ago on clearance for probably less than $7. I like them because they are pretty high waisted, have a distressed look to them, and are longer length-wise.

3 - UGG boots from Zappos. These are my first UGG boots and they are amazing. I purchased these during the off season so they were only around $100! Plus, Zappos does free shipping and returns which is great because I initially ordered them in two different sizes. I tried reading all of the reviews online but some people said they ran big while others said they ran small. It was enough to drive me crazy. I normally wear about 9-10 in boots and those were the sizes I ordered these boots in. I ended up keeping the 10 because I didn't want to have to wait or depend on the leather conforming to my feet. Thy are a little loose but I just wear thick boot socks with them and it makes them super comfy.

4 - Bangles from C Wonder. This is a new store that opened in a mall near me; I had never heard of it before then. They have a ton of stuff in the store but these caught my eye because they kind of look like gears and I just thought they were different from other bracelets I've seen.

Outfit of the day 12-16-12

2012-12-16T20:02:00.000-05:00

1 - Top from MNG by Mango purchased at JCPenney. JCP is making a comeback in big ways and I am loving a lot of things that they now carry. I feel like it's my secret shopping spot because a lot of people my age still consider it a store for older people and don't shop there. This top was a bit more expensive than most of their things at $35 because it is by one of their designer contributors. They have nixed all the coupons and sales and now offer everything at prices you would get after messing around with coupons and sales ads. It's cut in a hi-lo fashion with loose grey material along the front while the arms and back are grey sweater material with hints of gold.

2 - Pleather skinny pants from Target. I bought these just a few months ago but unfortunately now I think they are on clearance since the summer merchandise is creeping into stores but I truly adore these pants. I've been looking for good pleather pants for about two years now but I had high standards: I wanted them to look as much like real leather pants as possible and to have pockets and these fulfill both of these. So many pleather pants I've seen have been more like leggings. I don't care how great of shape you are in, leggings are not pants and you should keep your butt covered! lol

3 - Ankle wedge booties from Target. I fail miserably at wearing heels since I have flat feet (sexy, right?) so I gravitate towards wedges instinctively. These at regular price were $35, making them cute, comfortable and affordable.

4 - Black and gold clutch from JCPenney. Again with the cute things from JCP! This is edgy and glamorous at the same time. I love how the gold sections are reflective and in a cool pattern. Original price this is only $25 which is good but even better because I bought it at 40% off!

5 - Gold necklace from Forever21. Love my jewelry from F21! They are just always on trend and usually for under $15.

H + M buys

2012-12-16T18:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I ventured out to the mall (a Saturday just two weeks before Christmas, what was I thinking) and came back with about three gifts for others and probably ten things for myself. This is why I need adult supervision while shopping. I wish I would have had more patience to shop in H&M because it seemed like they had some cute things. But, alas, I was frustrated with shoppers and Mrs. Fields cookies were calling my name from the food court. So, here are the three deals I was able to snag before physically harming another shopper.

1 - Grey tshirt on sale for $7
2 - White skull tank $12.95
3 - Blue skull/Native American tshirt on sale for $7

Love the collar on this. Can be worn on or off the shoulder.

Basic, easy to wear tank that I can see wearing under all sorts of cute jackets.

I wish the graphic was a little darker but for $7 I can't complain too much.

Polish obsession - GREEN

2012-12-16T16:30:00.000-05:00

I've really been liking all shades of green recently and have been trying out a few ranging all the way from pale to dark and everywhere in between. Emerald has recently been named the color of the season so I must be onto something :)

1 - L'Oreal in Safari Chic
2 - Essie in Absolutely Shore
3 - Zoya in Bevin
4 - Essie in Going Incognito
5 - Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet

I applied two coats of each on top of one base coat. The Essie Absolutely Shore would probably need three coats.

L'Oreal Safari Chic

Essie Absolutely Shore, Zoya Bevin, Essie Goin Incognito, Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet

Outfit of the day 12-15-12

2012-12-15T22:52:00.001-05:00

1 - Yellow sweater from Forever21

2 - Brown leather belt from Old Navy

3 - Grey skinny colored jean legging from Express

4 - Boots from Rack Room Shoes

5 - Bracelet from Armani Exchange

6 - Navy leather handbag from Michael Kors

Outfit of the day 12-14-12

2012-12-14T13:43:00.000-05:00

Even though it's well into December, it's still been in the 40s where I am living now. I used to live in upstate NY so this is just crazy to me and a lot of days I'm just running around in a warm sweater. This is the outfit I had on the other day that I happen to love - - -

1 - Sweater from Old Navy last found here: Fair Isle-Stripe Cardigan. I've seen this sweater in two patterns with two colors each (so four in total) and I currently own three. That's how much I love it! Right now they are 40% off making them $29 and the last one I bought I also had a $10 coupon. I love it when that happens! I am 5'6, around 115 lbs and normally with sweaters I size up, sometimes way up, because I like them loose and comfy but this one was made with that in mind so I purchased all of them in size small.

2 - Necklace from Forever21. I've had this for about six months which, in Forver21 time, is about two years lol They never keep anything in stock for very long but you could easily walk into any F21 or Charlotte Russe store and find something similar for a good price. This piece probably only cost me about $15, if that.

3 - Jeans From Forever21 last found here: Stretch Skinny Jeans in Grey. I used to wear a lot of designer jeans but honestly, my style changes so often that I just ended up wasting so much money. I have still hung on to some of them but my best go-to jeans are the ones that cost less than $15. I like jeans that are stretchy and not made of thick denim and these are the kinds I usually find at F21, Charlotte Russe or Papaya. These bad boys were less than $11 and I like that they are a cool grey color because they match absolutely everything.

4 - TOMS purchased from Sports Authority at a local mall but you can find them here: TOMS Indo Women's Vegan Classics for $53 which is what I paid for them also. These are my first pair because honestly I thought they were overrated but once I discovered all the crazy colors and patterns, I am now slightly obsessed. (As you can tell from the store choice, my bf was shopping for sneakers and I happened to see these on a table and was immediately drawn to them lol). It's hard to speak to sizing; the ones I bought are 8.5 but when I tried on the 8.5 in plain canvas, they were way too small and upon holding them up and comparing them, I think they would be more like a 9.5 in the plain canvas ones. Kind of confusing and frustrating since there are designs I want to order but now I have no idea what size I would be!

Here's a closer picture of them - - -

December Faves

2012-12-11T11:41:00.004-05:00

Some of my newest obsessions - - -

1 - The Body Shop Beautifying Oil in Olive. This stuff is a-mazing! It's a dry oil for face, body and hair but so far I've only used it on my body. I apply it after I get out of the shower and it seriously keeps my skin super soft all day with a scent that lasts for a few hours after. I have been trying out different body oils since lotion can sometimes clog your pores but I either hate the scent or don't find them moisturizing enough. This may finally be the oil that converts me from being a die-hard lotion user. Purchased from The Body Shop for $14 and comes in eleven scents.

2 - Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment. I have been a loyal Moroccan Oil user for many years and I'm not saying that I'm cheating on my beloved M.O. but maybe just having a fling on the side with Macadamia Healing Oil. I feel so guilty but this stuff just makes my hair beyond gorgeous. For me, this works best when applied to damp hair before blowdrying and straightening. It leaves my tresses super shiny and more tame after just blowdrying than anything else I've ever used. I purchased this .34 fl oz bottle from Ulta for $6.99 but a little goes a long way.

3 - Lush Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask. This mask smells just like Thin Mint cookies so really that's enough to justify me buying it! But seriously, this mask is deep cleansing, tones, exfoliates and brightens all while making your face feel refreshingly tingly. Just apply, let dry, and remove with water in circular motions to take advantage of the exfoliating grit. Purchased from Lush for $12.95.

4 - Carol's Daughter Moisturizing Leave-in Conditioner in Tui. This leave-in restores moisture and adds strength without silicones, parabens, petroleum, mineral oil or artificial colors, plus this scent smells like sweet candy or fruit that lasts for hours. Sometimes throughout the day when I need a pick-me-up I spray this both in my hair and décolleté. Purchased from Ulta for $1 4.00.

5 - Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment. Once I finally found the best way to use this for my hair, it has been a miracle worker. In the container this is a solid, but once you scoop some out and rub it between your hands, it becomes an oil. Because several years ago I had trouble with Ojon products leaving behind too much residue and just being a pain to wash out, I was hesitant to use this and was actually using too little and not seeing any real improvement in my hair. I've since discovered that, for my hair, I need to put a lot in and really saturate all of my hair except near the roots. The directions say to leave in for 20 minutes but I always keep it in for an hour since I have thick, dry hair. I purchased this in a sample pack from Ulta but you can buy it separately for $19.50 for 1.5 oz. I know this sounds really small for the money but considering that it transforms into an oil, you really end up getting a lot of product.

6 - Essie nail polish in Mint Candy Apple. I always love wearing bright and unexpected colors during the more dreary months and this is what I'm currently wearing. To me, this is more of a cross between mint and robin's egg blue and I just love the way it pops against my winter wardrobe. Purchased from Ulta for $8.00.

7 - Clinique Almost Lipstick in Flirty Honey. These are my newest lip product obsession! I now own three colors and am looking to add to that collection. I don't really like my lips so I don't feel comfortable wearing bold and bright colors but still want to wear something. For best results, I apply these directly to my lips without chapstick. They are so moisturizing that I can go hours without needing to apply anything and although the colors look bright, once applied they give the most natural color. You can find these at Macy's for $15 each.

October Faves

2012-10-18T16:58:00.000-04:00

From one product junkie to another, here are my favorite finds for October - - -

1- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous. I've tried a lot of stains and pencils

out there and this is the most moisturizing. This is in the form of a chubby pencil but believe me,

it is a stain and the color lasts forever. Word of warning from experience: this doesn't have a ton

of color when first applied but just apply it once and leave it alone, the color deepens

dramatically.

2 - L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Brown. This is the smoothest eyeliner I've ever

used (and I've been using eyeliner daily for ten years so that really says something). This goes

on like butter and is easily manipulated if you want that smudged look. I like cleaner lines so

after I apply this, I take an eyeliner brush and go over it once to make sure it doesn't smudge on

its own.

3 - Ole Henriksen Truth Revealed Super Creme with SPF 15. During the Fall/Winter this is my

absolute fave for daily face moisturizer. This creme is highly concentrated with vitamin C,

Omega 3 Extracts and micro algae to help with firmness, refine texture, fight free radical

damage, diminish the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles as well reduce uneven pigmentation.

I have oily and acne prone skin but have no problem wearing this. I only tend to wear it

during the colder months because it is a slightly heavier moisturizer but I find that after a few

months of use, I really like the way my skin looks.

4 - Nail Guard System Gel Coat in the Strengthens formula. I used to have horrible nails that

would split despite all of my efforts and this is the only thing that has saved them. $25 a bottle

may seem overpriced but I will never stop buying this.

5 - Lush Lip Scrub in Sweet Lips. Despite always obsessively applying products to moisturize my

lips, they would always look dry and cracked. I've tried Philosophy's lip scrub but that wasn't

strong enough and scrubbing with a wet washcloth did absolutely nothing (because whose

mother hasn't told them to try that). This isn't watery like Philosophy's lip scrub; instead it's dry

and rough. It's basically just sugar with vanilla and chocolate scents (ummm yes please!). Yes,

this is something you could make on your own, but looking over at my stack of unfinished craft

projects I know myself better than that and will instead happily hand over my $10 to Lush.

6 - Sundari Neem and Coconut Hair Treatment Oil. I tried this as a sample from Bloom.com

and immediately had to purchase a full size. I am a huge fan of hair oils and I love how silky and

smooth this makes my hair. I have fairly thick curly/wavy hair so I know that I can apply oils all

day long and after washing that my hair won't be weighed down. If you are not sure how your

hair will handle oils, start small and apply a minimal amount only from the midsection down;

staying away from the scalp. I keep this in for about an hour before I wash my hair. The

package says to leave in for 30 minutes, but again, I know my hair can handle it.

This contains:

- Coconut Oil: strengthens the hair shaft and reduces protein loss

- Neem Oil: makes the scalp and hair follicles healthy, encouraging faster growth

- Therapeutic Grade Plant Extracts: prevent and repair damage caused by styling heat,

chemical processes and UV exposure

7 - MOR Lip Macaron in Passion Flower. This is my third Macaron, so clearly I have a thing for

these. I love the way they look, smell, feel and how long they last. They come in little metal

pots, each one a different color depending on the flavor. The lid easily twists off and the pot is

full of lightly scented, clear lip balm. Some may think these are pricey at $10 each but honestly,

it lasts me months and I love using it. It's so pretty that I'm never embarrassed to take it out of

my bag (opposed to that busted up tube of chapstick that has been through the wash a few

times) to use and I always get questions on what it is.

OCC Lip Tars

2012-10-17T16:21:00.002-04:00

I discovered these OCC Lip Tars awhile ago online but now that Sephora carries them, I was finally able to try them out. As far as I know, Sephora is the only store you can find them in and if you are unfamiliar with these, definitely go in and check them out - they are only going to become more popular and already have a huge cult following. This is what Sephora says about the company:

"Founded in the New York City kitchen of makeup artist David Klasfeld, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics began in 2004 with only two shades of lip balm. Since then, the brand has grown into an entire range of innovative, professional-quality makeup. Best known for Lip Tar, a high-pigment liquid lipstick collection, OCC is cruelty-free and PETA-certified as 100 percent vegan."

These are the two colors I picked up:

Grandma & Memento

Purchased individually, these Lip Tars come in their own plastic pouch with a mini lip brush.

Normally I never use lip brushes but after the first time I tried applying this just with my fingers, I understood why one comes included. This is not something you can apply haphazardly and you want to be careful not to 'go outside the lines' when applying this. I accidentally did the first time I tested it in store and it was very hard to remove.

Even though it is not a stain, it definitely has long lasting color like a stain. Applied with a gloss on top, I was able to wear it for many hours and only needed to re-apply after eating. Once the product begins coming off, my lips still retained the color.

Memento is a midtone pink plum that was lighter then I thought it would be once applied but I consider that a pleasant surprise. Grandma is a classic coral - a beautiful bright color. While Grandma is the brighter of the two, they are both totally wearable. To tone the color down, after applying the Lip Tar, go over it with a gloss. To tone down Grandma, I put a nude colored gloss on top. It's amazing all the different shades you can get out of these by playing around with glosses or even layering the Lip Tars over one another.

First picture is Memento, second picture is Grandma in natural light. You can build upon it to make it even brighter.

Grandma & Memento in natural light

Soap & Glory gift set

2012-10-17T14:16:00.001-04:00

It's getting to that magical time of the year - - gift set time! As we get closer and closer to the holidays, brands will begin releasing some amazing collections that you can't find the rest of the year. I have such a love for gift sets because they allow me to try new brands and products that I might not be able to otherwise afford. Also, it's hard for me to commit to products long term and actually use them up, so trial sizes are really a blessing to me.

My first gift set of the year is this Soap & Glory set called 'The Best Things in Life are Three'. I bought this because I am completely unfamiliar with this brand and wanted to give it a go. I feel like I saw this brand in Target years ago (or maybe I'm crazy) but recently have been reading very good reviews on it now that it is sold in Sephora, which is where I purchased it for $25.

This comes with their three classics that contain their original pink scent. I ordered this based on reviews, without testing or smelling it. Let me warn you that this is not for people who have trouble wearing fragrances. It has a very strong smell and I can tell you that it smells exactly like the perfume Miss Dior Cherie by Dior. Right now I am loving it because I have and love the perfume, but I can see myself wanting to skip wearing this lotion some days just because it is strong. As for the quality and texture; they both are amazing. Unlike some other lotions that are heavy on perfume yet drying, this lotion and body butter are very moisturizing.

This kit include:

- Good size travel case that can fit all of these products and much more

- The Righteous Butter body butter (this is huge! over 10 oz)

- Hand Food hand cream which is a perfect purse-sized lotion

- Clean On Me travel shower gel

Final Thoughts:

To me, this is a very good deal if you can handle the scent. Normally I carry a purse-sized lotion by L'Occitane which costs me $10 and use body butter from The Body Shop that is the same size as this Soap & Glory one but for $18. Just those two products already put over the total price of this set. Again, the only downfall for me will end up being the strong fragrance.