Confessions of a Makeup Junkie...

Blog Sale?

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 18:16:00 +0000

Hey Guys! Sorry I have been MIA lately. I promise to have more posts up soon. This is just a quick post to gauge your interest in a blog sale. I was looking at my makeup and have come to the sad, sad realization that I have entirely too much. I think it might be time to start some purging. If I did host a blog sale there would be a little bit of everything, mostly high end (MAC, Nars etc.) - my ask of all of you is:

1. Would you be interested?
2. What types of makeup would you be interested in?
3. What brands?
4. Price points?

Please leave comments below if you would be interested.

Thanks and have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Christie

New YouTuber: Cortney

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Tue, 13 May 2014 03:32:00 +0000

Hey guys, I know it has been awhile since I've posted and I have a ton of new products to share. I hope to have a few blog posts up this weekend and plan on a new one every week. I have an entire blogging list planned out. I just have to get my lazy rear in gear and take pictures / swatches etc.

Anyway, enough rambling. This is just a quick blog post about one of my very best friends. Her name is Cortney and she is relatively new to YouTube. Her channel is hair care / beauty / lifestyle focused. She is an amazing, funny, cheerful woman and I know you will enjoy her videos as much as I enjoy her friendship. Please support - a link to her most recent video is below. Check her out and be sure to subscribe to her channel.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mWCdtKrr3-M

Keep an eye out for some new product review and haul posts this weekend!

Xoxo,

Christie

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Muji Acrylic Case - 5 Drawers

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 02:52:00 +0000

I was recently in sunny California for work. I wandered outside of my hotel for dinner and came across a Muji store. I was super excited to see it because I have heard great things about their acrylic cases. If you haven't heard of Muji it is a Japanese based store/brand. They sell clothing and home organization items. The theme of their products is simple and high quality but affordable. There are a few stores in the US but none near where I live. I had heard that the three and five drawer acrylic cases were great for makeup storage but I didn't want to order them without seeing them.

I have wanted to find a new organization system for my lip products. I had been storing them in small baskets in the bottom drawer of a lingerie chest that I use to hold all of my makeup. It wasn't my favorite way to store them. I found that I was only using the products towards the front of the drawer because they were the most easily accessible.

When I went into the Muji store I was on a mission to find these acrylic cases. I was surprised at how inexpensive they were. I want to say the three drawer system was $19 and the five drawer was $23 (I just looked at the prices online but they seem higher than what I paid). I went back and forth on whether to buy the three drawer, five drawer or both. I ultimately ended up buying the five drawer acrylic case and I'm glad I did because it fits my lippies perfectly.

Below are pictures of the case as a whole and each drawer. I guess this will also be an impromptu lip collection post too:)

The lipstick holder on top did not come with the five drawer unit. That was purchased separately at The Container Store.

The drawers are not very deep but they are absolutely perfect for holding lip products. You'll notice that I keep my NARS lip lacquer pot on top of the unit. That is because the drawers are not deep enough to hold it. I really am so happy with these drawers. I especially like the high quality of the acrylic. The fact that this now sits on top of my dresser allows me to use all of the products evenly.

I am always looking for new makeup organization tips. I am currently using small black baskets that sit inside each drawer of my lingerie chest. They work well but I'm not thrilled with them. How do you organize your makeup? Do you have a chest like mine or even the popular Ikea Alex unit? What do you use to organize inside each drawer?

Deal of the Day: Sally Hansen Gel Nail Strips

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:48:00 +0000

I stumbled across an amazing deal today that I just had to share with you guys. I stopped at Walgreen's on my way home from work to pick up a card. I took a quick trip through the cosmetics section (it's just habit) and I saw that some of the Sally Hansen Gel Nail Strips were on clearance for $7.49. There was also a Walgreen's coupon for $5 off the gel strips. I asked the manager if I could use the coupon on the gel strips that were on clearance and sure enough...the coupon worked! Each box of nail strips ended up only being $2.49! They normally retail for $14.99 - that's just a little more than an 80% savings. Needless to say I stocked up!

Just a side note, these nail strips do require the separate Sally Hansen drying lamp. The coupon comes in the Walgreen's book at the front of the store - not the weekly circular. I forgot to see when the coupon expires - sorry guys. When I went in today they had a ton of colors to choose from (not every single color is on sale but a lot are) - so if you want to partake I would get to your Walgreen's sooner rather than later :)

My First Time...Sleek Blushes

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 02:09:00 +0000

Sleek is a UK based makeup company that is not available in the States. You can order directly from their site and have it shipped internationally. I had heard a lot of good things about the brand but was just a little hesitant to try it out without seeing it in person. Being the blush junkie that I am I finally decided to bite the bullet and order a few blushes.

What was I waiting for? Seriously, these blushes are amazing. They are pigmented, soft and apply smoothly. They have a great scent to them that is reminiscent of the Benefit boxed blushes. And...the best part is the price. At $5.99 for 8g of product they are super affordable. I am in love with the smooth matte black packaging. While they look small 8g of product is more than most standard blushes. A standard NARS blush is 4.8g of product and a standard MAC blush is 6g. It doesn't take terribly long for them to ship either. I placed my order on the September 2nd and they were delivered on October 11th.

I ordered two single blushes in the colors Pomegranate and Rose Gold. Pomegranate is deep berry with slight shimmer that is going to be perfect for Fall. As its name would suggest, Rose Gold is a rosy blush with a gold shimmer. It reminds me a lot of Benefit's Rockateur blush. The only con about these blushes is that the packaging can be a little difficult to open. I fight to open the Rose Gold blush the most. The lid sticks but eventually opens.

Needless to say, I am definitely going to be ordering more from this line. I am particularly interested in the blush trios. I have also heard good things about their Pout Polish.

What have Sleek Makeup products have you tried? Which ones do you love?

Favorite Fall Lip Products

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 01:24:00 +0000

It is no secret that Fall is my favorite season. I feel like I wait nine months out of the year for Fall. The first cool night and I'm ready to break out the sweaters and boots. I love pumpkin lattes,changing leaves, Thanksgiving and football games on cool Sunday afternoons. Another one of my favorite things about Fall is dark, vampy lip colors. There are a lot of gorgeous products out there that help to achieve this look. These are some of my favorites.

Revlon Lip Butters
Sugar Plum: The deep mauve color of this Lip Butter is great for those who like a little darker lip but can't quite commit to a super dark color.

Fig Jam: Hands down this is one of my favorite Fall lip colors. It is a perfect brown-red with a slightly glossy finish. One of the reasons that I love the Revlon Lip Butters is because they are so easy to use. I can typically apply most of them without a mirror and they feel great on the lips.
Red Velvet: A perfect deep cranberry red. I am seriously obsessed with these things.

Chubby Lip Pencils
NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Palais Royal: A deep wine color with a satin finish. The only thing I had a little trouble with is feathering. To help prevent feathering I used my Urban Decay Ozone lip pencil underneath as a base and it stayed put.
Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Color in Apocalypse: One of the darker colors that I own, Apocalypse is a deep plum with a glossy finish.
Cover Girl Jumbo Gloss Balm in Jam Twist: Jam Twist is more a wash of bright cranberry color and less opaque than the NARS and Urban Decay pencils.

MAC Lipstick
Talk That Talk (Limited Edition): This is a perfect deep maroon color with a retro matte finish.
Dark Side (Permanent Collection): Dark Side is almost the twin of Talk That Talk but with a creamier texture and slightly glossy finish.
Sweet Succulence (Limited Edition): This is definitely the darkest lipstick that I own. It is a deep maroon that has deep purple tones. It is a lustre finish so it is the glossiest finish of the four lipsticks.
Caliente (Limited Edition): Caliente was released with the Temperature Rising collection - it is a brown - bronze color. It has a dazzle finish with glitter throughout the lipstick. One thing I did not love about this particular lipstick is that the glitter can feel a little gritty on the lips. However, that is not enough to keep it out of my favorites.

Lip Gloss
MAC Lust for Life (Limited Edition) Lip Glass: Deep berry gloss with a lustre finish. I hate that I love these limited edition products so much because it makes me not want to use them for fear of running out!
MAC Liquer (Limited Edition) Lip Glass: This color is so difficult to describe - it is a bronze-brown color with hints of pink. It is truly stunning.
MAC Soft Serenade (Limited Edition) Lip Glass: While this is not a dark color it does look beautiful over some of the more matte lip pencils and lipsticks. It is a nude lip gloss with shimmery glitter.
Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Bordeaux: This is a great dupe for MAC's Lust for Life.

With any of these deep colors I recommend using a lip liner to help prevent feathering and to maintain the deep color. I have been loving my Urban Decay Ozone lip liner lately. It is a clear liner that helps hold color and stop feathering. I have also been using my MAC Talk That Talk lip liner from the RiRi Hearts MAC collection. It is a dark plum from the Pro Longwear collection and it seriously does not budge.

What are some of your favorite Fall lip colors?

October 2013 Ipsy Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 02:39:00 +0000

I absolutely love coming home to find packages waiting for me in my mailbox. It is like Christmas every month. I am currently subscribed to two monthly services; Popsugar Must Have and Ipsy. The Ipsy bag is $10 a month billed to your debit or credit card. Every month you receive five deluxe sample size beauty products in a reusable makeup bag. Occasionally one of the products in the bag will be full sized. The products that you receive are personalized for you based upon a profile you complete when you sign up for the service. So, if Ipsy chooses 20 brands to feature that month you might get products from five of them that are different than the five your friend gets. It is a great way to discover and try new products. There have been quite a few products that I have gotten as samples in my Ipsy bag and then gone on to buy (i.e. Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Scrub, Pssst Dry Shampoo).

http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-haynqrirufhk9gd

The theme of this month's bag is The Art of Beauty. The makeup bag this month is absolutely adorable. It is a white bag with pink writing. The front of the bag reads "Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art." I am pretty excited about all of the products that I received this month as well. I will list them below with a quick thought on each one.

Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush: This was nice to get - while it's not the highest quality brush it is always nice to have an extra brush in my collection. The bristles are soft and pretty densely packed (although I noticed it does shed). This will probably be good for packing color on to the lid. Includes a 25% off coupon code

LA Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes (10): Makeup wipes are always great to have a stash of. I travel frequently for work so this is a great size to take with me on trips. I have never tried this brand before. The package says they are made with "a luscious blend of aloe, cucumber, papaya, pineapple, marshmallow, jojoba and vitamins C & E". Marshmallow, seriously? Fun! I am planning on doing a review/comparison of makeup wipes so I will be sure that these make their way into that post.
Includes a 30% off coupon code

Zoya Nail Polish in Neve: This is a gorgeous, full-size navy blue nail polish. I am not a big fan of blue nail polish but given how deep this color is I might have to give it a try. Full-size Zoya nail polishes retail for $8 so this product alone almost pays for the bag.
Includes a buy 2 get 1 free promo code

stylesexyhair Spray Clay (1.4 oz): I am not familiar with this product but it looks to be a texturizing spray. I sprayed a little on to my hand and it comes out like a hairspray but it has a gritty texture. I love sprays that add texture to my hair - I am currently using the TIGI Sea Salt Spray but I am definitely going to take this for a whirl.
Includes a $5 off coupon code

Bella Terra Mineral Shimmer in Emotion: A beautiful loose pigment in deep plum with gold shimmer. Gorgeous. I was surprised at how much I liked this color when I swatched it on my hand. I think this will create an awesome purple smoky eye.
Includes a 50% coupon code

I really love getting my Ipsy bags. I think it is a fun, relatively inexpensive, way to treat yourself to some new products every month. Not to mention the adorable makeup bags! If you are interested in subscribing I believe there is a waiting list so I would recommend getting on it now. I have linked my referral code below for those that might be interested.
http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-haynqrirufhk9gd

Ben Nye Banana Powder - Worth the Hype?

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 02:06:00 +0000

To answer the question that the title asks I will say yes, this product is worth the hype. However, I will add a disclaimer - Banana Powder is not for everyone. It is not a universal powder that is appropriate for all skin tones. Banana Powder is just one shade in the Ben Nye Luxury Powder line.

Banana Powder (let's just call it the "BP" from here on) is an extremely finely milled loose powder that when applied is mostly translucent but does have a light yellow hint of color. The Luxury Powders are meant to be finishing powders however, the most popular use of BP is to highlight under the eyes.

I use my BP to set my under eye concealer. After I've blended out my under eye concealer I set it with this powder using my Beauty Blender. A little bit of powder goes a long way. I just tap a little bit out on to the lid and then pick it up using the pointy end of the Beauty Blender. It leaves behind a smooth silky feeling on the skin which I really like under that very sensitive area of the skin under the eyes. The light color of the powder also helps to achieve that bright under eye look. Again, this color might not work on everyone. I have very yellow undertones to my skin and my foundation ranges from MAC NC25 to NC35 depending on the season. My suggestion would be if you are on the fence about whether it will work for you then try it out. If it doesn't suit your skin tone perhaps try another shade from the line.

I ordered mine online from http://camerareadycosmetics.com/products/ben-nye-bella-luxury-powder.html. Aside from being a really great product it is also inexpensive. I ordered the 1.5 oz size ($10) almost 6 months ago and I still have more than 75% left. I will absolutely repurchase this this over and over again.

Review: L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 01:31:00 +0000

This is one of those products that I can say YouTube made me buy. After seeing some of my favorite beauty gurus rave about this I decided to try it out. I'm always on the lookout for a good primer. Initially I was deterred by the price. At $19.99 for 1.18 fl oz of product, this is more than I would normally spend on a drugstore product. I finally bit the bullet and bought it when I had a $3.50 coupon from Ulta.

The L'Oreal Revitalift claims to erase the look of pores and wrinkles. The directions say that it can be worn alone or under makeup. I wear mine under my makeup because I have some uneven texture on my skin due to my occasional acne flare ups. The product itself is a clear balm like texture. When smoothed over skin it leaves behind a very smooth silicone feeling. It provides a nice base that foundation sits nicely on top of. For that reason I do like it but I just don't think it is anything special. I definitely don't think it lives up to its $20 price tag. There are comparable products out there that work just as well and are more than half the price. I have tried the Hard Candy Sheer Envy primer and I think that these two products are pretty much identical. The biggest difference is the Hard Candy primer is only $8 for 1.3 oz of product. If I am going to go for a drugstore primer I would choose the Hard Candy version over the L'Oreal Revitalift. If I want to spend $20 on a primer I will spend a few more dollars and get a high end primer that works really well (i.e. Smashbox, Porefessional).

Claims: "Erases the look of lines, wrinkles and pores"
Finish/Texture: Balm like texture that leaves behind a smooth texture on the skin
Scent: None
Long Wearing: I did not think that this helped my makeup stay put any longer than any other primer or similar product
Price: $19.99
Availability: Target, Walmart and drugstores

Pros:

Leaves a nice smooth surface on the skin

Cons:

Cost

Overall: While I don't think that this is a terrible product I also don't think that is anything spectacular. I think that there are other drugstore alternatives that are less expensive. With a price tag close to a high end primer this does not live up to being high end quality.

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Balm

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 01:20:00 +0000

I have fallen in love with my local Harmon Face Value Store. I had no idea that this store even existed until I started my mission to find the Maybelline Color Tattoo matte colors. Harmon's is little a little hidden gem. I have been able to find every limited edition drugstore makeup display here. Not only do they have the displays but they are well stocked.

During my most recent trip I discovered a display of new Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Balms. The display states: Saturated Lip Color, Sensuous Balm Care and Polished Lip Shine. What really intrigued me about this product is the claim to be a liquid balm. I am always on the hunt for a moisturizing lip balm. My lips tend to get pretty dry especially as we head into the colder months so I had to see what these were all about.

There are 20 shades in this line that range from deep berry to bright purple to nude pinks. I find that I am typically drawn to light pinky nudes when choosing lip colors. While I loved the gorgeous vibrant shades that these come in I decided to stay in my comfort zone with nude colors. I picked up (060) Nude Illusion and (100) Petal Plush. Nude Illusion is a flesh toned nude and Petal Plush is a light baby pink. Each one was $6.49 at Harmon's.

I was pleasantly surprised by how true the color was on my lips. I have a ton of lip glosses that are in this color family and all too often the color is very sheer and almost nonexistent. They really hold true to the 'saturated color' claim. The doe foot applicator applies the product smoothly and precisely. There is a noticeable sweet vanilla scent. I don't mind this but those who don't care for that type of scent may find it bothersome. These lip balms are thicker than a normal lip gloss but they aren't tacky or sticky in the least. They are quite comfortable on the lips and feel very hydrating. It feels like a lipstick and lip balm were married and this is their baby. They are not very long wearing but in all fairness most lip balms aren't. While this product lacks in the long-wearing department it more than makes up for with the color payoff and texture.

I am enjoying these very much and plan on purchasing a few more colors. The display did not indicate that these were limited edition. I am very much hoping that Maybelline decides to make these part of their permanent line.

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balms and Matte Balms

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 23:40:00 +0000

I stumbled across a display of the new (limited edition?) Revlon Colorburst Lacquer and Matte Balms while I was on my hunt for the Maybelline Color Tattoo matte shades. I spotted the display at both Bed Bath & Beyond and Harmon's. I was pretty excited to come across these because I have really been enjoying the jumbo lip pencil craze. It seems like every brand now makes some form of this jumbo lip color/crayon/balm. I like them because they are such no-brainer products. They are easy to use and typically pretty low maintenance.

I believe there are 20 shades in this collection; 10 lacquer and 10 matte. I only picked up three of the colors. This was mostly because I wanted to try them out before going buck wild and buying all of them. Although, if I end up loving these as much as I love the Colorburst Lip Butters then it is likely that I will go back and pick up more colors. I also didn't want to go too crazy because I just bought a few of the Cover Girl Jumbo Gloss Balms and it seemed a little redundant as I tend to gravitate towards the same shades of lip color all the time.

I bought two of the lacquer shades and only one of the matte colors. I am not a big fan of matte lip colors as I find them to be drying and not very flattering on me but wanted to give this one a fair shot.

The two lacquer shades that I have are (150) Desirable and (105) Demure. Desirable is a bright cranberry red while Demure is a very light pink. Both colors have a nice glossy finish and apply smoothly. These pencils have nice pigmentation - I would say they are more than a wash of color but not quite as opaque as a lipstick.

The matte color that I thought I would get the most use out of is (205) Elusive. I would describe Elusive as a mid-tone pink that is a little brighter than I thought it would be. As expected the matte colors seem to be more opaque than the lacquers. I had to be a little more careful when applying this color since matte lip products tend to feather. I don't necessarily think this is a bad product. Like most matte lip products they are drying on the lips but I think that is just the nature of the product. I believe there is a darker purple color in the matte line that I would love to try.

An interesting thing to note is the scent of these products. They have a pretty strong licorice scent which I find to be pleasant but I can see some people not loving it. Jumbo gloss balms tend not to be very long-lasting. These are no exception. I got a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours wear out of these guys which is pretty decent for what they are.

All in all I don't think these are much different than any of their counterparts on the market. There isn't anything about these that would make me choose them over any other brand. The price ($6.99) is comparable to other drugstore versions. If these become part of the permanent Revlon line and sold at all drugstores you can usually catch a pretty good sale as well.

My Current Foundation Routine

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 21:46:00 +0000

As a follow up to my recent post about my current favorite foundation I thought it would be a good time to write about my current foundation routine. This tends to change because I am always trying new powders, foundations and concealers but for the most part these are the products that I have been using for the past few months.

Before I get into the products that I use let me first tell you a little about my skin. I was not blessed with a naturally flawless complexion. I have very sensitive, temperamental skin that ranges from normal to oily. I tend to breakout along my jaw and when I break out it gets extremely red and inflamed. More often than not the skin around the pimples gets very dry and flaky which can be challenging to conceal. I also deal with hyperpigmentation from breaking out. It seems that almost every pimple eventually turns into a little dark mark aka one more thing to try to cover up. Now that you know a little more about my skin and its challenges on to the products :)

I always begin by priming my skin. I find that a good primer helps to create a smooth surface for my foundation especially around those dry flaky acne spots. They also help my foundation last longer through the day. Right now I am trying out the L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur in the oil free version. It has a nice texture and I find that it smooths out my skin but this product really is a miss for me mostly because of the price point. I will be posting a full review on this product shortly.

I like to let my primer sink into my skin for a few minutes before I start applying foundation. The foundation that I have been loving lately is the Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1. Right now I am the color golden tan but this will change in a few months as my summer tan really starts to fade. One thing I really like about this foundation is that it comes in a bottle with a pump. I typically use two pumps of foundation. I pump it out on to the back of my hand and then use my ring finger to evenly dot it all over my face. I really love using my Beauty Blender with this foundation. I use the round end of the Beauty Blender to take all of that foundation and "pounce" it into my skin until it is all blended out.

While the Cover Girl foundation covers up most of my skins imperfections I still need a separate concealer to help cover up some of the darker marks. The concealer that I have fallen in love with is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I just discovered this over the summer and boy oh boy is this stuff amazing. I find that some concealers cling to dry skin but this one does not at all. It really is creamy and covers up blemishes beautifully. Creamy is the perfect word to describe it. I will just dot this on top of whatever needs to be covered up and then use my Beauty Blender to blend it out to a flawless finish.

I admit I have gotten caught up in the Kim Kardashian inspired bright under eye look. I use a few different products to help try to achieve this. I start with the MAC Prep + Prime highlighter in the color Radiant. Taking the highlighter pen I create a "V" underneath both of my eyes that starts right under my eyes and goes down to about the tip of my nose - the top of the "V" starts at about my tear duct and extends out to where my eye ends. Once I have that area all filled in with the highlighter I use the other end of my Beauty Blender to lightly blend all of that out. I don't over blend because I still want it to show up pretty light. After all of that is blended out I take my MAC Studio Fix concealer in a shade that is about 2-3 shades too light for me (NW-20) and dot a little bit on top of where I just blended out the highlighter. I find that this just adds to the lightening of that area. I also blend that out with my Beauty Blender. To set all of that concealer I use the Ben Nye Banana Powder again on my handy Beauty Blender. I just tap some into the lid of the container and then using then pick it up using the pointy end of the BB and lightly tap it all over the concealer/highlighter underneath my eyes.

To set the rest of my face I like to use my MAC Studio fix powder. I use a big fluffy brush and pat the Studio fix into my face. I have to be careful with this product as it can look very cakey if applied too heavily. To help combat against the cake face look I spray a little bit of MAC's Fix + on my face after I''m finished. I realize that this sounds like a lot of product but this is what I have found works to help me achieve a nearly flawless face that lasts throughout the day.

What do you use in your foundation routine?

October 2013 Popsugar Must Have Box

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 01:00:00 +0000

I feel like I wait all year for Fall. I absolutely love everything about Fall - sweaters, the changing leaves, Halloween and most importantly...pumpkin everything. There is just something so cozy about Fall. It makes me want to curl up with a blanket, a mug of something warm and a good book.

When I got home today I found my October Popsugar Must Have box waiting for me. It is like Christmas waiting for my Popsugar box every month. If you are not familiar with the Popsugar Must Have box it is a monthly subscription box. The box is described as a lifestyle box so it can include beauty, fashion, home and food items. The cost is $35/month and is billed every month to a debit or credit card. The value of the box is supposed to be over $100 and for the most part I think that is pretty accurate. The link to subscribe is: https://musthave.popsugar.com/. While this isn't entirely makeup or beauty related I thought it would be fun to start sharing these with you guys.

This month's box includes brands that support breast cancer charities. More importantly, $1 from every box sold this month will be donated to breast cancer research. Below is a list of everything included in this month's box, an approximate price, link the brand's website and my general thoughts about each item.

* The Can't Cook Cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld (value: $16.45) - I'm actually really excited about this. I love to cook and I like to think I'm pretty good at it but it is always fun to try new things out.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cant-Cook-Book-Absolutely/dp/1451662254
* NYX Smokey Shadow Palette (value $6.99) - I almost bought this from Ulta the other day when they had NYX on sale for 40% off but I figured I didn't need another smokey eyeshadow palette. I quickly swatched some of the colors and like most NYX eyeshadows they are pretty pigmented.
http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/
* NYX Collection Noir Liquid Black Liner ($5.99) - I am not really a fan of liquid eyeliners that have the little brush on the end like this one. I much prefer felt tipped liquid liners but in my quest to find the perfect liquid liner I think I should probably give this one a try.
http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/
* Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet ($45) - This is an adorable dainty little bracelet. I was surprised to see the actual price of it on the company's website because it is such a tiny bracelet. It is made up for by the fact that when you purchase this bracelet from the company's website 100% of the proceeds are donated to Breast Cancer Connections.
http://www.gorjana-griffin.com/
* Julep for Popsugar Nail Polish Duo ($25) + 1 Month Free Julep Maven Box ($19.99) - This duo includes a top coat and a Fall inspired color. I really love the color I got - it is called Coco and it is a deep oxblood color. In addition to the nail colors that came in the box there is a promo code included that gives you a free month of the Julep Maven subscription box. I ordered the Classic with a Twist box that comes with Padma which is described as a royal plum and Florence which is a camel colored polish. The starter box also comes with Luxe Repair Skin Serum. I'm not sure if I will keep the Julep subscription going after my initial box but this was a really great way to see if I like it.
www.julep.com
* Jane Tran Bobby Pins ($12) - The design of these bobby pins is cute but I doubt I will get much use out of them. I rarely wear my hair up and when I do I just use plain old bobby pins.
http://www.janetran.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=301
* The Wet Brush ($14) - This is the item that I was most excited about. The Wet Brush was designed to use on wet hair. I know, I know you're thinking "brushing wet hair is a no no". The beauty of this brush is that the bristles are super flexible so it reduces the risk of breakage when brushing it through wet hair. I was going to pick one of these brushes up the next time I was at Sally's. Having it in this month's box was perfect timing. The Wet Brush company is also making a donation towards breast cancer research for every brush included in this month's box.
http://thewetbrush.com/
* The Crispery Halloween Crispycake ($3.95) - Who wouldn't love a giant sprinkle covered rice crispy treat? Seriously - this thing is huge. Yum.
https://www.thecrispery.com/
* Stitch Fix $20 Off Coupon + Styling Fee Waived ($20) - I was not familiar with Stitch Fix so I had to go out to the website and do a little research. The basic premise of the site is that you build a style profile, pay a $20 "styling fee". The company then ships you five handpicked items, you pick the one you want and send the other four back. The $20 fitting fee that you paid can then be used towards the price of the item you decide to keep. The site says the average price of each item is $65. I am going to try it out so I'll give a full report back after I receive my first five items.
www.stitchfix.com

All totaled this month's box has a value of approximately $169. While I like some of the products in the box I'm not super excited about it. This is my fourth Popsugar box and so far I haven't really been wowed by any of the boxes I've gotten. I signed up in June because I had seen an unboxing video on YouTube for the June box and that one was amazing. The $35 subscription price is a bit pricey for a monthly subscription box and I just got an email the other day that they are raising the price to $39. I will probably keep it for a few more months and see if the boxes get better. If they don't I will probably cancel my subscription and spend my $35 at Sephora ;-)

Review: Benefit Rockatuer Blush

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 02:08:00 +0000

Benefit's newest addition to their much loved line of boxed powders is the luminous Rockatuer blush. It is a beautiful rose colored blush with a golden shimmer. I have more blush than one girl could ever use in a lifetime but I could not pass up adding this one to my collection. I resisted the temptation through a few trips to Ulta and Sephora but eventually my will broke and this beauty came home with me.

I am not a fan of shimmery blushes so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one. I figured if I really hated it I could just give it to one of my friends. I was pleasantly surprised to find that while it looks shimmery in the box it does not come off on the skin that way. When applied to the apples of the cheeks it gives off a very rosy flush color that is gorgeous. It looks natural while giving you a bit of a highlighted sheen. Like all of the Benefit boxed powders, this blush came with a small brush that sits on top of a plastic separator inside the box. I normally don't use these brushes but this one was just perfect for applying product to the tops of my cheeks where this product looks best. One of my favorite things about the Benefit boxed powders is the scent of the powders. All of the powders have this delicious perfumed scent - this blush is no exception.

My only real complaint about this blush is the size. While the rest of the Benefit boxed powders have 0.28 oz of product this blush only has 0.17 oz of product yet it still boasts the same $28 price tag.

Claims: "This rockin’ rose gold cheek powder gives a famously provocative flush that turns heads on-stage and off"
Finish/Texture: Finely milled powder with a slight gold shimmer
Scent: Pleasant perfume scent
Long Wearing: Relatively, no more so than any other blush
Packaging: Signature Benefit box with small brush stored inside
Price: $28
Availability: Sephora, Ulta and benefitcosmetics.com

Pros:

Nice flush of color
Pleasant scent
Convenient brush that works well with the product
Adorable packaging

Cons:

Smaller size than other Benefit boxed powders

Overall: The color is different than any other blush that I have in my collection. The smooth texture allows the powder to glide on and blend smoothly. Benefit has another winner in the Rockateur blush.

Review: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 01:14:00 +0000

This review is actually a little dated since I discovered/fell in love with this product at the beginning of the summer. I wasn't going to write a review now but felt like I would be remiss if I didn't talk about this truly awesome foundation.

I have always been a high-end foundation kind of girl. When this came out and started getting rave reviews I was curious but reluctant to try it. I have extremely sensitive skin and always believed that drugstore foundations were lesser quality and would break me out. I had never really found a holy grail foundation. I tried a few different MAC, Bobbi Brown, Makeup Forever and Clinique foundations but none of them wowed me. In addition to having sensitive skin I have pretty oily skin. I need a long-wearing foundation that can stand up to my oily temperamental skin and won't slip and slide all over my face throughout the day. On a whim one day while I was at Target I decided to pick up a bottle of this foundation and see what all the hype was about. At the time I was the shade Soft Honey and have since gotten my summer tan and switched to Golden Tan.

The CG 3-in-1 foundation claims to be a primer, foundation and concealer all in one that provides long-lasting coverage. It is currently available in 14 different shades and can be found at any drugstore, Walmart or Target. I have seen the price range from $9.49 (Target) to $12.99 (Walgreen's).

While it is supposed to have a built in primer I still like to use a separate primer. When I first started using this foundation I tried applying it with a couple different brushes and tools to try to see which I liked best. The first thing I tried was my Sigma F82 round top kabuki brush. Using two pumps of the foundation, I dotted it all over my face then blended it out. I really liked the way it applied with the brush. It gave a very airbrushed finish. I was still curious to see how my Beauty Blender would perform - using the same method of dotting the foundation all over my face I then used my Beauty Blender to "pounce" the foundation into my skin. Ladies and gentlemen, we had a winner. It's like this foundation and the Beauty Blender are a match made in heaven. The Beauty Blender applied and blended the foundation while covering imperfections but somehow managed to let my skin show through. I would say that this a medium to full coverage foundation without feeling too heavy or cakey. While it covers almost all of my skin's imperfections I still find myself using a separate concealer for some of the blemishes that it doesn't cover. I have a few dark marks on my skin from hyperpigmentation that need a little extra TLC from the help of a concealer but for the most part the foundation alone covers a majority of my dark spots/acne scars.

If I set this foundation with a mattifying powder I can get a good 8-hours of wear without having to touch-up my makeup. I will use an oil blotting sheet throughout the day which helps prolong the wear. The real test was this past summer. We had a scorching hot summer with some days getting up into the high 90's. This foundation stood up to even the hottest of days without melting off of my face. What I like most about this product is that I don't have to work too quickly with it. When I was using my MAC Pro Longwear foundation I could only do one small section at a time because the foundation would set so quickly. I always felt like I was in a fire drill racing to get it blended. This goes on and gives you time to blend it out and then sets.

Aside from being long-wearing another important thing I look for in makeup is compatibility with my sensitive skin. This foundation did not break me out or clog my pores. I am careful to remove my makeup every night before I go to bed. I will say that I find myself having to wash my face twice to get all traces of this makeup off but that's not the worst thing in the world.

This is the only foundation I have used for the past 6-months and I don't see an end in site. I have since repurchased it and continue to love it. I am going to take a break after the bottle I am currently using is finished. I want to try a few more foundations (i.e. the NARS Sheer Glow and YSL Youth Liberator Serum foundations) but I am sure I will come back to my old friend.

Claims: "All-in-one foundation with a long-lasting formula that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step! The 3-in-1 formula provides a flawless look that lasts all day long"
Coverage: Medium to full with a semi-matte finish
Scent: None
Long Wearing: Yes, an average 8-hours of wear
Packaging: Glass bottle with a convenient pump
Price: $12.99 (average) for 1 oz of product - I usually buy mine at Walgreen's when CoverGirl is BOGO 50% and I can also buy my favorite CG Clump Crusher mascara.
Availability: any major retail chain, drugstore or health and beauty store that carries CG

Pros:

Good coverage
Long wearing
Easy to find
Variety of shades

Cons:

I find that while I like the convenience of the pump, it does not get all of the foundation at the bottom of the bottle

Overall: This has quickly become my holy grail foundation and has forever changed my view on drugstore foundation. It is a solid product that outperforms many of its high-end counterparts.

Review and Swatches: Urban Decay Vice 2

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 23:52:00 +0000

If you love Urban Decay eyeshadows run, don't walk, to the nearest Ulta/Sephora near you and pick this up. I made the mistake of not buying the original Vice palette. By the time I realized that I really wanted it, it was sold out and nowhere to be found. Fortunately I found it on Amazon for a reasonable price. This time when Urban Decay announced that they were releasing another edition of the Vice palette I knew I wasn't going to miss out. I bought my Vice 2 palette the second weekend after it was out. Sadly, when I got it home I found that several of the shadows were shattered. Sephora was awesome in exchanging it for a new one. This is the first UD palette that has ever broken on me. I'm thinking the new formulation makes the shadows really soft and prone to breaking. I would not recommend traveling with this guy.

This palette is a beauty. I'll begin with the packaging. The case is a hard shiny plastic with a purple abstract orchid design. I actually prefer the shiny hard plastic of this palette over the matte plastic packaging of the original. The matte plastic is very difficult to keep clean. The hard plastic can easily be wiped clean. It is topped with the same crystal UD logo that was on the original Vice palette. One of the really great things about the Vice palettes are the mirrors. It opens up to a full-size mirror that stands on it's own at a 90 degree angle. Just like the original Vice palette, Vice 2 comes with a double ended eyeshadow brush. This palette comes 20 brand new shades. None of the colors are part of UD's permanent line nor are there any repeats from the original Vice palette. Vice 2 has a lot more jewel toned shadows than it's predecessor. A majority of the shadows are shimmery. If you aren't a fan of shimmery shadows don't be put off. The shimmer in these shadows is very fine and not glittery or obnoxious. What I love most about this palette is the formulation of the shadows. Aside from being highly pigmented they are extremely buttery and soft and blend like a dream.

This palette is a steal at $59. It comes with 20 shadows that are approximately 0.8g of product. The permanent single shadows from Urban are $18 each for 1.5g of product. I can't emphasize this enough - get it before it's gone! Below are swatches and descriptions of each color directly from the Urban Decay website.

Smokeout: dark taupey-black satin
Lovesick: black matte w/ iridescent micro-glitter
Shellshock: bright metallic silver
Coax: medium metallic pink w/ golden iridescent micro-sparkle
X-Rated: baby pink satin

Prank: deep navy matte w/ turquoise floating pearl
Madness: bright metallic blue shimmer w/ blue micro-glitter
Strike: antique gold shimmer w/ silver micro-glitter
Stash: deep olive green shimmer w/ iridescent micro-sparkle
Poison: charcoal satin w/ iridescent micro-sparkle

Radar: metallic brown shimmer w/ iridescent micro-glitter
Damaged: bright metallic emerald shimmer
Voodoo: metallic purple shimmer w/ iridescent purple micro-glitter
Betrayal: bright purple satin w/ blue shift
Derailed: medium metallic taupey-brown shimmer

Dope: warm champagne satin
Toxic: metallic copper-pink shimmer w/ tonal mico-glitter
Habit: light nude matte
Ambush: metallic brown satin
Rewind: medium brown matte

Claims: "Every shade features our Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives the formula its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability"
Finish Texture: Mostly velvety, shimmery shades with a few matte colors
Scent: N/A
Long Wearing: Yes, especially when worn over an eyeshadow primer and/or eyeshadow base
Packaging: Hard plastic case
Price: $59
Availability: Sephora, Ulta and urbandecay.com
Limited Edition: Yes

Pros:

Highly pigmented shades
Smooth buttery texture
Price/value
Full-size mirror
Packaging

Cons:

Shadows are extremely soft and may be prone to breaking - not convenient to travel with

Overall: Urban Decay has done it again. They have put out a gorgeous eyeshadow palette that did not disappoint. It is no wonder that this brand is among the most popular in the beauty community. Make sure you get your hands on one of these pretties before they are gone!

RiRi Hearts MAC - Swatches and First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 21:20:00 +0000

It is no secret that I fell completely in love with the packaging of the Riri Hearts MAC Fall collection. Today was the first chance I had to actually play with the products and do a little swatching. As promised and without further ado - ladies and gentlemen I give you RiRi Hearts MAC :)

RiRi Woo Lipstick, Gloss and Liner: These were probably the items I was most excited about when I saw the collection. I was so glad that I was able to get all three pieces. RiRi Woo is reminiscent of MAC's famous Ruby Woo lipstick. It is a perfect red - it is ever so slightly darker than Ruby Woo but has cool undertones so it will be flattering on many different skin tones. In addition to the lipstick, MAC released a matching Pro Longwear lip liner. These Pro Longwear lip liners are amazing. Talk about long lasting, after I swatched everything I went to wipe my hand off with a makeup wipe and the lip liner would not budge. I had to really scrub it off and even then it left a red stain behind to remind me of its awesomeness.

Talk That Talk Lipstick and Liner: This duo is absolutely perfect for the Fall. It is a deep, vampy purple with red tone lipstick. I was excited for this because I love dark lips for Fall. I wore this the other day and I didn't have any issues with feathering and the Pro Longwear liner helped the color stay on a majority of the day. Like the RiRi Woo lipstick, this is a retro matte finish that I don't find to be drying on the lips.

Hibiscus Kiss Bronzer Duo: The MAC website describes this as "cool coral complements a neutral matte bronze in one gorgeous package". I had a really tough time swatching the bronzer - it barely shows up on my hand. However, I did use this bronzer today to warm up my face and it shows up on my face beautifully. The bronzer is a nice matte bronze with absolutely no shimmer (which I happen to prefer). The blush is a very pretty bright coral.

Bad Girl Gone Good Blush: This is described as a "warm copper" blush with a satin finish. I think the color is absolutely gorgeous but be warned - if you are fair skinned use a light hand. This can pull a little orange if applied too heavily.

Diamonds Cream Base: To me this is one of the standouts of the entire collection. It is a beautiful shimmery champagne colored cream highlight. I used this today as a highlight on the tops of my cheeks and even though it is shimmery it is not sparkly or too dramatic. It adds just the right amount of highlight.

Eyeshadow Quad in Her Cocoa: I was on the fence about the eyeshadow quads because to be honest the colors all looked like colors that I might have in other palettes. After using this quad I am so glad that I bought it. It creates the perfect light bronze smokey eye. I went for a wearable bronze eye look but you can definitely smoke the darker colors out for a more dramatic look. The MAC site describes the quad as "four warm shades: bright bronze gold, soft peach, chocolate bronze and antique gold". I found that these quads do not swatch very well but they are very easy to work with on the eyes. Unfortunately the individual names are not listed on the quad so I can't tell if these are from the permanent line or limited edition. The swatches in order are left to right and top to bottom.

Eyeshadow Quad in Smoked Cocoa: I have not gotten a chance to use this one yet but I am so looking forward to doing a very dramatic smokey eye. This one is described as "four cool shades: shimmering champagne, black with silver pearl, satin charcoal and matte grey". These also did not swatch well. I'm hoping they will be easier to work with on the eyes.

I am really excited to see what the collection that will launch around the holidays is going to look like! Until then I will play with these little beauties <3

Haul: Riri Hearts Mac Fall Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 05:03:00 +0000

The much anticipated Riri Hearts MAC collection launched in MAC stores on September 26th. I had been lusting after the collection since I saw pictures posted online. Given the popularity of the limited edition Riri lipsticks that launched online earlier this Summer, I knew that this collection would sell out fast. I wasn't able to get to my MAC store on the day of the launch but was there bright and early the next day. Surprisingly, they still had every piece of the collection and I was able to get everything I wanted. Be still my beating heart.

Can we talk about how gorgeous the packaging alone is? The boxes and packaging are the most beautiful rose gold color with red script writing and a big pink Rihanna "R" in the middle. MAC really got it right with this one.

I didn't get every piece of the collection because I just didn't think I needed it all. Some of the pieces are from the permanent line just redressed in the rose gold packaging. I also wasn't crazy about all of the lipstick colors and didn't want to buy them just to have them.

I was most excited about the Ririwoo lipstick, gloss and lip pencil. The deep red is absolutely stunning and can be universally flattering on many skin tones. I was also excited about the Hibiscuss Kiss bronzer/blush duo. I was really bummed when I didn't get this when it first launched this summer but now I'm so glad I didn't get it. I much prefer this packaging over the plain black MAC packaging that it released over the summer. The girl accidentally rang me up for two of the Diamonds cream bases so I was able to give one to my best friend who loves it as much as I do.

The whole collection is beautiful and I am so excited to have it to add to my own makeup collection. I will have another post with more pictures and swatches up shortly.

Review: YSL Glossy Stains - Rebel Nudes

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 04:40:00 +0000

I am in love. I was shopping with my best friend and we stopped into Sephora to check out the new Rebel Nude colors in the YSL glossy stain line. Well, it was love at first sight when I first laid my eyes on these little beauties.

For those that are not familiar with the YSL glossy stains - they are both a gloss and a lip stain. They go on as a smooth gloss and set to a tacky stain. For the best coverage I normally apply one coat, count to 15, add another coat, count to 20 and then add the final coat. Once the gloss wears off you are left with a bright vibrant lip stain. I have found that the gloss typically lasts close to 2 hours before it starts losing some of its shine.

I have two colors in the Rebel Nudes collection:

- 102 Corail Mutin: light peachy coral
- 103 Pink Taboo: watermelon pink

Claim: "This glossy Stain captures the shine of a gloss, color of a lipstick, and the long wear of a stain.
Finish/Texture: Goes on smooth like a gloss and sets to a tacky stain finish
Scent: Light floral scent
Long Wearing: Yes!
Packaging: Luxurious YSL packaging with a doe foot applicator
Price: $34
Availability: Sephora and other high end luxury retailers
Limited Edition: Unsure if the Rebel Nudes are limited edition colors or if they will become part of the permanent line

Pros:

Beautiful color
Long lasting
Pleasant scent
Good variety of colors

Cons:

The $34 price tag on these little beauties is a little steep for a lip gloss

Overall: AWESOME, AWESOME product. I am sure I will be purchasing more colors in the near future.

Review: L'Oreal laLaque / leMatte

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 03:40:00 +0000

There has been a lot of buzz in the beauty community about L'Oreal's newest addition to the Colour Riche line; the laLaque and leMatte lipcolours. I had seen some rave reviews on these lipsticks and decided to try them out for myself. I didn't have too much trouble finding them - I was able to find the four colors that I wanted between Target and Harmon's.

There are eight shades in the line; four matte colors and four lacquer colors. They are long pencil like lipsticks that twist up out of their packaging. I ended up buying two of each finish:

- laLaque Lacque-onic: a true red perfect for that classic red lip look
- laLaque Never Lacque-ing: a very pretty nude mauve
- leMatte Matte-R of Fact: a deep brown red
- leMatte Matte for Me: a bright orange red

Unfortunately, I am not as in love with these as the rest of the beauty community seems to be. While they are extremely full color lipsticks and provide vibrant color I don't think they are anything special. I do prefer the laLaque shades over the leMatte as I found the leMatte shades to be very drying. The laLaque colors glide on smoothly and have a slightly glossy finish. They are by no means a long wearing lip color. They transfer easily to glasses, mugs and wear off when eating. The leMatte shades were just painful to wear. They also apply pretty smoothly but quickly start to dry to their promised matte finish. I found the matte finish to be very drying and wear unevenly. The dark shade (Matte-R of Fact) was blotchy and never looked to be evenly applied.

Claims: "Shiny/velvety full coverage lipcolour"
Finish/Texture: The laLaque colors have a slightly glossy finish / the leMatte colors have a very dry matte finish
Scent: A pretty strong perfume scent that I don't find pleasant at all
Long Wearing: Not at all
Packaging: Long, slim pencil type that twist up
Price: $5.99
Availability: Limited availability - I found displays at Target and Harmon's but have not seen them at drugstores yet
Limited Edition: Unsure

Pros:

Beautiful, full, rich color

Cons:

Unpleasant strong scent
Matte shades drying
Not very long wearing
Transfers easily

Overall: This is a miss for me. If these lip colors become part of L'Oreal's permanent line I doubt that I would repurchase. The only one that I might consider repurchasing is the nude mauve color.

Limited Edition Maybelline Color Tattoo - Matte Shades

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 00:30:00 +0000

I was browsing Instagram the other day and saw someone had posted pictures of the new Maybelline Color Tattoos in matte colors. This was the first time I had heard mention of them. I immediately went out and googled them and found that they are part of the new limited edition Gilded in Gold holiday collection. From everything I read it looked like they were only available at Bed Bath & Beyond locations. I have a few BB&B locations near me so I got in my car and went on a field trip. Well, three BB&B trips later I was still empty handed. Every store had the small display out but the actual Color Tattoos were sold out. I guess that's not surprising considering each display only had two of each color - probably not Maybelline's best idea ever. Then the heavens opened up to me and I stumbled across a hidden gem. There is a store close to me called Harmon Face Value. Harmon's is a pretty big health and beauty store and until the other day I had no idea they even existed. Anyway, to make a long story short I went in and they had the FULL display. Needless to say I bought all three of the Color Tattoos as well as some other limited edition items which I will be blogging about shortly. If you want to get your hands on the Gilded in Gold run, don't walk, to your nearest drugstore as these beauties are bound to sell out quickly.

The Color Tattoos come in three matte colors: Matte Brown, Nude Pink and Just Beige. Nude Pink has been called a dupe for MAC's Painterly Paint Pot. Just Beige has also been compared to MAC's Soft Ochre Paint Pot. The Maybelline Color Tattoos are $4.99 for 4 grams of product and the MAC Paint Pots are $20 for 5 grams of product. Both products can be worn alone in lieu of eyeshadow but are more commonly used as an eyeshadow base. I am particularly fond of Painterly by MAC and wear it under almost every eyeshadow look.

Just Beige is a light, opaque beige color. When blended out it becomes more of a yellow toned flesh color. When compared to MAC's Soft Ochre Paint Pot it is almost an exact dupe. Soft Ochre is the slightest bit more yellow than Just Beige but not much. I also find the MAC Paint Pots to be creamier in texture than than the Paint Pot but for the price difference Just Beige is an excellent alternative to Soft Ochre.

Nude Pink is an opaque, rosy pink color. I find Nude Pink to be a bit darker than the Painterly Paint Pot (my fav) and I don't think I would like it very much as an eyeshadow base. If you have a darker skin tone this may work well as a base but on my lids it looked more like a wash of pink which would not work well under my favorite nude eyeshadow combo.

Claims: "Longest-lasting shadow"
Finish/Texture: The Maybelline Color Tattoos have a creamy texture. These particular products are creamy and have a matte finish.
Scent: None
Long Wearing: Extremely long wearing, they also help to prolong the length of eyeshadow when used as a base
Packaging: Like their more expensive counterparts the Color Tattoos come in small glass jars with a plastic lid. The lid screws on to help prevent the product from drying out.
Price: $4.99
Availability: Extremely limited; found at my local Harmon Face Value and also seen at BB&B
Limited Edition: Yes

Pros:

Inexpensive
Creamy texture
Long lasting

Cons:

Difficult to find

Overall: While the Maybelline Color Tattoos are not exact dupes for the MAC Paint Pots they surely come close. They are great products that I hope Maybelline will consider making part of their permanent collection. I highly recommend these if you are looking for a less expensive alternative to the much loved MAC products.

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:54:00 +0000

I have been on the hunt for a really awesome BB cream and I think I may have found it. After seeing some of my favorite beauty gurus rave about this product I went online and ordered it.
Lioele is a Korean cosmetics company. However, there is a distribution center in Texas. I ordered mine from www.lioeletexas.com in case you want to check it out. The price is $28.94 for 50 ml of product.

The Lioele Triple the Solution is an extremely thick BB cream. The color is a bit light - probably about a shade too light for me (I am MAC NC-30 for reference) but this can be evened out with powder and/or bronzer. I think that this is best used on its own and not used under foundation. If used under foundation it might be a bit cakey looking. It provides relatively good coverage and can absolutely be used on in place of foundation. I apply this product with a flat top kabuki brush. I really love the texture of this product and the way that it corrects my skin. This is really an amazing product that I highly recommend. I will definitely be repurchasing this product.

Claims: A skin brightening and perfecting BB cream that provides a flawless complexion
Coverage: I find that this particular BB cream provides medium to full coverage
Scent: This product has a light floral scent but it is not overpowering
Long Wearing: When I set this BB cream with a powder the coverage lasts a solid 6 hours without needing a touch-up
Packaging: Comes in a tube with an adorable pink and white checkered pattern and convenient pump
Price: $28.49
Availability: Lioele products are not in stores and can be ordered from the Lioele Texas site

Pros:

Excellent coverage
Feels lightweight on the skin
Ships quickly

Cons:

Only available in one shade
Only available to order online

Overall: I really like this product. I like that it is a true BB cream and not just a tinted moisturizer in disguise. I do wish that it came in a variety of shades. I can only use this in the winter months after my summer tan has long faded. Overall, I would recommend this product for those with fair skin that are looking for a BB cream to use as an alternative to foundation.

NOTD: L'Oreal Creme Puff

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:25:00 +0000

Today's nail of the day was Spring inspired. It just started snowing (again) where I live and I'm ready for Spring! I picked this polish up from Target - it's part of L'Oreal's new Spring line of colors. There are some really gorgeous pastel colors that are available in nail polish and their lip balms. This is my first time ever using a L'Oreal polish and I am impressed. It went on smoothly and the color is gorgeous.

*UPDATE* Unfortunately, not long after I wrote this post the polish started chipping. It started chipping in large pieces no more than a day of wear. I'm hoping that this was just a fluke and that this won't happen when I wear this polish again because I am absolutely in love with the color.

Review: Clarisonic Mia 2

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:57:00 +0000

Let me first start by saying I have put off buying a Clarisonic for about a year. I have been deterred by the $150 price tag and honestly didn't think that an expensive Clarisonic could REALLY clean my skin that much better. I ended up buying it on the QVC website through their Easy Pay option. I pay $56/month for the next 3 months so somehow that made it better in my mind - I know, I know it's not really but it's how I justified it.

Can I tell you I can't believe I've lived without this thing for so long? It really is everything it's hyped up to be. I have only been using it for about a week but I can already see a noticeable difference in my skin. The overall texture is already improving. This little thing manages to get out dirt I didn't even know was still trapped in my skin.

I'll first tell you what came with it and how it works and then I'll tell you how I've worked it into my skincare routine. My Mia 2 came with the Mia 2 itself (mine is a pretty lavender purple color), a travel case, the power cord and a trial size of Philosophy's Purity cleanser. The Mia 2 comes programmed with two speeds. I first began by charging it for a full 24-hours. Then when it was fully charged I started by wetting the head with lukewarm water and then squeezing cleanser on it. Then I turned it on and started at my chin area and ran it all over my chin and nose. There is a built in timer and the instructions tell you that to use it on your chin and nose area for 20 seconds, your forehead for 20 seconds and then each of your cheeks for 10 seconds. After the 20 seconds on the chin and nose area is up there is a light vibration that indicates you should move to your forehead.

Now, on to how I worked my Clarisonic into my skincare routine. At night I start by removing my makeup with my MAC cleanse off oil, then I use my Clarisonic with Clinique's foaming cleanser and finish with Tarte's Maracuja Oil as my nighttime moisturizer. I tried the Philosophy Purity cleaner that came with it but don't really like it. I like a foaming cleanser and this one just didn't foam well.

Claims: A travel-friendly, professional-quality skincare brush with two speeds
Price: $150
Availability: Besides being available to order online, the Clarisonic Mia 2 can be found in several different stores (Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, Bloomingdale's)

Overall: I was surprised by how much makeup remained on my skin even after using my MAC cleanse off oil. The Clarisonic really makes my skin feel clean and refreshed. I think it was worth it's $150 price tag.

*UPDATE* A few months into using the Mia 2, my skin was at it's worst. I was breaking out along my entire chin and it would just not go away no matter how clean I kept my skin. The only thing I could contribute this to was the Mia 2. I stopped using it for a few days and my chin cleared up almost immediately. I am going to give it another try in a few weeks - maybe using it everyday was too much for my sensitive skin?

New Revlon Lip Butter Colors

noreply@blogger.com (Christie) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:19:00 +0000

Ahhh...my Target FINALLY had the new Revlon Lip Butter colors. They came out in:

Sorbet: a bright pink color - it definitely reminds me of a raspberry water ice

Wild Watermelon: true to it's name it looks like the red part of a watermelon - it is a red color but a bright vibrant red

Juicy Papaya: this is more of a coral melon color

Pink Lemonade: a light pink color that again reminds me exactly of it's name

I am seriously obsessed with Revlon Lip Butters. I think I may own every color. These things are amazing and they give such great color payoff.

I am SO excited to try these.