Bright Lips and Dyed Tips

Smell This: Viva La Juicy Gold Couture by Juicy Couture

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 16:00:00 +0000

I am a Juicy girl at heart. The first time I smelled a Juicy fragrance, I was in love. My love has only grown from there. Sure, there have been a couple that I haven't cared for that much, but overall it is my favorite brand when it comes to perfume.

I think it is time to add a new Juicy to my personal collection because Viva La Juicy Gold Couture has been released within the last month and it is living up to my Juicy expectations for sure.

The top notes are will berries. Middle notes are Sambac jasmine and honeysuckle. sandalwood, golden amber, caramel, and vanilla elixir make up the base notes.

The scent is deep and rich. It smells warm and golden, hence the name of the fragrance. Many of the notes in this perfume are also in Viva La Juicy Noir, which is one of my favorite fragrances.

Juicy Noir has gardenia and mandarin orange in it, which makes the fragrance smell different. I also think the notes are added in a different order, which may or may not make fragranes smell different. I am not an expert on that kind of thing, so I'm not positive about that.

I'm not a huge fan of this bottle, but that's mainly because I do not really like gold. The bottle is very similar to the other perfumes in the line. Viva La Juicy Noir, which was released last year was the first of the Juicy perfumes to have a metallic bottle. Gold Couture has a metallic gold bottle with the Juicy Couture emblem in the center. The choice of the gold bottle and the name Gold Couture is fitting because of the "golden" notes in the fragrance. The bottle just isn't my personal favorite.

I don't really care for the bow on top either. I like all the other bows that are on the other Juicy perfumes, but this one doesn't seem to fit the bottle. The mesh feel of the bow and the polka dots make it look a little cheap to me. I also don't think the pink writing on the bottle fits with the gold bottle. However, I'm sure they just used the pink because that is the brand's signature color.

Juicy ads are not usually anything special and these ones are not different. They are the same as all the others just with the new fragrance featured. Sasha Pivovarova is the face of Juicy and has been for years now. She is a Russian model who has done other ad campaigns with Armani, Hugo Boss, Roberto Cavalli, and more. I think she is a good fit for the ads, but I wish they would spice them up a bit more and get more creative.

Viva La Juicy Gold Couture is available in two sizes:

The 3.4 oz bottle is $92.

The 1.7 oz bottle is $72.

This perfume is available in most department stores and cosmetic stores like Sephora and Ulta.

Smell This: DKNY My NY

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:13:00 +0000

DKNY, the fragrance line by Donna Karan, has released their newest perfume called My NY. I have never been a fan of any Donna Karan or DKNY perfumes until now.

There are a lot of things I love about this perfume. The most important thing is the scent itself. The top notes are raspberry, pink pepper, and galbanum. Middles notes are Egyptian jasmine, freesia, and orris. The base is made up of patchouli, vanilla, musk, and ambergris. The scent is sweet and sophisticated. It has a nice blend of flowers without it really being a stereotypical "floral" scent.

Besides the scent, I am also in love with this bottle. It is heart-shaped and the perfume is tinted pink. The top of the bottle is very unique. It has staggered squares leading up to the top where the sprayer is. "My NY DKNY" is also engraved in a square on top. This bottle is really very different from many of the bottles I have seen released in the past couple of years. It may not be the tallest or have the most frills, but it is a beautiful bottle.

The other thing I like about the perfume is the advertising for it. Rita Ora is the celebrity endorser of DKNY and this perfume. I'll admit, I don't know much about her. I know she is a British singer and actress. That's about it. I DO know that she looks absolutely gorgeous in the advertisements. I love her makeup and style.

Here is the TV ad for the perfume if you are interested in watching it. Once again, Rita looks stunning.

DKNY My NY comes in three different sizes:

The 3.4 oz bottle is $88.

The 1.7 oz bottle is $68.

The 1 oz bottle is $48.

There is also a rollerball (.34 oz) for $24.

This perfume is available at most department stores and cosmetics stores such as Sephora and Ulta.

Lip Love: NYX Butter Lipstick in Razzle

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:30:00 +0000

NYX cosmetics were 40% off a couple weeks ago at Ulta. This was the perfect time for me to try a couple of their newer products I have been eyeing.

I picked up a NYX Butter Lipstick because I have heard and seen so many people talk about these lipsticks. The shade, Razzle, caught my eye.

I am IN LOVE with this color! Razzle is a bright, Barbie pink shade that definitely draws attention to the lips. I just can't even talk enough about how much I love this color. The color payoff is so amazing and the lasting power is really great for a drugstore brand and a lipstick in general.

My lips are kind of dry and the application looks a little uneven here, but I just really wanted to show what the color looks like up close. I had been wearing this lipstick for a few hours before I took these pictures and didn't touch it up beforehand.

For anyone interested in the rest of the look, I am wearing:
Urban Decay's Tornado (deep purple) and South (dark taupe) eye shadows from the Glinda Palette
Lancome Artliner in Noir
Lancome Brow Expert Modele Sourcils in Taupe
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation in 100 Ivoire N
NYX Studio Finishing Powder
NYX Powder Blush in Summer Peach

Should I try some other shades in the Butter Lipsticks? Let me know what shade(s) I should get next in the comments below!

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ShopMissA Jewelry HAUL

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 17:00:00 +0000

I am all about getting awesome discounts on pretty much anything. Who doesn't love discounts?!

When I watched a video a couple months ago where XSparkage talked about this company called ShopMissA, I thought she might be a little crazy. Basically this company sells jewelry, hair accessories, nail art, and other things for $1. Yes everything on this website is ONE DOLLAR. I couldn't believe it either. I had to look at the site myself because surely these products have to be cheaply made if they are only $1.

Well let me tell you, one order later and a very minimal chunk of change spent and I am completely in love with ShopMissA. All I bought from the site was jewelry and I am pleasantly surprised by the quality.

Take a look at the items I bought below:

I'm not sure when owls became such a huge thing in jewelry, but they are EVERYWHERE! I'm not complaining though. As you will see, I bought a lot of owl jewelry because I just think owls are super cute. This ring has aqua jewels on the belly and is a pretty decent size. The band is adjustable, so I can wear it on another finger if I want. Also, any of the jewelry shown here that has any colored jewels, stones, etc. comes in other colors as well.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Rhinestone-Belly-Owl-Ring.html

Ignore the super messy background in these pictures

I was immediately drawn to this ring when I saw it. I love the different elements of the jewels, flowers and leaves all being intertwined in the design. This ring is also fairly large and adjustable as well.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Flowers-and-Jewels-Ring.html

I also really like pearl jewelry, but I don't really have many pearl pieces or wear them very often. I have yet to wear this ring, but I do really like it. Once again, the band is adjustable.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Pearl-Statement-Ring.html

This is my first time buying midi rings. Once again, I'm not sure when this craze started, but I see midi rings everywhere now. The design of this one is a little strange. I feel like it is supposed to look like something, but there was no description on the website as to what it is if anything. It does look kinda like a cat with a bow-tie if I wear it the other way, but it the pictures on the site it was facing this way.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Precious-Gem-Midi-Ring.html

I really like the simplicity of this ring. It is still super cute though and goes with tons of different things. Like many of the others, it is adjustable.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Accent-Wrap-Ring.html

This midi ring actually looked a little better in the picture than it does in person, in my opinion. I still like it and have already worn it several times, but I think the normal circles with the stars throws me off a bit. I might like it better if it was entirely stars on the ring.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Star-Rhinestone-Midi-Ring.html

I've seen a lot of rings like these and I've just always kind of wanted one. The one complaint I have about this kind of ring it that you can't wear a ring on the finger next to it. It's not a big deal because I don't often wear that many rings at once, but it's something to keep in mind. The band on this one is stretchy, which I really like.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Sideways-Cross-Stretch-Ring.html

Okay so all but one of the necklaces I got has an owl on it. They are so cute though. This one has a sparkly belly. It's adorable!

http://www.shopmissa.com/Glitter-Center-Owl-Necklace.html

This one has a painted aqua color to it. I think it sort of makes the necklace look a little cheap, but I'm not trying to impress anybody. For $1, this is cute and nicely made.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Pastel-Perched-Owl-Necklace.html

I like purple and blue together and think the belly on this is so cute.

http://www.shopmissa.com/2-Color-Owl-Necklace.html

This is my favorite piece of jewelry I got. The purple stone with the black eyes and silver outline looks so beautiful together. I actually wanted this necklace with a grey stone, but they were sold out. I'm really glad I got this one.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Owl-with-Stone-Center-Necklace-12-colors.html

Sorry this picture is blurry. This necklace is just a really small and dainty piece. It can be worn alone or with another necklace.

http://www.shopmissa.com/Accent-Flower-Drop-Necklace.html

Overall, I am super happy with the jewelry I got. I highly recommend checking out ShopMissA. They have tons of cute stuff. I will definitely be buying from them again.

Have any of you bought things from ShopMissA before? What did you get? If not, what do you think of it?

I'M BACK + Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale HAUL! (Wallflowers, Candles, Hand Soap, Body Wash)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:15:00 +0000

I am finally back to blogging! I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer so far. I apologize for being away for so long.

I decided to get back in the swing of things by showing you what I picked up at Bath & Body Works during their Semi-Annual Sale. I got almost all of these products for about $34, which I think is a great deal. I used a coupon they had for $10 off a purchase of $40 or more.

There are four wallflowers I bought a few weeks ago that I decided to show in this post too because they are obviously from the same store. I figured I might as well show everything I have gotten there recently.

I have a lot of bath and body products at home already, so I bought a lot of home fragrance things.

I think Tiki Beach is officially my favorite fragrance at B&BW right now. The scent is a mix of coconut, vanilla, and orchids. It reminds me of summer, the beach, and just smells freakin' awesome. I have this scent in a candle that is burning as I am typing this. I also have it in the scent-portables for my car. I got the 2-pack of the wallflowers because I love the scent so much and they were 50% off.

Island Margarita is a mix of mandarin, mango, and plum. It has a strong citrus smell that is perfect for this time of year. I will probably put this scent in my kitchen.

Honeysuckle smells exactly like what you would except a honeysuckle fragrance to smell like. It is a very light and sweet floral scent that makes you feel like you're in a garden.

Market Peach is sweet and fresh. The scent is more organic than a lot of the other scents B&BW has. It doesn't smell as artificial as others, which is awesome.

Mango Dragon Fruit is sweet and tropical. The mango and dragon fruit balance each other out really well.

I got this Tiki Beach a few weeks before the big sale and then decided to get the pack of it during the sale because I love it so much.

Sundrenched Vineyard has white wine grapes and French oak in it. The oak adds a deep, rich scent to the fragrance that almost reminds me a little more of fall. I guess I've never walked around a real vineyard, so I don't know what it smells like. The scent is great though and different from the other fruity scents I got.

Red Guava Lava has passion fruit and red guava in it. It smells tropical and fruity. I love the way this smells.

Beach Day is a mix of saltwater, lemon leaves, and citrus musk. Basically it smells like men's cologne. You all know those scents B&BW has that smell like really nice man (I'm looking at you, Mahogany Teakwood). I don't really think the scent reminds me of the beach, but it still smells summery to me.

Palm Leaves has a blend of green palm, aloe, and agave. It is earthy but still light. I can picture palm trees moving in the breeze when I smell it.

The candles were also 50% off, so I had to get a couple of them as well. I got Honeysuckle because I think it will be a good candle fragrance. I don't like scents to be too overwhelming in a candle, but I still want to be able to smell them. This scent is nice and light and also isn't super floral, so it shouldn't be too potent.

I also got a candle in Red Guava Lava. I really like this tropical scent for a candle.

I also got one of the mason jar candles, which was 50% off. Pink Passion Fruit has passion fruit, guava, and sugarcane in it. It is super sweet and fruity.

I only got one hand soap because I have about 10 others already waiting to be used. It smells like mango, obviously, and has a slight hint of coconut to it.

Black Raspberry Vanilla was my favorite B&BW scent when it was a part of their signature collection. Now I can only get it during their Semi-Annual Sale. I limited myself to one item in the scent because I already have so much other stuff. I got it in a shower gel this time around. It smells amazing and doesn't really have any other scent to it besides the raspberry and vanilla. It's also a bonus that the color of it is purple (my favorite).

Finally, I got the Wild Berry Tulips shower gel. This smells pretty floral and reminds me of the Sweet Pea fragrance. It has some other floral elements to it as well.

An that is that! I've been tempted to go back and buy more, but like I said, I already have so much stuff.

Did you get anything during the Semi-Annual Sale at Bath & Body Works? Let me know what you got in the comments and/or what your favorite scents are from the store!

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Down to the Wire

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:42:00 +0000

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you all that I will most likely not be posting anything until next month sometime. I have three weeks left of my senior year of college and then I graduate May 18th. There are a lot of things going on right now. I am focusing on finishing up my schoolwork and then I will get back to blogging. Make sure you enter your email on the side so you can be updated when I do begin to post again.

Clarisonic Mia 2 Journey: Day 7-14

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 02:21:00 +0000

Friday, April 4th - Friday, April 11th

I learned something new about the Clarisonic that I think is pretty cool. You can remove the center part of the brush head from the whole brush head and clip the small, center part to the Clarisonic so that you can get around your nose and mouth better when you're using it. I tried that tonight and the only real problem I have with it is that you have to take it apart and unclip the head and clip it on and it just takes more time to clean my face. I might not do it every day, but I will do it every so often because it get around my nose so much better that way.

I haven't noticed any other changes as of late. Therefore, I am not going to keep doing a day to day account of what's going on with my skin. I will write about any changes I notice each week and post that.

I talked to a licensed esthetician Monday that works at the store I work at and she suggested not using the Clarisonic twice a day or even not everyday. My skin is obviously not used to this deep cleansing and I think my skin is being over-cleansed and over-exfoliated. I decided to not use it tonight and maybe only use it at night for right now.

My acne has still been a problem this week. I have been fighting to get it under control. I bought an acne mask at Ulta that I am hopeful about. I have been using the Clarisonic every other night, but I think I will try using it every night now.

Clarisonic Mia 2 Journey: Days 1-6

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 22:08:00 +0000

I recently decided to invest in a Clarisonic. I have heard so many people talk about how great it is, so I figured now was as good of a time to get it as any.

The one I bought for myself is the Mia 2 with a 1 minute automatic timer and 2 speeds. I got mine in hot pink, which I believe is a limited edition color.

It came with a travel case, a charger for it, and a trial size Clarisonic cleanser. I also bought the twin pack of the acne brush heads.

I thought it would be fun to do a sort of diary while I am starting out using the Clarisonic. Every day I will write about what I notice while I am using it and after I finish using it. I will post probably every 6 days or so.

Here is what has happened the first six days I have used it:

Day 1: Saturday, March 29

I am starting out using the brush head that came on the Clarisonic, which is the sensitive brush head. I am also using the lower setting, which is recommended. The cleanser I am using with it is my Clinique Acne Solutions bar soap. I wasn't sure what the best way to go about using the bar soap with the Clarisonic is, so I started by rubbing the bar on my face AND the brush head and then using it. Not the best idea. It was too sudsy and the soap on my forehead ran down into my eye when I was using the Clarisonic. When I used it again before bed I put the soap on my face only and just wet the brush head with water. It worked much better. My face feels weird. It's just because my skin isn't use to the Clarisonic yet I think. My skin does feel softer than when I use my hands to wash my face.

Day 2: Sunday, March 30

I think my face looks more red than usual? Maybe I'm crazy. When I put the Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion on after using it, my face hurts a little bit. I think maybe it stings because it is able to get down further in my pores. I'm not sure, but I hope that goes away eventually. My face still feels super soft.

Day 3: Monday, March 31

I still notice some sensitivity while I'm using the Clarisonic. I have sensitive skin anyway though, so maybe it's not that big of a deal. My skin feels normal after I am finished using it and have put moisturizer on and everything. I can't really say that I've noticed any other changes with my skin yet.

Day 4: Tuesday, April 1

OK so it actually hurt my cheeks a little bit today to use the Clarisonic. I think I might switch the brush head to one of the acne ones I got. Hopefully that helps. I do this the Clarisonic is doing it's job. I have quite a few whiteheads and small blemishes that popped up overnight. This, I am assuming, is because the Clarisonic is getting all the gunk out of my pores and it is trying to break the surface. I can deal with this if it means my skin will look better after a while.

I switched the brush head to the acne one when I used it in the evening. It felt a lot better on my skin! Hopefully that solves my problem with my face hurting while I'm using it.

Day 5: Wednesday, April 2

The acne brush head seems to be working a lot better for me. My skin is not bothered by the brush anymore. My acne today is still pretty bad, but I think it looks a little better from yesterday. I think I notice a little bit more radiance in my skin, but it's still too early to tell for sure. I don't have any before pictures, but I thought it might be nice to start taking pictures every few days as my skin changes to sort of document to process.

The acne isn't terrible and it could definitely be a lot worse. Hopefully it will get better soon because my skin was doing pretty well before I started using this.

Day 6: Thursday, April 3

I swear a ton of this acne just vanished over night. I did use my Clinique Acne Solution Clinical Clearing Gel all over my face last night, so I'm not sure if that was what helped or the Clarisonic or a little bit of both. Getting the Clarisonic has helped keep me from not washing my face at night. I really didn't want to wash my face tonight because I was so tired, but I knew the Clarisonic would work faster and better if I didn't skip any washes.

To stay updated on my Clarisonic diaries and other beauty-related posts check out the links in the sidebar and follow me to stay in touch. You can also receive email updates by entering your email in the sidebar.

Smell This: Dolce & Gabbana Dolce

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:00:00 +0000

Dolce & Gabbana's latest fragrance, Dolce, is feminine floral scent.

The top notes of this fragrance are neroli leaf and papaya flower. The heart is made up of white amaryllis, narcissus, and white water lily. The base is cashmere and musk.

I like the subtlety of this perfume. It's not in-your-face, but it has a really refreshing floral scent. I looked at some reviews online of this perfume and a lot of people said it was boring and nothing special. The subtle scent, which some people are calling boring is exactly what I like about the scent.

Dolce is light enough to wear as an everyday scent. It makes me wish flowers were blooming here in Iowa instead of it being cold and windy.

The bottle for Dolce is not a typical Dolce & Gabbana bottle. D&G usually stick to rectangles and squares with no frills. The design is a rounded bottle with light green perfume, which is fitting for the scent of the fragrance. The lid is white flower (it's probably supposed to be one of the flowers in the fragrance) which is an elegant touch. There is a black bow that sits around the top as well that adds an extra feminine element to this very feminine perfume and well as the feminine writing of "Dolce" on the bottle.

I found that the scent lasted a moderate amount of time, which I would expect from D&G.

Dolce sells for $112 for a 2.5 oz. bottle, $90 for a 1.6 oz. bottle, and $70 for a oz. bottle of the perfume.

Pictures from fashionista.com, nstperfume.com, and basenotes.net, respectively.

Smell This: Calvin Klein Endless Euphoria

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 16:13:00 +0000

Calvin Klein's has released a new fragrance called Endless Euphoria. It is a great scent for spring and summer.

This perfume smells almost nothing like the original Euphoria. Euphoria has a lot more woodsy notes in it mixed with floral.

Endless Euphoria is fresh and floral and citrusy. The top notes are cherry blossom, mandarin, and bergamot. Pastel rose and violet make up the heart. The bottom notes are bamboo, sandalwood, and musk.

I think what I smell most in the fragrance is the mandarin mixed with the cherry blossom. The floral notes in the perfume are not overwhelming and add just the right depth. This is a fragrance that is perfect for wearing everyday because it is not too heavy or overpowering.

The bottle has a similar oblong shape like the original Euphoria. However, Endless Euphoria is shorter and more round whereas Euphoria is more wide and narrow. The color is a pretty, light pink. There is a purple tube going around the "hose" that is connected to the sprayer in the bottle. I have never seen something quite like it and I'm not sure what to think of it. The lid is tall and has a metallic silvery pink color to it.

The scent lasted for a while on me when I wore it, so I am pretty pleased with this fragrance overall.

Endless Euphoria is $89 for a 4.2 oz. bottle and $69 for a 2.5 oz. bottle and can be found in many different department and cosmetic stores.

Pictures from fragrantica.com

Lancome Tresor In Love and Tresor Midnight Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 17:01:00 +0000

I recently bought two Lancome fragrances that I wanted to share with you.

Tresor Midnight Rose is one of my all-time favorite fragrances, but I have never actually owned it before. My boyfriend bought it for me, so it was technically a gift. I am in love with this scent! It smells pretty but deep and dark. It has raspberry, rose, vanilla, and musk in it. I just love the way of the notes blend together. This is the perfect perfume for me. This 1.7 fl. oz. bottle retails for $60.

Tresor In Love is a fragrance I kind of ignored until now. I never really gave it a chance. The scent caught my attention when I smelled it a few weeks ago though. It has notes of some fruits, rose, jasmine, cedar wood, and musk. The scent is floral, but it is a soft floral that is not overwhelming at all. It is a great fragrance for spring. I got a gift set they had for the fragrance because it was only a few dollars more. It came with the Tresor In Love perfume in a 1.7 fl. oz. bottle, the matching lotion, and the Lancome Hypnose mascara. The gift set retails for $62.

Lancome Gift With Purchase!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 00:38:00 +0000

Earlier in the week, I told I briefly mentioned Lancome's free gift with purchase they have right now. It is a free, 7 piece gift with a purchase of $35 or more. I have pictures of the gift today to show you.

Lancome's gifts are all about choices. The first choice you have is a blue or red bag. The blue bag has a girl riding a bike on it and it says "Paris je'taime!" on it. Not the cutest bag they've had, but at this point I have so many cosmetic bags that it doesn't matter too much to me anyway. I do think that the bag is a great size and can fit a lot of stuff in it. The other color option is the red bag that also says "Paris je'taime!" on it. There are bouquets of pink and red roses patterned all over the bag too.

In this gift you get samples of both the Genefique and Visionnaire serums. I have talked about both of these serums in previous posts about previous Lancome gifts, so if you'd like to know more about the serums, you can check those out.

The next choice we have is between four items. There are two lipsticks and two, five pan eyeshadows. I bought something to get the gift and my boyfriend did as well, so my boyfriend let me choose a gift for his purchase. I got both the one eyeshadow five pan for my gift and the other for his, so those are the only items in this category I have pictures of. The lipsticks are both pink-toned I believe and were both pretty, but I like the eyeshadows better personally.

The first five pan is called Petal Pusher. I has beautiful neutrals and pinks in it. These will be great colors for spring.

The other five pan is called Lavender Grace, which also has great spring colors. These colors will be fun to play around with.

You also get a mascara AND a mascara primer in this gift. The mascara is Hypnose Drama and it is my favorite mascara I have tried from Lancome. It gives great volume and makes my lashes look super long and full. The Cils Booster XL mascara primer is great too. It conditions the lashes and keeps mascara on and looking good.

The final choice for the gift is between three nighttime moisturizers. I got the Bienfait Multi-Vital Night for me. This one is basically just hydration for the skin.

I also got RenergieLift Multi-Action Night to give to my mom. It is a lifting and firming moisturizer.

I will have a post up in the next couple of days with the perfumes I got from Lancome in order to get the gift. Don't miss out! Stay updated on my blog by checking out one of the links in the sidebar or by entering your e-mail in the sidebar to receive updates.

Goodwill Sale and Lancome Gift With Purchase!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:57:00 +0000

Today is the start of the Goodwill Sale at Younkers and all Bon-Ton affiliated stores. Now until Tuesday, March 18th you can receive a 20% off of cosmetics and fragrances for every item of clothing you bring in to donate to Goodwill. The entire sale goes through the end of March and you will receive 15% off on items after Tuesday.

Lancome has also started their gift with purchase at these stores as well. I will have a post by the end of the week to show you the items in the gift. It is a 7-piece gift that is free with a $35 of more purchase. You can use the Goodwill coupons on your purchase to get the gift as long as you still spend $35 before tax.

Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to get discounts on cosmetics. It only happens a couple times a year!

To find a Bon-Ton store near you check out this link.

Ulta HAUL/Review of Products! (Nail Polish Top Coat, Dry Shampoo, Face Mask, and More!)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 21:46:00 +0000

Long time, no talk! I've been focusing on school for the past couple of weeks and didn't have the time or energy to create any new posts. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. I can't promise that I will have tons of posts or anything, but I will try my best to have at least one a week.

On to my post for today:

Last month I bought a few things at Ulta when I had a 20% off coupon. I have had time to use all of these products now except one, so this is a haul/review of everything.

I don't remember how I heard about CND, but I have fallen in love with the brand. I have tried the base coat (it's amazing) and almost all of their top coats. They make my nail polish last longer than other base and top coats I've used. I decided to try this Super Shiney High-Gloss Top Coat because it's the only top coat I haven't tried from CND. I'm sure it will live up to my expectations because I love the other CND top coats.

I have used these Biore pore strips before, and what I like about them most is the satisfaction I get from seeing all the gunk on the strip after I pull it off my face. There is just something grossly satisfying about it. I get the box with both the nose and face strips in them because I have blackheads in other areas than just my nose. I try to use these once a week, but sometimes I forget to use them and it ends up being longer than that. I think these are great for cleaning out your pores, but I would definitely follow up with some sort of skincare regimen so that your pores are not just completely open and susceptible to getting more gunk in them right away.

I've been wanting to try something like this for a while, but I kind of bought this brand on a whim. It comes with a dropper and you just put a drop on each nail a minute or so after you paint your nails. This stuff has worked great so far. One of the reasons I don't paint my nails very often is because I hate waiting for my nails to dry and I hate when they chip and I have to re-paint them. This stuff helps with my main problem.

I wanted to try a new face mask and there were two from this brand, Formula 10.0.6, that seemed like they would be good for my skin type. Ulta was out of one of the ones I wanted, so I just bought this one. It is supposed to help clean impurities from your skin and brighten your complexion. This mask has a very strong orange scent when it is applied, but I got used to it after a couple uses. I do feel like this mask helps a bit with cleaning my pores some and brightening my skin.

I have never tried Batiste Dry Shampoo before, but I read about and hear everyone rave about this product. I decided it was time for me to try it out myself. I got it in the cherry scent because it smelled the best out of the other scents they had in stock at Ulta. I have used this a few times now and I do feel like it refreshes my hair better than other dry shampoos I've used. I think I'll have to use it some more to really decide if it's that much better than the other kinds I've tried.

Tuesday Tips: Keep Mascara From Drying Out

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:25:00 +0000

Here's a quick tip for helping keep your mascara from drying out too soon or getting too clumpy:

When you are using mascara, don't pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube to get the product on it. It creates air bubbles that dry out the mascara and can cause clumping and other irritations. Instead, stick the wand in the tube and move it in a circular motion to pick up product on the wand.

Have a happy Tuesday! :)

Photo from http://thecallofbeauty.blogspot.com/2011/06/total-beauty-survey-12-best-drugstore.html

2013 Empties!: Mascaras, Makeup Removers, Shower Gels, Deodorant, & More!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 02:56:00 +0000

This is my first ever empties post! I started collecting beauty-related products that I used up towards the last quarter of 2013. This is definitely not everything I used up last year, but at least you can get an idea of some of the products I tried. I have short descriptions of the products below and basically decisions on whether or not I would get the product again. Some of the products were samples, so I have noted which products those are.

I will try to remember to save empty bottle and packages more often and do these kinds of posts periodically throughout the year.

This is the first Baby Lips I have used up out of the five I have. This one is Quenched and has no color to it. I like using the Baby Lips before I put other lip colors on. Every once in a while I will wear the ones I have with color in them alone. The moisturizing properties these have are not super long-lasting, but I do think they are pretty good for the price.

Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara is one of my favorite mascaras. It gives a lot of volume and adds nice drama (hence the name).

Note: This is a sample size of this mascara.

Clinique High Impact mascara is my favorite Clinique mascara. It volumizes, separates my lashes, and lengthens them.

Note: This is a sample size of this mascara.

Urban Decay primer potion is the best primer potion I have tried thus far. I have extremely oily eyelids and this is the only thing that will keep my shadow from creasing. I am always open to trying new ones though, so if you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments. For now, I will continue using this stuff.

Note: This is a travel-size version of this primer. The regular tube is about twice the size.

I have never been much of a fan of oily-feeling eye makeup removers. They get all over, feel weird, and make my contacts blurry. This Maybelline Expert Eyes makeup remover was no different unfortunately. I didn't like the way it felt on my eyes, and I would wash my eyes off with water every time I used this. I will not be purchasing this again.

Okay so you know how I just said all that stuff about hating oily feeling makeup removers? Well this one is an exception. Clinique Take the Day Off has silcone (not oil) in it, and it takes off waterproof mascara, eyeshadow, and lip colors. It doesn't make my contacts blurry when I use it, and it doesn't leave and terribly oily mess on my eye area. I still go over it with water when I wash my face afterwards because I just don't like feeling anything that feels oily or greasy on my face. I would buy this product for sure though.

Note: This is a sample of this makeup remover. It comes in a larger container when you buy it.

This is another great eye makeup remover from Clinique - Rinse-off Eye Makeup Remover. This one leaves no residue behind, but it still removes all eye makeup. I like using this one when I need to fix makeup mistakes as well because it doesn't leave any oiliness behind.

Note: These are samples of this makeup remover.

This is the Bifacil makeup remover from Lancome. It is similar to the Take the Day Off one from Clinique, but I feel like this one gets tougher makeup off a little better. They are both great, in my opinion though.

Note: This is a sample size of this makeup remover.

Clinique's Moisture Surge Intense is a booster moisturizer that is like a drink of water for your skin. It instantly makes the skin feel better if your skin is dry. The intense version is not the best for oily skin types like mine. However, I had a sample of it and my skin has been unusually dry this winter, so I used it anyway. The regular Moisture is a product I use a lot though and love.

Note: This is a sample size of this moisturizer.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is an oil-free moisturizer that works great with my oily skin. I love the way this makes my skin feel and a bottle of this lasts forever.

This Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion from Clinique is a life-changing product. I have talked about the Acne products Clinique offers before, so I won't go into great detail. I will say that this stuff helps control my acne better than any other thing I've tried before.

I have yet to find a deodorant that I'm in love with. I have hyperhidrosis, so I sweat more than an average person. Degree used to work for me fine, but lately I feel like it's not cutting it. I do love the smell of this one though. It leaves white marks on my clothes that I can't get out, so I think it's time to find something else.

I tried this version of Degree because I thought maybe it would work better for me. It didn't. Once again, I will have to look into trying a different brand or something.

This Dial shower gel feels and smells like heaven. It felt extremely moisturizing and soft on my skin. I have really sensitive skin that gets really dry in the winter. I used this body wash to shave as well as clean my body, and I will for sure buy this stuff again.

I talked about this Bath & Body Works shower gel in my October Favorites. Their shower gels leave my skin feeling soft and not dried out. They come in a ton of different scents. I really like this Be Enchanted scent and would recommend it.

Victoria's Secret Smoothing Body Scrubs as by far one of my favorite scrubs. They are very exfoliating, but they aren't too harsh on my sensitive skin. They don't leave my skin feeling dry after using them either. There is an endless amount of scents options as well. This scent, Secret Charm, is one of my favorites out of the ones I have tried so far.

This Ulta Foaming Sugar Scrub is the strangest feeling scrub I have tried. I don't know how else to describe it than by saying it felt like I was rubbing lint on my body. It just wasn't what I am used to. I probably wouldn't buy this scrub again. I have another one because I bought these when they were buy one, get one free, so I will use that and be done with them. I do, however, love this Freshwater Mist scent, so I would definitely get some of Ulta's other products in this scent.

It's a 10 leave-in conditioner is my favorite leave-in conditioner out of the ones I have tried. I like the fact that it sprays out because it doesn't weigh my hair done with a bunch of product and it evenly coats my hair. The smell is nice and my hair feels smooth and looks healthy after I use this. I would definitely buy this product again.

AG Xtramoist moisturizing shampoo made my hair feel soft and healthy. The one thing I didn't care for was the scent of the shampoo. It just wasn't my favorite. I don't know if I would buy this again just because I like to try new shampoos all the time, so I hardly ever go back to one I've tried before.

I really like Bath & Body Works hand soaps. They have tons of scents to choose from and they leave my hands feeling clean and not dried out. My favorite kinds are the ones with the exfoliating beads. This scent was wildberries. I think it was a seasonal one from spring or summer, but I didn't start using it until the fall.

My teeth are not the whitest, so I always like to buy toothpaste that claims to have whitening ingredients. I never notice a real difference, but I guess it makes me feel better when I buy the stuff. Crest 3D White toothpaste is one I have been getting for the past year now. I'm not sure I've ever fallen in love with a toothpaste, but I guess I would say I recommend this kind because it does make my teeth feel really clean.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about any of these products or any suggestions of new products for me to try!

Clinique Spring 2014 Gift With Purchase!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:13:00 +0000

Clinique's Gift With Purchase is going on now through February 22nd or while supplies lasts at all Bon-Ton affiliated stores. These include: Younkers, Carson's, Herberger's, Bergner's, Boston Store, Elder-Beerman, and Bon-Ton.

It is a 7-piece gift of skincare and makeup that is free with any $27 or more purchase at the Clinique counter. Below I have pictures and descriptions of everything in the gift.

You, of course, get this lovely cosmetic bag! I love the design and colors Clinique went with this time!

Repairwear Laser Focus Eye cream is designed to help lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles wile hydrating the eye area. It can also help prevent (to an extent) lines.

Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser is a face makeup remover. I have mentioned it before in other posts, but I really love how great of a job this does at removing makeup.

Jammin' eye shadow duo is made up of a soft pink and a shimmery violet. These colors are beautiful together and can be used to make a few different eye looks.

Intense Aubergine is one of Clinique's newer quickliners. It is a hard color to describe. I would say it is a brown with violet tones in it. I love this color but have not tried it on yet. These quickliners are nice and creamy and stay on really well. By the way, the swatch picture does not really reflect what the liner looks like in person. It's a lot prettier when you're looking at it in person.

A Different Grape Lipstick is a rosy violet that goes great with the eyeshadow and eyeliner in the gift. I'm not sure why it looks so orange in the picture, but I promise it's not orange like that. I'll try to take a picture of me wearing it this weekend and post that here too.

High Impact Mascara is my favorite Clinique mascara. It gives great volume, lengthens, and thickens to make my lashes pop. It's the top-selling Clinique mascara for a reason. Lash Building Primer is designed to go on before mascara to extend the wear of your mascara and make them look fuller. It also conditions your lashes to keep them from drying out.

Tuesday Tips: Check Out Products Online Before Buying

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 18:12:00 +0000

Whenever I see or hear about a palette, lip product, blush, or any makeup item really, I check online for reviews and swatches before making the decision to buy it. Okay, I don't do this with every single thing, but at least with more expensive products. This way I can see what people think of the product to decide if it's worth getting. It can also save me from being stuck with a product I don't like or having to make an extra trip to return a product that I didn't like.

There are tons of beauty bloggers online on Youtube and other sites that review tons of products even before they are released in stores. Just Google whatever product you are looking for, and you will most likely find information and swatches on the product.

I know this seems really simple, but I can't tell you how many times I think I'm going to like a product I bought and end up wishing I hadn't gotten it.

Sorry for such a short and pictureless post. I will have at least one other post later in the week for you, so check back for that! Have a happy Tuesday! :)

Clinique Gift With Purchase Starts Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 22:36:00 +0000

Hey all!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you that Clinique's Gift With Purchase starts tomorrow at all Bon-Ton affiliated stores. These include: Younkers, Carson's, Herberger's, Bergner's, Boston Store, Elder-Beerman, and Bon-Ton.

It is a 7-piece gift of skincare and makeup that is free with any $27 or more purchase at the Clinique counter. The gift goes through the 22nd of February or until your local store runs out of gifts. The gift this spring is awesome, you guys! I will be able to show you pictures of it in a day or so when I get it, but I think it is a great gift for fans of Clinique or newcomers to the brand.

Check back in the next couple of days to see the free gift!

What I Got For Christmas 2013: Rock Candy Soap, Eye Candy Book, and Lip Product Organizer

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 01:33:00 +0000

Here's the final part of things I got for Christmas. These are the gifts my sister got me, and I think she did a fantastic job picking stuff out.

She got me these soaps that look like rock candy. Yes, you read that right. These are SOAPS! I am amazed by how real they look. I am not sure what the exact brand is, but my sister purchased them online. I haven't gotten the opportunity to use them yet because I have so many other soaps and things I'm using right now.

This one is grape and it smells fantastic!

This one is peppermint. The smell is not to overwhelming, which I like because some peppermint scents are just too much.

My sister also got me this lipstick/lip color organizer. I am always looking for more cosmetic organizers, so this was great.

It won't even come close to holding all my lip products, but I decided to put some of my favorite lip colors in it and some that I forget to use a lot.

I also got this book from my sister called Eye Candy.

The book is categorized by different types of looks: everyday, flirtatious, funky, glamorous, and inspired. It also has a section in the beginning that shares the basics about eye makeup.

Each section has different looks that are shown on models. I like that the models in the book have all different kinds of faces, skin tones, and eye shapes. The looks are then shown in a diagram form and each part is numbered. Step by step directions are given for each number.

That is finally it for my beauty-related Christmas stuff.I have a lot of things the I have gotten in the past couple of months to show you in a collective haul, a post of products I've used up in the past 6 months, my January favorites post, and a few other things coming up this month.

If you enjoy my blog, please please please stay in touch with me and my blog in some form or fashion. You can subscribe to my blog or follow me on one of the sites linked in the sidebar. You can also enter your e-mail on the side to be notified when I have a new post.

What I Got For Christmas 2013: Ciate Nail Polish, Ulta Nail Polish, Viva la Juicy Noir Perfume, Philosophy Gift Set

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 02:51:00 +0000

Here's part two of what I got for Christmas! Sorry it took me so long to get this up!

These Ciate nail polishes came in a gift set of 6. They were packaged inside plastic balls that looked like ornaments. I gave 3 of the nail polishes to my sister for Christmas and kept the other 3 as a gift for my grandparents to get me.

Yule Rules is a bright blue, sparkly glitter nail polish. For some reason when I saw these polishes, I thought they would cover my nails without having my bare nails show through. I didn't look at them closely enough and they definitely don't cover the entire nail. A regular nail polish has to go underneath unless you like the look of glitter polish on bare nails. It gives me a lot of different options for color combinations though.

Candy Cane is a bright pink glitter polish. When I think of candy canes I think of red not pink, so I don't feel like the name really fits. Names aside, the color is really vibrant and pretty. The wear on these polishes are pretty good, but I have only tried OPI nail polish underneath with a base coat and a top coast from CND, so I don't know if that's what made the polish stay on well.

All Aglow is gold and bronze glitter nail polish. I have not tried this polish on yet. I am usually apprehensive about gold/bronze polishes because I don't think most look good on my nails. I'm also not a huge gold fan. Maybe this color with surprise me.

My grandparents got me this Shine On Nail Lacquer Set from Ulta for Christmas as well. I ended up with 10 new nail polishes for Christmas. I need to actually start wearing them all.

The polishes in this set are all black-based nail polishes. At least that's what they look like to me. I haven't actually worn any of them yet.

Cosmic Love has multi-colored glitter in it. The glitter is different sizes.

Sparks Fly has gold glitter in it also of various sizes. I think the name for this polish is super fitting. Every time I read it I start singing the Taylor Swift song, "Sparks Fly" in my head. :)

The pictures of the last two polishes are not very good. Okay, I'll be honest - they suck. I couldn't photograph the glitter in them very well. Oh well. This shade is called Popping Bottles. The glitter is very small and is a mix of bronze, green, and purple.

These are the worst pictures ever of polish. Sorry guys. Holiday Mixer has different-sized glitter that is a pretty, deep blue.

I picked this Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Black Metal Dahlia out as a Christmas gift as well. I have the original Black Dahlia Lip Tar and I love it. This shade is a little more red-toned than the original and has an awesome metallic look with some glitter.

The swatch doesn't really do it justice. I'll have to take a picture sometime when I'm wearing it for you all to see how pretty it is.

Another thing I picked out was the Philosophy Sweets for the Stocking gift set. I can't even explain to you how flippin' amazing this scent is. I love the smell of almond. This stuff is magical. It smells like sweet, delicious almond cookies. I haven't used this set yet because I want to use everything at the same time, but I still have some shower gel I'm trying to use up before digging into this stuff.

The first thing in the set is this body polishing scrub. If you haven't read any of my other posts you might not know, but I am obsessed with scrubs.

The set also has a glazed body souffle. Smothering this all over my body is going to be like heaven.

Last is the shower gel & bubble bath. I don't take baths, so this will just be used as a shower gel. I'm excited to use this stuff not only because it smells awesome, but I have never used any Philosophy products. I've heard good things, so I'm sure this stuff will be great.

My wonderful boyfriend got me Viva la Juicy Noir perfume, which I was so happy about. This has become my favorite perfume now. It knocked a few old favorites. Getting some surprise gifts is fun and this was definitely a surprise. If you want to know what the perfume smells like and why I like it so much, you can check out my previous post about it.

I got the perfume in a set, so the other thing that came in the set was this dual rollerball. One end is Viva la Juicy Noir and the other end is the original Viva la Juicy.

There will be one last post tomorrow on what I got for Christmas. I have a lot of things the I have gotten in the past couple of months to show you in a collective haul, a post of products I've used up in the past 6 months, my January favorites post, and a few other things coming up this month.

Tuesday Tips: Clean Your Makeup Brushes!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:37:00 +0000

Today's tip is fairly simple: clean your makeup brushes regularly.

Photo from http://babebeautybar.com/a-babes-guide-to-brushes/

A foundation brush should be cleaned once a week. If your foundation brush is getting stiff with foundation buildup in it, it's definitely time for a good deep cleaning.

All other brushes should be cleaned at least once a month. I personally like to clean all my makeup brushes once a week or close to that. The idea of the bacteria and makeup clinging to the brushes and going on my face grosses me out.

Not cleaning your brushes regularly can alter the color of the makeup you are applying. It can also make application difficult, which means the end result will not be what you desire.

Taking care of your brushes is important if you want them to last a long time. A good brush can last 5-10 years if your clean it regularly.

I know a lot of you have probably read things like this a ton of times or already know it, but I think it is important.

Have a happy Tuesday!

Tuesday Tips: Makeup Is Only As Good As The Skin Underneath

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 18:02:00 +0000

Many people use makeup, foundation and concealer especially, to cover up imperfections. The makeup will only look as good as the skin underneath though. It is extremely important to take care of your skin and find the right products for you. Here are a few tips on how to find what's best for you.

Protect your skin with SPF.

This is the most important AND most neglected skincare item that you should always use. Your skin needs protection from the sun even if you are outside for five minutes a day. Those five minutes add up over the years and your skin will show it. Sun damage can cause wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) on your skin. To prevent and prolong these things from happening, use SPF! And no, the sun protection in your foundation is not enough.

Moisturize your skin daily.

I know there are thousands of different moisturizers on the market and it can be overwhelming to find one for you. First let me say to anyone that's reading this that has oily skin, you may think you don't need a moisturizer or that it will just make your skin more oily, but your skin still needs hydration. Your skin needs moisture even if it has excess oil. An oil-free moisturizer is formulated especially for oily skin types.

Now that I got that cleared up, try and narrow down what your main concern is with your skin. For example, my main concern is acne, so I usually look for a moisturizer that has acne-clearing properties and/or is good for acne-prone skin. If you are concerned with wrinkles, find a moisturizer that targets that concern. You get the idea. If you don't have a concern with your skin, look for an age prevention moisturizer. Every women should start using an age prevention moisturizer in her 20's. If you don't try to prevent and prolong visible aging, don't cry about getting wrinkles early on in life.

Exfoliate.

Exfoliation is important too because it aids in removing the layers of dead skin cells that build up on your face everyday. Find an exfoliator that works best for with your skin type and follow the directions on how many times a week you should use it.

Take care of your eyes.

The skin around your eye is just as important as the rest of the skin on your face. You need to take care of it. It is important to use eye creams around the eyes and NOT moisturizer because the skin around your eyes is a lot thinner and a lot more delicate than the rest of your skin. Moisturizers can irritate the eye area and won't hydrate that skin in the best possible way. The same idea of searching for a product that treats your main concern(s) applies to eye cream just like moisturizer.

Take care of your lips just like the rest of your skin.

Your lips need care too! SPF is important for your lips like your skin, so make sure at least one of the products your putting on your lips each day has SPF. Exfoliating your lips is a good idea too. I'm not very good at doing that, so I should probably try to do that more. Using a moisturizing lip treatment or balm is a good idea too.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. I hope it doesn't seem like I'm trying to get you all to go out and buy a bunch of products because I know this stuff gets expensive. I do think all of these things are important, but gradually adding them into your skincare routine if perfectly fine.

Also, all the pictures I posted here are of Clinique products. I just used these as examples because this is the skincare line I am most familiar with. There are plenty of other great skincare lines out there, some at higher prices and some at lower prices, so do some research and find what is the best deal for you.

I am by no means a skincare expert and I'm definitely not a doctor or dermatologist, so you obviously don't have to follow everything I say. These are just some of my tips for you all. I hope this helps some of you! If you ever have any questions or comments about skincare or anything else, I can always answer them to the best of my ability. Just leave a comment below. You don't have to have an account to comment.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone! :)

What I Got For Christmas 2013: Clinique Chubby Stick Whole Lotta Candy Set and Clinique Party Tips Nail Enamel Set

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 20:07:00 +0000

I know that Christmas feels like it was forever ago, but I thought some of you might enjoy seeing some things (mostly beauty-related) that I got for Christmas.

I am going to do separate posts to break everything up, so today I will just show you the Clinique products I received. My boyfriend got me two different Clinique gift sets for Christmas: one for lips and one for nails.

Whole Lotta Candy is a Chubby Stick set that includes smaller sizes of Pudgy Peony, Voluptuous Violet, and Two Ton Tomato. Both this set and the nail set I received were just around for the holidays, but almost all of these products are available separately in full sizes.

Pudgy Peony is the most pigmented out of the three colors. It is a bright pink. I love this shade because, although it is bright, it isn't overwhelming or super duper pigmented.

Voluptuous Violet is my favorite shade out of the three in this set. It is very sheer violet with a hint of pink. Don't let the color of it scare you without trying it on. It is beautiful on the lips!

Two Ton Tomato is a red-orange shade that looks kinda scary in the swatch below (at least to me). It looks very natural on the lips and adds a pretty, coral-ish tint to them.

Top: Pudgy Peony, Middle: Voluptuous Violet, Bottom: Two Ton Tomato

Here is a picture for size comparison. The left is a full size Chubby Stick and the right is one of the Chubby Sticks from the set. The ones in the set are actually a decent size and are more than half the size of a regular Chubby Stick.

Party Tips is a set of three nail enamels. I don't have any other Clinique nail polishes, so I can't show you a side by side comparison. They are a little more than half the size of a regular Clinique nail enamel. These nail polishes are specifically designed for people with sensitive skin. I don't have that problem with nail polishes, but obviously some people do, so if you are one of those people then you should try these polishes.

This shade is called Black Honey and is part of Clinque's permanent nail enamel collection. I have not tried this on my nails yet, but it seems to be a very deep brown with possibly a hint of violet. The pictures make it look a lot darker.

Strappy Sandals is a color that was part of the nail enamel collection when it was re-launched, but now it isn't carried. I'm not sure if they will carry it again. Anyway, it is a silver, metallic shade.

Polished Amethyst is a color that is not available individually (at least for now). It happens to be my favorite color out of the set. It's a beautiful fuchsia shade.

Let me know if you've tried either of these products and what you think of them below. You DO NOT have to have an account to comment! :)

Tuesday Tips: Use a Makeup Remover AND a Cleanser

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel W.) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 03:16:00 +0000

I think cleansers and makeup removers are easily confused or misconstrued because they are often grouped together, but they are definitely not the same thing.

It's important to remove ALL makeup, eye AND face makeup, before using a facial cleanser. If you wear face makeup and just use a cleanser as part of your skincare routine, you are not getting all of the gunk, dirt, and oil off of your face. Layers of all that gross crap will build up on your face and cause a variety of things like flaky skin, clogged pores, acne, and more. It would be like rinsing off all your dirty dishes with just water and putting them away because you think they are clean. They might look clean, but they still have bacteria and stuff that will build up over time if they are not cleaned with soap.

The same concept goes for using only a makeup remover and not using a cleanser as well. If you are just using a makeup remover to wash your face, you are still leaving behind dirt and oil stuck on your skin and trapped in your pores.

If you don't have a makeup remover, there are tons of different kinds out there. I have tried a handful that I would recommend: Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, Clinique Wash Away Gel Cleanser, and Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover are some good ones. I have also heard good things about the Ponds Deep Cleanser and Makeup Remover. The Clinique makeup removers are unfortunately labeled as cleansers but they are just makeup removers and are not to be used at cleansers.

One thing to keep in mind when searching for a makeup remover or a cleanser is that some products will claim to be both. No, no, no, no, no! Don't believe that for a second! Those types of products are not getting all the gross stuff off of your face. The Neutrogena one mentioned above claims to be both. I use it as a makeup remover and use a cleanser after that. If you really want healthy skin, use two products.

I hope this helps some of you!