Makeup Moment

What's In My Travel Makeup Bag?

2012-02-12T23:43:00.002-05:00

I have seen so many people share what beauty items they carry along with them when they are traveling so, today I am going to share with you all what I carry in my makeup bag, when I am away from home. In case you are wondering, the makeup bag I use frequently is one by Elemis. I love it because it is very sturdy, and not to mention, very spacious. This is great for me because I tend to over-pack so, I need all the room I can get.

Let's get started!

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Lightweight UV Lotion- This is the moisturizer that I use most. I love the fresh scent it has, it moisturizes my dry face nicely, and it has an SPF of 15. I am almost running low on this moisturizer so, I need to purchase a new one soon.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation- I have said it before, and I will say it again-I LOVE this foundation. It is one of my HG foundations. It goes on smoothly, the medium-buildable coverage that I obtain from using Fit Me is great, and the healthy glow it gives my face is a nice treat.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Neutralizer- I have a dark under eye area, as well as discoloring on the lids. The yellow coloring in this product does a lovely job at neutralizing the brown discoloration. This is what I use before I go ahead and apply my concealer.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30- I like the coverage I can get, just by using a bit of product. I also like the fact that this concealer contains an SPF of 35. I honestly don't see too many concealers that contain SPF in them so, its nice to see that this one does.

Hard Candy Fox In A Box Blush in Truth Or Dare- This boxed blush gives my cheeks that perfect amount of warmth as well as a pretty, soft pink pop of color that is very complimenting.

MAC Bronzer in Refined Golden- I have been using this a lot lately to contour my cheeks. I like the contouring effect I get from this product, and it looks quite natural. This bronzer does contain small, golden shimmers but, they aren't overly apparent once applied. I got this bronzer when it was released as part of the MAC Surf, Baby! collection, over the summer. This bronzer is part of MAC's permanent collection. I just got mines with the Surf, Baby! packaging.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft And Gentle- I really like the natural looking, lit from within glow I get from this highlighter. I apply soft and gentle on the bridge of my nose, the top of cheekbones, and on the temples of my forehead. A little bit of this product goes a long way.

NYX Eyeshadow in Highlight- Since I frequently apply shimmered eyeshadow colors on my lids, I like my browbone color to be on the matte side. This is a great brow bone highlight color. It blends beautifully, and effortlessly.

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Sweet As Candy- I tend to carry with me neutral eyeshadow colors. Neutrals are very easy to wear and, I think they look great day or night.

Wet n' Wild Ultimate Brow Kit in Ash Brown- When it comes to filling in my brows, I can always rely on this eyebrow powder kit from Wet n' Wild. I can use either color for my dark, brow hair. I love the brow wax. It helps keep my brow hairs in tact, all day.

Elf Eyelid Primer in Sheer- I love this eyeshadow primer from E.L.F. Not only does it keep my eyeshadows in tact for a long time, but its also crazy inexpensive! This is a bargain gem that everyone should have in their makeup collection.

Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara/Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara- Full 'N Soft gives me natural looking volume, while Illegal Length gives me awesome length. Layer on both mascaras, and you have yourself a whole lot of volume and length. Its a win win situation, in which one doesn't have to compromise!

MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Pressed Finishing Powder- This translucent pressed powder sets my foundation beautifully. I apply it all over my face and it does not make my face look caked up. This is always with me when I am on the go.

Make Up For Ever High Definition Powder- I love using this finely milled, smooth loose powder specifically for setting the concealer under my eyes. I really like that this powder does not settle in the fine lines that I have under the eye area, which some powders tend to do.

When it comes to lipsticks, I tend to rely heavily on the more neutral colored ones. But, I always remember to bring along at least one bright color. It may come in handy for unexpected events in which one must make a statement.

*If you are interested, below I have listed the links to reviews of some of the products I mentioned above. So, make sure to check them out if you would like to see more in depth information on the items, as well as swatches.

Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer

Hard Candy Fox In A Box Blush in Truth Or Dare

MAC Bronzer in Refined Golden

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft And Gentle

NYX Eyeshadow Collection

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Trio in Sweet As Candy

Wet n' Wild Ultimate Brow Kit in Ash Brown

E.L.F. Eyelid Primer

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara

MAC Lipstick Collection

What are some items that you all carry in your makeup bag, when you are traveling and on the go?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I received the Elemis makeup bag as part of a limited edition skincare kit that I received for review. All of the other items that I mentioned in this post were purchased by me, for my personal use. My reviews are always 100% honest.

Birchbox: February 2012

2012-02-10T21:06:00.002-05:00

Hey dolls! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this lovely Friday. I just got in a little while ago and I was so happy to see that a lovely pink box was waiting for me at home. Today, I am going to share with you all what was included in my February 2012 Birchbox. And let me just say, that I was REALLY happy to see what was included in this month's box.

Eye Rock Designer Liner- I love eyeliner. I think eyeliner really adds a special pizzazz to a look. I mostly stick with cream, gel, and pencil eyeliners. I just can't seem to get along with liquid eyeliners. Although I love the shiny, and deep color they give off, I find them to be a bit messy to use, and unfortunately, I have not mastered that perfect liquid eyeliner application. In comes Eye Rock. Eye Rock consists of four pairs of adhesive eyeliner design strips, that promise to help us easily achieve that perfect cat eye, that we all long for. This pack consists of four eyeliner styles from the more subtle, to the more dramatic eyeliner. I can't wait to play around with these. I will definitely report back and do a review on these soon. Stay tuned!

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant- I have never tried any skincare products from dermalogica, but I know that many swear by their products. To use this exfoliator, all you have to do is shake out a bit of the powder onto the palm of your hand, add a bit of water, mix with your finger, and a paste will be created. This rich paste sets out to not only help buff away the dead skin cells but, to also soften and brighten the skin as well. This product came just at the right time because, my skin has been really sallow and dull-looking lately so, I hope this exfoliator will help liven up my skin a bit.

Beautyblender Sponge- When I saw this famous pink sponge in the box, I became ecstatic! I have been longing for a beautyblender sponge for quite some time, and to see it included in this month's birchbox was just a beautiful surprise. I can't tell you how many raves I have seen on the beautyblender. I am so happy that I can finally try it out for myself. I love the shape of the sponge because it makes applying foundation to certain areas much easier. You can cover a bigger area with the bigger, rounder part. And, you can also reach those smaller areas like the crevices of the nose or under the eyes with the smaller, pointy tip. Besides for foundation, I have seen others use the beautyblender to apply cream blushes as well. Such a functional product. I have a feeling I am going to love this one.

Swatch

Blended into the skin-see all those sparkles?

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in the shade, Pearl- This tinted moisturizer works to give the skin a glowing, dewy look. Also, this tinted moisturizer is oil free, and contains an SPF of 20. I swatched a bit of this tinted moisturizer on the back of my hand and I liked how easily it blended right into my skin. Not only that but, my hand did have a dewy glow to it. The shade match with my skin tone looked to be pretty good as well. I did notice that there is a huge shimmer overload in this product so, I guess we shall see how this looks like on my face. But I have a feeling that the shimmers will be too apparent for daytime. If such is the case, not all is lost. I could probably use this product just on those certain areas on my face where I want a bit of shimmer/highlight. Such as, the bridge of my nose, and the top of my cheekbones. That's the beauty of makeup. If something doesn't work out for a certain purpose, get creative and try to make it work for something else.

front of the nail file

back of the nail file

Included as an extra in this month's Birchbox was a neon pink, heart-shaped nail file. How cute is this? I am such a sucker for products that have a cuteness factor to them. So fun!

*Another extra included in this month's Birchbox is a free six song, digital download by indie rock band, Green River Ordinance.

What do you all think about this month's birchbox contents?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased a monthly Birchbox subscription.

L'oreal Colour Riche Balm: Rose Elixir, Caring Coral

2012-02-06T13:57:00.008-05:00

Hey dolls! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this lovely Monday. Boy, how about those New York Giants yesterday? It was a great game, and I am really glad they won :) Woohoo! Anyways, today I am going to share my thoughts with you all on the L'oreal Colour Riche Lip Balms ($6.99 each). Although these lip balms have been out for quite some time, they still proved to be hard to find-at least for me. So, I was really excited when I spotted a display of these at Bed Bath And Beyond. I picked up the two colors that stood out to me the most. Caring Coral, a true coral, and Rose Elixir, a muted pink rose.

Caring Coral

Rose Elixir

Packaging

I think the tube packaging is quite lovely. I like the gold tube paired with the plastic, fog-like cap. Very interesting, as well as refreshing. I like that the cap snaps shut, so there is no risk of the cap coming loose in your makeup bag. I can't tell you all how many times I have had caps wiggle loose in my purse. You can all probably imagine how annoying that can be.

Pigmentation

When I saw these two lip balms up close and personal for the first time, I was certain that the pigmentation was going to be impressive, since they look pretty pigmented in the tube. I wasn't really expecting a huge dose of color since it is a lip balm but, I figured that I would at most, get a lovely noticeable tint of color out of these. Well, when I first applied them, I saw that the coverage was a bit sheerer than I expected them to be. Actually, a lot sheerer. Instead of color, all I get is a clear, sheer wash of color on my lips. To be honest, I can't tell Caring Coral and Rose Elixir apart when I apply them. They both look exactly the same on my lips.

Performance

Both lip balms have a sweet fragrance to them that I personally enjoy. I also detect a hint of sunscreen included in the fragrance, as well. Both lip balms apply smoothly, and they feel super creamy going on. According to the L'oreal website's description of these lip balms, these lip balms work to continuously hydrate the lips for 8 hours. Not only that but, this lip balm will continue to condition lips, even after the balm wears off or is removed, for another 2 1/2 hours.

I do find these lip balms to be very moisturizing, indeed. My lips have been really dry lately, and these lip balms do a wonderful job at giving them moisture and suppleness that prolongs, even after the balm has worn off. They also give my lips a healthy looking dose of much needed shine. As for wear time, its not until 2-3 hours that I have to reapply again. But I honestly think that reapplying right away is optional with these, since my lips feel super soft and hydrated already, even if the lip balm wears off of my lips.

The one thing that absolutely turns me off about these lip balms is the unpleasant taste that forms in my mouth when I apply these. Once I apply these balms onto my lips, the taste of sunscreen is inevitable. And, its very strong. I do like the fact that these contain an SPF of 15 but, I just wish the taste wasn't so strong.

Final Thoughts

Even though I was not super impressed with the pigmentation and that horrid sunscreen taste, I actually would repurchase more of the L'oreal Colour Riche Balms. Their moisturizing properties are probably one of the best I have seen so far, when it comes to lip balms. And the fact that the moisturization lasts even when these balms have worn off, is a major plus. Ever since I got them, they have since replaced my HG lip balm-Smith's Rosebud Salve. Don't get me wrong, I still love Rosebud Salve but for now, I think I am having a love affair with these L'oreal Colour Riche balms. If you don't mind a super sheer lip balm, and are looking for a really good moisturizing one, I wouldn't think twice about picking one-or a few, of these up.

What do you all think of the L'oreal Colour Riche Balms? Do you find them really moisturizing, like I do?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased these products for my personal use.

Milani Rose Hip Lipstick

2012-02-04T21:39:00.006-05:00

Hey dolls! I hope you are all enjoying your Saturday evening. A few weeks ago, CVS was having a 75% off sale on select Milani products. When I stopped by my local CVS store to check it out, sure enough, the selection that remained, consisted of items that I wouldn't normally pick up for myself. That always happens to me. I think its because I always wait until the last minute to go check out the sales. By the time I finally get to the store, the display is destroyed and almost all of the sale items are gone. But, I digress.

I was almost certain that I was going to go home empty handed but I decided to check out the lipsticks and see what I could find. I had never tried Milani lipsticks so, I was hoping I would find a shade that I could try out. Well, what do you know? I found one Milani lipstick shade that was right up my alley, and her name is Rose Hip. This lipstick originally retailed for $6.39 at my local CVS. Take off 75% of that and my total came up to $2.79! What a steal! By the way, I am not sure if the 75% off sale is still going on. But, I would suggest stopping by your local CVS and checking out the Milani display, to see if the 75% off stickers are still on the selected products.

Lip Swatch Of Milani Rose Hip Lipstick

Rose Hip is a creamy, muted bright pink. It is bright, but not quite neon-bright. Either way, this lip color sure makes a gorgeous statement when applied to the lips. Rose Hip felt super creamy going on. Not to mention smooth. I got opaque coverage in no time and the formula felt really comfortable on my lips. The finish is creamy (obviously, I am obsessed with continuously using the word creamy when it comes to this post) and, it leaves an impeccable shine that makes layering a gloss on top, optional.

I haven't worn this lip color out yet so, I can't comment on the lasting power. But, since creamier formulas tend to wear off quicker for me, I am going to rough guess and say that this lip color would probably last somewhere between 4-6 hours on me. This lipstick does contain a fragrance. I can't quite describe it but I know that I am not very fond of it. Luckily, the smell quickly dissipates once the lipstick is applied to the lips.

I have a few pink lipsticks in my makeup stash and I was curious to see if Rose Hip could actually be a dupe for any of my pink MAC lipsticks. Don't get me wrong, I adore my MAC lipsticks but, I am all for finding more affordable options.

Left to right: Milani Rosehip, MAC Candy Yum-Yum, MAC Girl About Town

While thinking about a possible MAC lip color that was similar to Rose Hip, I immediately thought of MAC's Candy Yum-Yum lipstick. It was a limited edition lipstick that was highly coveted by all bright pink lipstick lovers. I am still mad at myself for not picking up any back-ups. Meanwhile, I am trying to sparingly use the one tube of Candy Yum-Yum that I do have. One can only hope that MAC releases it again. Anyways, Candy Yum-Yum is a super bright, neon pink and since Rose Hip was also on the bright side, I figured they would be similar. But that was not the case when I swatched both lip colors side by side. Obviously, Candy Yum-Yum is much more cool toned and brighter than Rose Hip. So, I dug back into my lipstick stash and pulled out Girl About Town lipstick. Both Rose Hip and Girl About Town are a tiny bit similar, but not enough, that I would classify them as exact dupes of each other. Rose Hip is cooler and brighter than Girl About Town. Girl About Town is much more deeper and warmer.

Overall, I love pink lipsticks so it is no surprise that I really adore Milani's Rose Hip lipstick. I can't wait to rock this lip color with a neutral eye and a heavy winged out liner. Super pretty! If you live for bright pink lipsticks that are creamy, and make a bold statement, Rose Hip is definitely a lip color that is worth a look.

What do you all think of Rose Hip lipstick by Milani? Did any of you pick up this lip color?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased all of the products mentioned above for my personal use.

Color Club: Beyond The Mistletoe

2012-02-04T10:37:00.000-05:00

Beyond The Mistletoe ($3.99) is a clear based polish that contains silver glitters, as well as multi-colored holographic glitters. Beyond The Mistletoe was released as part of Color Club's holiday 2011 collection titled, beyond the mistletoe. I found a display of this collection-which consisted of all glitters, at my local Bed Bath And Beyond store. While all of the glittered colors were lovely, beyond the mistletoe was the only one that really stood out to me.

Color Club-Beyond The Mistletoe, 3 coats. Natural daylight, no flash. *Day 2 of wear*

natural light, no flash

*The pictures do not do this beauty any justice. While in focus mode, my camera did not want to pick up any of the gorgeous holographic effects so, I added a blurred out picture above so you can see some of the holographic goodness. In any case, trust me when I say that the effect is much cooler in person.

I loved how easy it was to get a good coating of the glitter. You know, with some glitters-especially the bigger and chunkier ones, one has to continue applying a few more coats, in order to get a nice saturation of glitter on the nails. But luckily, with beyond the mistletoe, I got a nice glitter coating with just one coat. Of course, if you want more glitter coverage, you can most definitely add a second and third coat, which is what I like to do.

Beyond the mistletoe looks lovely layered over a solid base nail color but, I actually prefer wearing this one on its own. The glitters pack a lot of punch and personality to shine on their own.

As with most color club nail colors that I have encountered, drying time was quick and, application was easy as can be. One thing that I noticed was the chipping and tip wear that was already happening on just day 2 of wear (if you look at the nail swatch picture above, you can notice the chipping on my index and middle finger). But, I think this was so because I did not seal the polish with a top coat-I wanted to test its wear time alone. Since I experienced early chipping, I would definitely suggest a long lasting top coat for this one.

Beyond the mistletoe is such a pretty and festive glitter and, I am glad to have it on board as part of my nail polish collection. But to be honest with you all, I think I have had enough of glitter nail colors for awhile. I am all glittered-out! LOL! Now, I am ready for the brights, muted nudes, and pastel nail colors, that I am going to be sporting all spring/summer.

What do you all think of Beyond The Mistletoe? Are any of you glittered-out like I am?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Products I Have Been Loving Lately: Vol 4

2012-02-03T19:30:00.004-05:00

Today, I am going to share with you all a few of my favorite products, that have been in constant rotation for awhile. Also included in this favorites post are a few items that I have rediscovered again. Don't you just love falling in love with products all over again?

Illamasqua Bronzing Duo in Glint And Burnish- This is such a lovely product. I don't know why I haven't used it lately. This has been giving me that natural looking, warm glow that I long for during these winter months. My skin is extra pale right now so, until summer comes along and warms me up a bit, glint and burnish does a lovely job when it comes to taking on the task of warming up my complexion in the meantime. If you are interested, check out my review of glint and burnish, HERE.

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara- This mascara was featured in my previous 'products I have been loving lately' post from last month but, I am bringing it back because you know what? It is just that good. I can't get over this mascara's lengthening abilities. If you are looking for length, this mascara will not disappoint. If you haven't done so, make sure to check out my review on this mascara, HERE.

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk- I have been applying this jumbo eye pencil beneath my eyeshadows, and it does a lovely job at brightening up the colors, and making them pop. Super pretty! I want to also mention that I apply this eye pencil over my Urban Decay Primer Potion. My lids are super oily, and just this eye pencil alone will not do it for me. But, with an eyeshadow primer underneath, it holds on pretty well.

L'oreal Color Riche Lip Balms in Rose Elixir and Caring Coral- I am not going to go into too much details when it comes to these two lip balms because a review is coming up but, what I can say is that these have been doing a superb job at moisturizing my dry lips. I carry these everywhere with me in my purse, and whenever my lips need a boost of hydration, these definitely do the job.

P.S. I have 354 followers!!!! Thank you all so much for taking an interest in my blog, and sharing this beauty journey with me. I promise, a contest is in the works :)

What have been some of your favorite products, lately?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased all of the products mentioned above for my personal use.

Love & Beauty Cheek Color

2012-02-01T21:29:00.000-05:00

Hey Dolls! I hope you are all doing well. I am so sorry for the lack of posts, but the internet at my place is down. I am actually blogging on the hub's computer. The technician is scheduled to come over this Friday to fix the problem so, hopefully everything will be back in order soon. I have so much to share with you all!

Today, I am bringing you a review on another one of Forever 21's Love & Beauty makeup items. This time, its the Love & Beauty cheek color in pink/multi ($4.80). I really hope that I am not boring you all with these Love & Beauty reviews. But if I am, please hold on a tiny bit longer. I only have one more product I want to share with you all, after this one that I will be reviewing today :)

If you haven't yet done so, make sure to check out my other Love & Beauty cosmetics reviews:

Love & Beauty Bronze/Turquoise Eyeshadow Palette

Love & Beauty Coconut & Peach Lip Balms

First Two: Top Row Colors.

Last Two: Bottom Row Colors

I am not going to deny that once again, I was suckered into buying this product because of the packaging. The sleek, square shaped black compact with the cheetah print-plus the heart imprint in the middle of the powder itself, all make for a very tempting combination. One that is hard for me to resist, obviously. Also included in the compact is a nicely-sized square shaped mirror. Great for carrying on the go. Although I do like the appearance of the packaging, I don't find it to be sturdy at all. And, I am sure if I accidentally dropped it, the powder would no doubt, shatter to bits.

The compact houses two bronze-like shades, as well as two blush colors. Starting with the first row, you get a warm, muted peach blush shade as well as a light golden brown bronzer. Then in the second row, you will find a deeper golden brown bronzer, and a cool, light pink blush color. Three of the shades contain smaller, fine shimmers, while the cool pink is more of a matte. I think that this combination of colors is brilliant. You basically have your blush color and bronzer all in one. The texture of the powder is superb. Its super smooth and it blends easily onto my cheeks. By the way, I love how the heart imprint in the center just adds that instant cute-factor. So fun!

I was quite surprised at how nicely pigmented these colors were. I was almost certain that I was not going to get much color payoff on my cheeks. Maybe just a highlighting effect, at most. But the color payoff was really great. I love the luminous glow that results from using this powder, but I have noticed that if I overdo it, it can enhance and enlarge the pores on my cheeks. I am pretty sure that this is so because of the shimmers that are in the product. Hence, a little bit of product goes a long way. I have no complaints when it comes to lasting power. I found that this product stayed in tact all day. Oh, before I forget to mention, this product is cruelty free and was not tested on animals. Yay!

Overall, I am glad that I crossed paths with this cheek color. I think that the quality of the product itself is pretty nice, and the affordable price tag does not hurt either. If any of you spot this cheek color compact, I think this is a product that is definitely worth a look.

Have any of you tried this cheek color from Love & Beauty?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes in Blonde and Redhead

2012-01-26T03:09:00.005-05:00

(Blonde, Redhead)

When I found out that MAC had released the Blonde and Redhead mineralize skinfinishes ($28.00 each), as part of their latest collection-Naturally, I jumped for joy. I knew immediately that these two gems were going in my shopping cart, when I purchased them from the MAC website. I missed out on these mineralize skinfinishes when they were originally released as part of the Brunette, Blonde, Redhead collection (from 2009?). So, I was not going to make that same mistake again. Read on to find out why these two products are rocking my world!

Left To Right: Redhead, Blonde (sorry about the glares)

Mineralize Skinfinish in Blonde

First 4 swatches-color sections. Last swatch-all the colors blended together (blonde)

Mineralize Skinfinish in Redhead

First 4 swatches-color sections. Last swatch-all the colors blended together (redhead)

If you love soft, pink cheeks, then blonde is the way to go. A peach-coral lover? No problem. Redhead has got you covered. Both of these limited edition mineralize skinfinishes contain four sections of colors, that compliment each other beautifully. Starting from the left of the compact, the color strips gradually transition from lightest to deepest. You can apply the lightest of the bunch, and use that to create a soft highlight. Or, swirl your blush brush on all four colors, and you have yourself a pretty blush color, that will instantly liven your cheeks, and give them a healthy looking glow. With these two, you basically have a highlighter/blush in one! Gotta love multi-tasking products.

Both products contain fine, smooth shimmers. Personally, I don't find the shimmers as overbearing as they are, when it comes to other highlighters. Of course, as with all shimmered face products, its best to not overdo it and know your limits. I have gotten heavy handed before and applied more than I needed to. When that occurred, I noticed that my pores were slightly enlarged. So, just remember that a little bit of this product goes a long way. Not so much for the fear of overdoing the amount of color, but overdoing the shimmers. I think the pigment on these is fantastic. The colors aren't super bright, but they have enough pigment to keep one satisfied. The texture of both skinfinishes are so smooth. The smooth texture really helps both products blend effortlessly into my cheeks. Last, I find that these stay on my cheeks all day. They do not budge whatsoever, off of my oily skin. So, I am definitely happy with the lasting power.

I adore both of these mineralize skinfinishes, but I am having a love affair with blonde as of late. The soft pink, flattering glow that my cheeks get is just amazing. I can't rave about it enough. And come to think of it, I actually thought that Redhead was going to be my most favorite, seeing as it has the golden, peachy-coral color schemes that I usually go for. In any case, both the redhead and blonde mineralize skinfinishes are so beautiful in their own special way, and I know that I am going to be getting a lot of use from these.

Currently, I see that these two limited edition mineralize skinfinishes are still available on the MAC website. So jump on the mineralize skinfinish ship ASAP, and get one-or both of these beauties! Believe me when I say, you NEED these in your life. Get to it!

What do you think of the Blonde and Redhead Mineralize Skinfinishes? Did any of you pick these up?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased these products for my personal use.

Love & Beauty Coconut & Peach Lip Balms

2012-01-24T06:20:00.002-05:00

When I spot packaging that is shaped like an ice cream sundae, I don't have to think twice about taking it home with me. Such was the case with this Love & Beauty coconut and peach lip balm set ($1.50), that I recently spotted, over at Forever 21.

Peach Lip Balm

Peach: I am one who is not very picky about fragrances in lip products. But, this one was just too artificial-even for me. The peach scent in this lip balm is definitely not something I am a fan of. On the more positive note, this lip balm did go on the smoothest out of the two.

Coconut Lip Balm

Coconut: I am a huge lover of all things coconut scented. Anything that reminds me of the beach, sunsets, and warm summer weather, has a friend in me. This coconut scented lip balm is my favorite out of the two, when it comes fragrance. Unfortunately, when it came to application, I found the texture quite uncomfortable. It did not apply as smoothly as I would have liked. It went on gritty and felt a bit rough.

Both of these lip balms don't have any pigment, so they apply sheer. Honestly, I don't find that there is really anything special about these lip balms, other than the cute packaging and the fun scent. My lips are super dry and while these lip balms didn't exactly worsen them, they did not help moisturize them, either. Also, these lip balms felt heavy on my lips. I could definitely feel like something was coating my lips-sort of wax-like, actually. Not a very comfortable feeling. As far as lasting power goes, I find that I have to reapply every 1-2 hours.

I would have really liked to have seen more moisturizing-inducing ingredients such as, Shea butter and vitamin E. Lastly, an SPF of some sort would have been a really nice addition.

Overall, if you don't have extremely dry lips and are looking for a basic, fun-scented, inexpensive lip balm, then these may be ones you want to look into. But, if moisturizing is your goal, look elsewhere. There are many other lip balms on the market that do wonders when it comes to moisturizing the lips. I would not repurchase these lip balms again. One of my favorite lip balms is Smith's Rosebud Salve. It never disappoints me, and I can't imagine my life without it.

Have any of you tried the Love & Beauty lip balms? Which are your favorite lip balms?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased the products mentioned above, for my personal use.

Beauty Crave

2012-01-22T03:58:00.000-05:00

Hey Dolls,

I hope you are all enjoying your day! Welcome to another edition of beauty crave. You all know how it goes, so let's get started :)

1. Bobbi Brown Ultra Nude Eye Palette ($45.00)- I don't think I will ever get enough of nude eyeshadows. They are such a necessary essential for me, and they are the color schemes that I wear quite often. This nude eye palette by Bobbi Brown contains six gorgeous universally flattering, nude eyeshadows that are sure to strike every nude eyeshadow lover's fancy. Also included in the eye palette is a handy, double-ended angled eyeshadow and eyeliner brush. Perfect for when one is on the go.

2. Tarte Maracuja Blush & Glow ($32.00)- Tarte's Maracuja Blush & Glow is a duo that is comprised of a cheek tint and a luminizer. Blend the tint on the cheeks for a lovely natural flush of color, and then follow with the luminizer to highlight the tops of cheekbones, for that extra special touch. According to Tarte, maracuja is an oil that contains Vitamin C, as well as fatty acids-great skin essentials. Also, this products does not contain parabens, sulfates, or any other harsh chemicals, that our skin can do without. Love!

3. Dior Diorskin Sculpt Concealer ($35.00)- For me, finding the perfect concealer has been the norm, for quite awhile. I just can't give up! I am obsessed, I tell 'ya. This concealer works to help diminish lines, and give the eye area a smooth appearance. I have a few fine lines under my eyes, and this product sounds really great to help combat that problem. I just wonder if it will help conceal my under-eye dark circles, well enough?

4. Smashbox Be Discovered Cream Cheek Trio ($29.00)- One of my new year resolutions is to start familiarizing myself more with cream blushes. Unfortunately, I don't have that many in my makeup stash. I steer clear of cream blushes because, when it comes to application, I feel like I am not doing it properly-especially when it comes to loud colors. I am afraid I will look like a clown. It is time to get rid of my cream blush fear, and this cream blush trio by Smashbox seems like a good place to start. The colors are incredibly gorgeous, and look very wearable.

5. American Apparel Glitter Nail Polish ($6.00)- I think it is safe to say that my glitter nail polish obsession is far from being over. I am sure come summertime, I will step away from the glitter and go towards the brights, neons, and pastels. Unless, there is a neon or pastel glitter nail color, available! Now, that would be cool. I really love the chunks of fun glitter that these nail colors have (pictured above is Supernova). By the way, for those who are into the latest, nail flake-craze, there is a pretty silver flake nail color available called Constellation, that I am sure will look lovely layered over dark nail colors. Also, these glitter nail colors are cruelty free, DBP free, toluene free, and formaldehyde free. Score!

6. Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color ($19.00)- I really love lip products. Apart from lipsticks, lip balms, and glosses, I am not too familiar with lip pencils. But, I know that lip pencils perform just as good-sometimes, even better. These lip pencils from Urban Decay, promise to give lips a high dose of opaque color, that feels creamy on the lips. I like! I am looking into purchasing 'Love Child', which is a gorgeous soft pink. Next to nude lip colors, I can't live without my pinks.

Thanks for stopping by, dolls! Be back soon :)

What beauty products are on your beauty wishlist?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above.

Product Rave: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cotton Candy

2012-01-21T14:39:00.000-05:00

I have been searching high and low for the much buzzed about, Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters ($5.99). But not surprisingly, they have proved hard to find. Well, I just happened to spot a display of these lip butters at Rite Aid and although I was excited that I finally spotted these, I was bummed that the color selections that remained were shades that I would not normally buy for myself. Luckily, I spotted one Revlon lip balm that was right up my alley, and her name is Cotton Candy.

Quick Product Facts

1. The lip butters are infused with shea butter, coconut butter, and hydrating mango

2. Provides a light-medium pigmentation that give lips a beautiful shine

3. These lip butters are available in 20 shades!

(source)

Packaging

I really like the quilted design/texture on the pink plastic top. I think the packaging looks quite sleek, actually. It also feels pretty sturdy, too. Also, I appreciate that the nozzle twists the lip butter all the way down. I just love features such as this one because that way, nicks and scrapes on the product can be easily avoided. I can't tell you all how many times I have nicked a lipstick because the nozzle wouldn't twist all the way down, no matter how cautious I was when placing the top back on.

Thoughts/Experience

Cotton Candy is a gorgeous, soft pink that contains small, smooth golden shimmers. Both the soft pink and the gold shimmers compliment each other quite well, and I really like the shine that this lip butter imparts on my lips. The shimmers are not overbearing at all. Cotton Candy is nicely pigmented, but not overly so. You can definitely build on it, though. I do detect a sweet fragrance which I quite enjoy. But no worries for those who are not fond of scented lip products, the sweet scent lessens rather quickly, once applied to the lips.

This lip butter glided on my lips smoothly, and evenly. I noticed how I could keep layering, and layering the product, and my lips would never dry out or get flaky because of product build-up. My lips are often very dry, and believe it or not, I have encountered lip products that instead of adding moisture to the lips, dry them out instead. Cotton Candy felt super lightweight on my lips, never uncomfortable.

I wish Cotton Candy lasted a little longer on me, though. I found that three hours or so, is the max time that this lip butter lasts on my lips. After the 3 hours, I have to touch up and apply this lip butter again. I found that my lips, did in fact, feel moisturized throughout the day. One thing that I would have really liked to have seen contained in this lip butter, is an SPF of some sort. I think that would have been a really nice addition.

Conclusion

I love Cotton Candy, and I hope to spot more of these Revlon Lip Butter shades at drugstores. I think if you are on the lookout for an inexpensive, easy glide-on moisturizing lip butter that packs a nice amount of color, these lip butters may be something worth looking into.

What do you all think of the Revlon Lip Butters? Which are your favorite shades?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Love & Beauty Nail Polish in Hot Pink

2012-01-18T09:57:00.001-05:00

Personally, I find Forever 21's Love & Beauty nail polishes to be either a hit or miss. I have a few Love & Beauty nail colors in my stash, and I have to say, some colors are spectacular, while others leave me underwhelmed. Luckily, this nail color falls into the spectacular category.

Three coats of Hot Pink, shiny top coat applied on top as well

Hot Pink (original name, huh?), is a bright pink that packs a whole lot of punch. The color is real bright-but not eye blinding neon bright, that contains fine, gold shimmers. I just love the gold sheen that the tiny, gold shimmers impart on my nails. The gold compliments the bright pink, beautifully. The pictures above do not do this nail color any justice. This mani looks so much cooler in person. To really up the fun factor, I added 2 coats of Wet n' Wild's Wild Shine Nail Color in Sparked to my ring fingers.

Application was a breeze. The brush, as well as the easy-grip handle, makes applying the nail color very simple. The first coat went on a bit sheer. I applied a second, and then a third coat to really get opaque and even coverage. I experienced no streaking, or air bubbles during application, and this nail color dried to a semi-glossy finish.

Drying time wasn't too bad. It took about 10-15 minutes for the nail color to be completely dry. I just applied this color last night so, I can't really report on the wear-time. But usually I have luck with the Love & Beauty nail colors when it comes to lasting power. It is not until 3-5 days of wear that I start to see some tip wear and chipping.

I know there are so many bright pink nail colors out there, in the market, and I am sure that you all probably have one in your nail polish stash. But, I think this color is sort of unique-in its own, fun way. I don't think I have a pink like this one in my collection. Plus, the price tag of $2.80 doesn't hurt either. Hot Pink definitely deserves a look if you spot it at a Forever 21 store.

What do you all think of Hot Pink? Which are your favorite Love & Beauty nail colors?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Love & Beauty Bronze/Turquoise Eyeshadow Palette

2012-01-17T09:07:00.003-05:00

Every time I stop by Forever 21, I tend to overlook the beauty and cosmetics items. I am more into the nail polishes and the clothing. But on my last trip to the store, I decided that it was finally time to take a closer look at the beauty items. Ultimately, I picked up some stuff to test out, so stay tuned for a few more posts in where I will share with you all some more Forever 21 beauty finds. I really hope that this post-along with the others coming up, helps those of you who are not familiar with Forever 21's Love & Beauty line, and are contemplating on weather or not these beauty products are something you want to try.

I really love how the beauty items are so inexpensive. But what I really wanted to find out was, weather or not the quality was there. Today, I am going to share with you all my thoughts on the Love & Beauty bronze/turquoise eyeshadow palette ($2.80).

natural daylight, no flash

Packaging

The black, flip-open compact houses four eyeshadow strips, as well as two double-ended sponge tip applicators. I really like the look of the packaging but, I definitely would not want to drop it. I don't find the case sturdy at all. I am really clumsy, so I will have to make sure to be really careful.

I noticed something quite surprising actually, when it came to the packaging. We all know that makeup has expiration dates and there is usually some sort of indicator which shows the time span of the product. For example, some items would read 3M, 6M, 12M, 24M, etc. The M indicating months. Well, I was surprised to not only see a time span indicator on the back of the compact, but also the EXACT DATE of when the product expires. Not only that, but it also shows when the product was manufactured. How cool is that? If you take a look at the back of the compact in the picture above, you will see that the expiration date is 10/14-October 2014. This is a quality that I really appreciate. And I think all cosmetic companies should do this with their products. It is so informative and very helpful. There is one thing I don't understand, though. The year 2014 is two years away, and the time span illustration reads 12M. Maybe it means that unopened, this product lasts until 2014. But then once opened, the time span of the product is a year?

Thoughts

When I first spotted these eyeshadows, I immediately fell in love with the colors. I think they compliment eachother so well, and I love how the colors remind me of summer. During the summer months, I LOVE to sport gold and bronze eyeshadows. And I think a lovely turquoise shadow would compliment a tan quite well. When it comes to the eyeshadows, you get a turquoise that I would say leans more on the green side, a bronze, a gold, and a creamy beige. All of the eyeshadows are heavily shimmered. So, if shimmer eyeshadows are not your cup of tea, these are not for you. I personally love shimmers in my eyeshadow colors. I think the shimmers help brighten up my eye area and makes the shadow colors that much more fun. The eyeshadows are pressed closely together. Some may have an issue with this, but its not a deal-breaker for me. I find that I can comfortably fit my eyeshadow brush in each of the colors with no problem. Also, I am happy to report that this product is cruelty-free and not tested on animals!

Pigmentation is pretty impressive. The shadows are nicely pigmented and pack a nice punch of color. With the turquoise color, I found that I had to really pack on the color, in order to get it to show up to its full potential. When it comes to the texture of the eyeshadows, I find that they are very soft. There is already a small crack on the corner of the lighter cream shade, and I have done nothing to cause the crack. Believe me when I say that I have been very gentle with this eyeshadow compact. Who knows? Perhaps the crack was already there before I purchased it, and I didn't notice?

I did an eye look using all of the eyeshadows in this palette, and I really liked the turn out. I applied the gold shade to the middle of my lid, then I took the bronze shadow and applied that to the outer V, blending into the crease. To brighten up the eye look I took the creamy beige and applied it to the inner corners. Lastly, to finish the look, I applied the pretty turquoise shadow to the lower lash line, to add an unexpected pop of color. The shadows were super easy to blend. But, I did experience some fallout, though. Of course, I applied an eyeshadow primer beforehand. My oily lids require it because if not, the shadows will crease on me within 5 minutes! The longest I have sported these eyeshadows was for about, 5-6 hours. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not notice any fading or major creasing, during that time. This leads me to believe that these eyeshadows have the potential to last beyond the 5-6 hours I had it on for.

Conclusion

I admit, I wasn't expecting much from these eyeshadows. I was ready to be disappointed. But I was proved wrong. The colors are lovely, the pigmentation was nice, and I could definitely see myself using this eyeshadow compact frequently. How could I not? The colors are gorgeous and right up my alley. I have a feeling these shadows are going to be in heavy rotation come summertime. I was left very impressed, and I am going to be on the lookout for more shades.

What do you all think of the Love & Beauty eyeshadows? Have any of you tried any?

Thanks for stopping by, dolls! I hope you all have a great day :) Be back soon!

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Products I Have Been Loving Lately: Vol 3

2012-01-16T06:22:00.000-05:00

Today I am going to share with you all the products that have stolen my heart, lately. Lets get started!

1. Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara- I just recently reviewed this mascara (click here), and it is quickly becoming a must-have staple item. I have been using it daily, and I just love how it easily lengthens and separates my lashes.

2. Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette- This eyeshadow palette (click here for review and swatches) is a must for those who love neutral eye looks. If I am ever in a rush, and indecisive when it comes to my eyeshadow look for the day, the naked palette saves the day. I love how I can easily create a soft, neutral eye or a more dramatic, smokier one for night. I am still debating on weather or not I should get the Naked Palette 2.

3. Hard Candy Fox In A Box Blush in Truth Or Dare- I just reviewed this blush yesterday, along with another hard candy blush duo (click here to check it out). My love affair with truth or dare is not ending anytime soon. This duo, comprised of a pretty golden brown and a soft, sheer pink, add the perfect glow to my cheeks that I love. This is one gem that I was happy to find.

4. Revlon Lip Butter in Cotton Candy- I am in the process of writing a review on this lip butter from Revlon. Cotton candy is a pretty soft pink that gives a gorgeous sheen to the lips. So far, I love the smooth texture of this lip butter. It glides on effortlessly onto the lips. Be on the lookout for the upcoming review!

5. Maybelline Fit Me Foundation- If any of you are longtime readers of my blog, I am pretty sure that you are all getting tired of my constant rave about this foundation. Maybelline's Fit Me foundation (click here for review) is definitely one of my HG foundations. I am on my second bottle of this stuff and I am almost done with it, LOL! I use this foundation almost daily. The colder weather has taken a toll on my skin, causing it to become drier than usual, and I just love the much needed dewiness that this foundation gives my face.

I hope you are all doing well, dolls! Be back soon :)

What products have you all been loving lately? Do any of you have similar favorites?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased all of the products mentioned in this post for my personal use.

Hard Candy Fox In A Box Blushes: Truth Or Dare, Skinny Dipping

2012-01-15T08:54:00.002-05:00

I finally was able to get my hands on these Hard Candy treasures! I say treasures because these boxed blushes are fantastic! I am in love. I am just in awe because of how amazing the Hard Candy Fox in a Box blushes ($6.00 each) are. Each of these boxed blushes contain two coordinating shades that compliment each other beautifully. Just take a look for yourselves!

Left To Right: Truth Or Dare, Skinny Dipping (with flash)

I absolutely love the cardboard-box packaging with the easy to open flip top, magnetic lid. I love the bright colors, the fun polka-dotted prints, the images of the flower, lace, and bird, and even the letter fonts are pretty cool-you know, if you are into that stuff :) Yes, they are a little bulky, but come on...you can't deny that the boxes are super adorable. Surprisingly, I find the packaging to be pretty sturdy.

I think the appearance of the blush brushes are really fun. The hairs are pink and the white handle contains the Hard Candy imprint logo on it. I found the brush hairs to feel OK on my cheeks. They don't feel scratchy, but they aren't the softest hairs either. I like to use my own blush brush to apply this product, though. I like that instead of adding a separate compartment to house the brush, Hard Candy decided to insert a black, elastic band under the top lid, that would hold the brush in place. I think this is a great feature because it prevents the packaging from being any more bulkier than it already is.

Truth Or Dare

Truth or Dare is probably my most favorite out of the two boxed blushes. I have been using this boxed blush non-stop since I first got it. The color on the left is a soft, warm golden brown that contains small shimmers. And the color on the right is a pretty sheer pink, that also contains small shimmers. I don't find the shimmers to be very apparent, once the colors are on my cheeks. This duo is the most sheerest out of the bunch, but that is probably why I love it so much. When swatched, the colors appear sheer. But as soon as I apply these two colors on my cheeks, they give my cheeks the most prettiest, healthy looking, glow-with a hint of soft pink to complete the look. With this duo, you will never look overdone. That's the beauty of truth or dare.

Skinny Dipping

Skinny Dipping is a great pick for those who enjoy coral blush colors. The color on the left is a cool, tan-brown that contains a hint of pink. And the lovely color on the right, is a bright orange coral. Both colors contain shimmers, and the colors are nicely pigmented. Like Truth Or Dare, the shimmers are not overbearing or apparent, once they have been applied to the cheeks. To be honest, I have not been using this boxed blush much, since I am so enamored with truth or dare. I think its because I prefer applying pink blushes in the colder months. And since it is winter here, truth or dare is just perfect for me. But come summertime, I am sure that I will be putting skinny dipping to good use, since coral blushes, and bronzers are all I sport on my cheeks during that time. But, skinny dipping is gorgeous nonetheless, and I am happy that I picked it up.

First Two: Truth Or Dare Swatches. Last Two: Skinny Dipping Swatches

Both these boxed blushes are smooth in texture, and they blend effortlessly onto my cheeks. I also find that these blushes last all day on my cheeks, which is great. I can't wait to pick up some more of these boxed blushes from Hard Candy, on my next trip to Wal-Mart. If you happen to spot these boxed blushes, I recommend you pick up a few. I am sure you will love them as much as I do.

What do you all think of these boxed blushes from Hard Candy?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased these products for my personal use.

Product Rave: Vaseline Total Moisture Conditioning Body Lotion

2012-01-12T18:47:00.001-05:00

As soon as winter arrives, my skin is just unbearable. My skin is dry, and it has been quite itchy, lately. My legs especially have been feeling the itching wrath, and you can all imagine how uncomfortable that is. Good thing, I have the Vaseline Total Moisture Conditioning Body Lotion (around $4-$6) by my side. This is actually my first time trying out a body lotion by Vaseline and I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

I love that this body lotion contains Vitamins E, A, and B, which are great skin moisturizers and soothers. Also, this lotion also contains minerals which help give skin the nutrients that it needs. The combination of vitamins and minerals work together to replenish the skin with moisture and hydration. And I think it sure does a fab job at that.

When I smooth this lotion on my skin, my skin just feels so much more smoother and supple. The lotion is very creamy. It does not have a thick consistency, nor a thin one. My skin absorbs this lotion quickly, and a little bit of this product truly goes a long way. I do detect a fresh fragrance to this lotion, but its not the least offensive. Once the lotion is applied to the skin, I find that the scent dissipates within 5 minutes or so. After that, I just get a tiny hint of the scent, which I find quite nice actually.

If you are looking for an effective body lotion that will moisturize your skin in a snap, then this may be a product that you would want to look into. I think its definitely worth a try, seeing as its super affordable. My only concern with this body lotion is that it may not be enough for those who have super dry skin. I think for that, a thicker formula may be needed. Just something to keep in mind.

What do you all think of this body lotion by Vaseline? What are your favorite body lotions to use in the winter time?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Product Review: Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara

2012-01-12T03:54:00.002-05:00

While on my most recent trip to Bed Bath And Beyond, I spotted Maybelline's newest mascara-Illegal Length ($6.99). What intrigued me most about this mascara was the fact that it contained tiny fibers that help lengthen and extend the lashes. Personally, I am not too familiar with the performance of mascaras that contain fibers. But I do know that the fibers work by attaching to the lashes, to give them instant length. Think of the fibers as small extensions for your lashes.

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara in Very Black

Ingredients

Here are some quick product facts:

1. This mascara is washable-there is a waterproof version available as well

2. Ophthalmologist tested

3. This mascara is safe for those who wear contact lenses

4. "Fiber-Fix Brush" works with a locking formula, to dramatically lengthen and extend the lashes with the 4mm fibers

5. The mascara brush reaches every single lash, at every angle

6. The fibers will not flake off because they are securely attached to the lashes

7. For better results, it is best to not let the mascara dry in between coat applications

First, I really like the look of the lightweight plastic, mascara tube. I am loving the silver with the contrasting fuchsia text. Very chic, if I do say so myself. When I first took the mascara wand out of the tube, I noticed that the wand was a bit long. I prefer shorter mascara wands-just because they are much easier for me to control. Luckily, I found it was pretty easy to work with the wand. Application was not troublesome at all.

The bristles along with the fibers do wonders when it comes to lengthening the lashes. Take a look for yourself...

Bare Lashes

1 coat of Maybelline Illegal Length applied

2 coats of Maybelline Illegal Length applied

Is that some crazy length, or what? I love my lashes to contain some volume to them, and I feel like I get a little bit of that with this mascara. The formula is very lightweight. My lashes don't feel weighed down or heavy, and I also notice a pretty slight curl has been achieved as well. Plus, I find that this mascara darkens and separates my lashes quite well, and makes them really stand out. What really impressed me was the fact that I could easily get away with just applying one coat. One coat will give me long, natural looking lashes. But then when you up the coat count to two-three, the length really gets pumped up! I am really happy that I experienced no major clumping action with Illegal Length. Just don't go beyond three coats, or else it will start to clump up. When it came to drying time, I found that it dried relatively quick in between coats, so make sure to work a little quick or else you may risk clumping the lashes.

I find that this mascara lasts for the most part, all day on me. I saw no hint of smudging going on, but I did notice a tiny bit of flaking around the three hour mark. But it was barely noticeable. Also, the removal process is super simple. I use my Lancome Bi-Facil eye makeup remover (review coming soon), and it gets the job done easily.

If length is your goal, then you will most certainly find it with Illegal Length. I will definitely repurchase this mascara again. It's super affordable, and I just can't help but love the length that can be achieved with this mascara.

What do you all think of Illegal Length mascara by Maybelline?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Product Review: PureDerm "Tea Tree" Nose Pore Strips

2012-01-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

It has been such a long time since I have experimented with nose strips. The main reason being that I hate pulling them off my nose once it has dried. It hurts! I do have a few blackheads on my nose, but I wouldn't say that they are super noticeable. They are there, but foundation and concealer helps hide them. Anyways, when I saw this pack of nose strips over at Forever 21, I decided to give it a go and see if they would be effective enough, to remove the few blackheads that I have on my nose. Did they work for me? Read on to find out!

Here are some quick product facts, according to the packaging:

1. Contains Tea Tree Extract

2. Paraben Free

3. The nose strips help "unclog pores and lift away unwanted blackheads"

4. The strips help with the elimination of any dirt or oil-which are culprits, when it comes to

clogging pores

5. Works to tighten the pores

The box contains six nose strips, which can be used 1-2 times per week-as indicated on the back of the box. I wish that the pack contained a few more strips, though. This pack retails for $3.80 over at Forever 21, and while the price isn't horrendous, the inclusion of more strips would have made me feel like I really got more bang for my buck. But, seeing as I will probably use one strip per week, I guess it isn't so bad. I found it really helpful that there were easy to follow step by step, written and illustrated instructions on the back of the box. Its really great for those who have never used nose strips before. Takes all of the guesswork out.

Following the instructions, I put a nose strip to work to see what it could do. I wet my nose with water, I applied the strip on my nose (shiny side should face the skin), and I waited 15 minutes for the strip to stiffen and dry up. While waiting, I did notice the tea tree scent. I don't know if the tea tree really had any effect, but when I applied the nose strip, I did feel sort of a cooling sensation on my nose-which lasted for about a minute or so.

After 15 minutes went by, I cautiously, pulled the dry strip off of my nose-which by the way, wasn't as painful as I expected it to be, and couldn't wait to see all of those pesky blackheads on the strip. Well, to be honest I was a little underwhelmed. I mean, it did remove some of the blackheads-not all, and to be completely honest, I saw no noticeable difference on my nose. My pores certainly didn't look any tighter, nor did they feel cleaner. Also, when I removed the strip, there was strip residue which I had to rinse off with some water.

Overall, I think if you spot these nose strips at your nearby Forever 21 store, they are worth a try, seeing as they are pretty inexpensive. It may work better for you than it did for me. I will use the remainder of the strips, but I don't think I will repurchase these again. Once I am done with these nose strips, I will try the Biore ones. I read great things about them and they have a cult following so, I may have better luck with those.

Have any of you tried these nose strips from PureDerm? Which nose strips do you all love?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Birchbox: January 2012

2012-01-10T06:01:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I received my January Birchbox and I was quite excited. I unsubscribed and fell off the Birchbox train wagon for awhile so, I subscribed again recently and I can't wait to see what goodies will be arriving in the coming months.

Let's see what I got in this month's box...

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner (Lionfish)

Swatch of Lionfish

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Lionfish- When I first saw that a Stila eyeliner was in the box, I was super happy. Lionsfish is a lovely brown eyeliner that contains small, fine bronze shimmers. I don't have too many brown eyeliners so I was excited to have this one. That excitement didn't last long, though. When I tried applying this eyeliner onto my top lash line, I was surprised to find that I had a really hard time with this liner, when it came to application. The pencil felt super dry and rough against my lids-definitely not creamy as I imagined it to feel. Also, I had to go over the same line numerous times in order for the color to show up. Although the color is lovely, I just can't handle the troublesome application. I don't know if I got a dud, or what? I am curious to see if the other liners in the line perform like this one did.

FIX Malibu Immaculate Complexion Smoothing Serum

FIX Malibu Immaculate Complexion Smoothing Serum- This serum works to soften wrinkles and perk up the skin tone, thanks to the help of vitamins C, A, and E. I have not given this product a go yet, but it feels super smooth, and the consistency is that of like a face primer. The smell is lovely, too. Sort of citrus-like.

VMV Hypoallergenics, Re-Everything: Face-Hand-Body Lotion

VMV Hypoallergenics Re-Everything: Face-Hand-Body Lotion- When I applied this creamy lotion on my arms, I instantly felt a moisturizing sensation. My skin was very smooth to the touch, the lotion absorbed instantly, and I felt no sticky residue. I did not detect a fragrance in this lotion, so this is a nice option for those who favor unscented products over fragrant ones.

Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture Fragrance- My best friend is a huge fan of Juicy Couture fragrances. She raves about them, constantly. I think I understand her excitement now because this one smells so good! I may just buy the full-size when this sample runs out. The floral blend scent is so addicting-I can't get enough.

Extras: 'Wichcraft Granola and Birchbox LogoMagnet- Also included in this month's Birchbox is a small packet of granola, and a cute Birchbox logo magnet. I can't wait to try the granola. I love adding granola to my cereal. So yummy!

What do you all think of this month's Birchbox contents?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased a monthly Birchbox subscription.

Mini Bath and Body Works Haul

2012-01-06T04:25:00.000-05:00

Hey dolls,

I hope you are all having a lovely day. I did a little shopping yesterday at the mall, and when I passed by the Bath and Body Works store, I saw that they were having one of their fabulous sales. So, of course I had to go in the store and check it out. I wasn't really interested in much of the selection that they had, but I did end up leaving the store with a few things that make for great traveling companions. Two adorable mini, anti-bacterial hand gels, and a mini body lotion.

I had never tried any of the Bath and Body Works anti-bacterial hand gels, so I was excited when I saw these, priced at just $.50 each! I regret not picking up more! I love these! They feel so refreshing once applied to the hands. The gel absorbs instantly, softens my hands, and they smell so good.

Dipped strawberry smells just like strawberries-of course. There are really fun, tiny sparkles in dipped strawberry that dissolve and disappear when you distribute and rub the gel through your hands. I tried to take a picture of the sparkles, but my camera did not want to work with me. But they are there, I assure you :)

But, my favorite anti-bacterial hand gel has got to be Pink Sugarplum. It smells so heavenly. If you are a fan of sweet scents, then I suggest you pick up pink sugarplum. It smells just like a sweet sugar candy. And the best part is that the sweet scent lingers for a long time on the hands. Yum!

I got this mini, 2 OZ Rio Rumberry body lotion for just $1.00! This body lotion contains a blend of berries, vanilla blossom, and papaya. Yum! To my nose, the papaya definitely is the scent that dominates in this body lotion. But I do get a hint of the underlying vanilla blossom and berry scent, though. When I smooth on this lotion on my arms, they feel super soft and smooth to the touch. Did I mention the smell is amazing? I really love the fact that this lotion is a mini, travel sized version because I am definitely carrying this gem with me everywhere I go.

Did any of you guys pick up anything from the Bath and Body Works Sale? What are your favorite Bath and Body Works products?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased the products mentioned above for my personal use.

Beauty Crave

2012-01-05T03:14:00.001-05:00

Hey dolls,

I hope you are all doing well, and enjoying your day. My apologies for the lack of posts lately. I am just getting over a cold, and slowly getting my energy back. All I have been wanting to do is lay in bed all day and rest. But thank goodness that I am feeling better. Pretty soon I will be back up and running, again. Today, I am going to share with you all some items that have intrigued me...there goes some more additions to my never-ending beauty wishlist, hahaha!

1. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($39.00)- I have noticed the buzz that BB creams have been creating. More and more beauty brands have been releasing their versions of the BB creams. This BB cream by Smashbox does it all. It is your moisturizer, primer, and foundation, all in one. It also works to help with oily skin, and it doesn't hurt that it includes a very impressive SPF of 35. Sounds like good stuff. I am all for multi-tasking products-especially ones that will help control my oily skin.

2. Sephora Collection Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow ($15.00)- These limited edition eyeshadows from Sephora look so lovely. I am not going to deny that the gorgeous shadow imprint is an attention-grabber. These eyeshadows promise to provide shine that is hard to miss with their pigmented, and unique formula that features the combinations of a baked, cream, and powder shadow. I love the selection of colors to choose from. I also love that these eyeshadows are free of parabens.

3. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($42.00)- I am pretty sure that I am becoming a foundation addict. Sure, I have a few that I love, but I am obsessed with finding that perfect one. Who knows? I may never find the perfect foundation. But I do have a lot of fun trying out new ones-except for the fact that it hurts my wallet. That's never fun, LOL! Nars sheer glow sounds like a foundation that is right up my alley. It has a smooth formula that provides a medium-buildable coverage, and it gives the skin a dewy, healthy-looking finish.

4. Benefit Hervana ($28.00)- How lovely is this powder blush? This blush contains four fun shades that when swirled together, give the cheeks a lovely flush of color. I really like how the boxed blush contains a handy mirror, too.

5. Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base ($48.00)- Sure, its winter now. But summer isn't too far away. Come summer, I am all about having that bronzed look. This cream-gel bronzer by Chanel is highly praised in the beauty community. The price of $48.00 is steep...but, its Chanel. And, I assume that a bit of the product goes a long way, which means that this product should last for a long time. Have any of you tried this bronzer? If you have, please fill me in on your thoughts about it.

Thanks for stopping by, dolls! Be back soon :)

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above.

Product Review: MAC Matchmaster Foundation

2012-01-04T17:42:00.004-05:00

When it comes to foundations, I don't ask for much. What is important to me is how well it covers, the inclusion of an SPF of some sort, and not having it break me out. I love medium to full coverage foundations. Unfortunately, my skin is not a good contender for the light coverage of a tinted moisturizer. I have a lot of unevenness when it comes to my skin tone, acne scars, and blemishes that I would prefer be covered. Since my skin is acne prone, and on the more sensitive side, the foundation must not break me out or cause irritation.

When I heard that MAC was releasing a new foundation, I was all over it. I have been pretty impressed with the MAC foundations that I have tried lately-Pro Longwear and Face And Body, so I was excited to put MAC's Matchmaster Foundation ($32.50), to the test. I really like to color match myself when it comes to foundation shades. So, I looked up some Matchmaster foundation swatches online and based on my findings, I found that shade 2.0 would be the best match for my NC25 MAC skin tone.

MAC Matchmaster Foundation-Shade 2.0

Back of the box

Ingredients

Swatch of Matchmaster Foundation-shade 2.0 (cloudy day, natural light, no flash)

Initial Thoughts

The first thing that I immediately noticed was the amount of product that was in the bottle. Based on my foundation encounters, I noticed that most foundations contain 1 OZ of product. But the Matchmaster foundation contains 1.2 OZ of product. It may not be much to some, but this is something that I appreciate very much. I feel like I am getting my money's worth by having a bit of extra product that will last me a bit longer. The foundation bottle is made of glass-I am so terrified of dropping this thing, you have no idea! A very worthy mention is that the bottle has a pump-so great and convenient. And lastly, it also contains an SPF of 15.

Application

When it comes to my preferred method of applying Matchmaster, I love using my MAC 188 small duo fibre brush ($34.00). Any stippling brush will do, but I just prefer the MAC 188 because since it is a little smaller, I feel like it gives me more concentrated coverage. Not to mention it blends in my foundation like a dream.

Experience

As I mentioned before, I matched myself to the shade 2.0. I have yellow undertones in my skin and 2.0 seemed to be the shade that would best suit my yellow tones. When I first pumped out a bit of the foundation onto the back of my hand, I noticed that the foundation had some yellow coloring, but I also spied a hint of orange mixed in, as well. When I first saw the orange, I questioned if I chose the right shade? There was only one way to find out. I started stippling and blending the foundation onto my face-I find that using two pumps of the foundation gives me the coverage that I prefer. I also noticed that this foundation is super easy to blend. The formula is very creamy, but there is a little hint of thickness incorporated into the mix as well. With the pro longwear foundation, I had to work in sections because it would set so quick. But with matchmaster, I still have a little bit of extra time to blend it in before it completely sets.

When I first applied this foundation, I was instantly introduced with a strong scent. It was quite familiar, actually. It smelled just like the MAC studio fix fluid foundation. I tried studio fix fluid a few years ago and even to this day, I don't forget the smell. But, I am not going to say this is a big deal-breaker for me because I don't consider myself as sensitive to scents as others may be. But, on the plus side, I find that the scent lessens as the day wears on. I actually don't really notice it much after awhile.

OK, when it comes to the color-match...I found it pretty interesting. When I finished blending the foundation onto my skin, I noticed that the coloring was a tiny bit off. The foundation definitely appeared a little darker. You can imagine my disappointment right then and there. I thought I had picked the wrong shade for myself, and I was going to have to go back to the MAC store to see if shade 1.5-which is the next shade down, was actually the better match for my skin. But the most amazing thing happened. I let the foundation set for a bit, and between the 5-10 minutes after I had applied the foundation, I looked in the mirror again, and the match was perfect! My face did not seem darker anymore. I don't know how, but somehow the foundation just blended into my skin to match my skin tone. I just can't explain it. I was speechless. I guess the name "matchmaster" says it all-it works to match your skin tone. From this experience, I assume that one needs to let the foundation set for a few minutes, to ensure that it matches your own skin tone. According to the description of the matchmaster foundation on the MAC website, this foundation contains "translucent pigments that enable a fully personalized finish influenced by your own skin's undertone". Very cool!

Coverage/Results

I was pretty impressed with the coverage. I found it to be medium-buildable. Matchmaster did diffuse my acne scars, nicely, but it did not completely cover them. A concealer might be needed for those who prefer a more fuller coverage on certain areas of the face. The finish looks a bit matte, but its not completely matte. It gives more of a satin finish. This foundation makes my skin look really nice. It gives a my skin, but better look. Since its winter here, my skin is a bit drier than usual. I make sure to moisturize my skin well to ensure that the foundation doesn't emphasize any dry areas. I am almost certain it would if I didn't moisturize, properly. While on, the foundation did not feel heavy on my skin, nor did it feel tacky. I just hate heavy-feeling foundations.

I am happy to report that this foundation lasted all day on. The longest I have had this foundation on was for about 9-10 hours. I have an oily T-Zone area, and I find that I only have to blot those areas once throughout the day. Those areas got oily around the 3-4 hour mark. Also, I have experienced no breakouts as a result of using matchmaster, which is a huge plus. I love to try foundations, but I know that some may not react well with my skin. Luckily, my sensitive, acne-prone skin accepts matchmaster.

Conclusion

Overall, I really like MAC's Matchmaster foundation. I am really impressed with it and I think its going to be one of my staples for the new year. I am curious to see how this foundation will fare up come the warmer, summer weather? I guess I will find out in a few months!

Have any of you tried MAC's Matchmaster foundation? What do you all think of it?

Happy New Year everyone, and I hope the new year is off to a great start for all of you :)

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

New Years Eve Look

2011-12-31T02:26:00.000-05:00

It is new years eve! Any exciting plans for tonight? I can't believe how quick 2011 flew by. I hope it was a great year for all of you :) Thank you all for sticking with Makeup Moment, another year. I appreciate all of your sweet comments, and I love that blogging gives me the opportunity to interact with beautiful people like you all. Here is to a prosperous new year, filled with love and joy!

Today, I am going to share with you all a New Years Eve look of the day. For the eyes, I used colors from the Wet n' Wild Spoiled Brat Color Icon Trio (click here for review), heavily winged out my eyes with black liner, and I just had to incorporate glitter in this eye look, somehow. I did not want to apply the glitter all over the lid area, so I decided to place just a surprising pop of silver glitter on my lower lashline. For the cheeks, I contoured the cheekbones, and applied a coral blush. Lastly, for the lips, I wanted them to stand out, so I applied a shiny pink gloss. I love how this look turned out, and I hope you all do too.

Here are pictures of the look, as well as the products used listed below. Thanks for stopping by!

Face

MAC Matchmaster Foundation in shade 2.0

MAc Studio Finish Concealer in NW30

Benefit Hoola Bronzer, used to contour cheeks

Milani Baked Powder Blush in Luminoso

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Soft And Gentle

Wet N' Wild Ultimate Brow Kit in in Ash Brown, used to fill in brows

Eyes

E.L.F. Eyelid Primer in Sheer

Silver shade from Wet n' Wild Spoiled Brat Trio applied to inner third of lids

Pink shade from Spoiled Brat applied to outer third of lids, outer v

NYX eyeshadow in White applied to browbone

E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner in Black applied to top lashline, and wing out

NYX Glitter Mania in silver, applied to lower lashline

Lancome Definicils mascara on black, applied to top lashes

Lips

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Dolly Pink

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. All of the products mentioned in this post were purchased by me for my personal use.

Nail Of The Day: Wet n' Wild, Wild Shine Nail Color in Sparked

2011-12-28T20:10:00.001-05:00

Sparked under natural daylight on a sunny day, no flash

Just because the holidays are over, does not mean that my glitter nail obsession is. In fact, I actually think that is has grown! Imagine my eyes when I saw the gorgeous Sparked, from Wet n' Wild's Wild Shine Nail Color line. But what I really loved was the affordable, $0.99 retail price. This glitter nail color was a steal!

with flash

closer look-natural light, no sun, no flash

Sparked is a clear based polish that contains loads of small, pretty pink and silver glitters. I found that one coat did not provide my nails with enough glitter saturation. But once I bumped the coat application count to 4, my nails were covered in glittery goodness.

Sparked would no doubt look lovely applied on top of a pink or silver nail color. But honestly, I prefer it alone. Its such a special color that it deserves to shine. Drying time was fast, but not as fast as other glitter nail colors that I have encountered. My advice would be to give it a good 10-15 minutes for the nails to be completely dry, before you go about your day. Once dry, I do feel the glitter texture on the nails. It doesn't feel rough by any means, but a clear top coat applied on top will help smooth it out a little more.

Lasting power is good so far. I have been sporting Sparked on my nails for 5 days now, and it is still holding on strong. I have yet to see a chip. Pretty impressive, Sparked.

What do you all think of Sparked?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios: Spoiled Brat and Sweet As Candy

2011-12-28T14:39:00.000-05:00

Wet n' Wild's Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios are probably my most favorite drugstore buys. The pigmentation is amazing, and the price of just $2.99 per trio, is hard to beat. I picked up two more of Wet n' Wild's eyeshadow trios. This time around I purchased Spoiled Brat and Sweet As Candy.

Left To Right: Sweet As Candy, Spoiled Brat

Spoiled Brat (flash)

Spoiled Brat (natural light, no flash)

(natural light, no flash)

Spoiled Brat- This trio consists of a frosty, shimmered cool silver (browbone color), a deep black that contains small, silver shimmers (crease color), and a fun medium frosty pink (eyelid color). I can't tell you all how many times I have looked by this trio, whenever I check out the Wet n' Wild display at drugstores. Don't get me wrong, the colors are gorgeous, but its the pink that has held me back. I don't have many pink eyeshadows in my makeup stash because to be quite frank, I hardly sport pink eyeshadows. As the years go by, I tend to favor wearing the neutrals, over the brights. I remember when I just started getting into makeup, I was almost always sporting some sort of bright eye-even in the daytime! I need to break out of my bright eyeshadow rut and re-discover the beauty that are all things bright. And what better way to start than with Spoiled Brat? Stay tuned for an upcoming LOTD in where I will sport all three of the colors in the trio. I can't help but think that these colors would look super awesome for a New Years Eve look, don't you think?

Sweet As Candy (flash)

Sweet As Candy (natural light, no flash)

(natural light, no flash)

Sweet As Candy- In this neutral-themed eyeshadow trio, you will find a light cream frost (browbone color), a golden brown frost (crease color), and a coral-pink frost (eyelid color). I can never get enough of neutral eyeshadows, and these lovely ones are no exception. These colors are great for creating neutral, everyday looks.

*Each trio comes with two applicators. One sponge-tip, and one brush tip. Personally, I don't use the applicators. I like to use my own eye brushes. All six of these eyeshadows apply like a dream. They are super smooth, the pigment is fantastic, and they blend really easily.

*FYI: In case some of you aren't familiar with these eyeshadow trios, there is a very handy eye diagram on the back of the case that points out where the browbone, crease, and eyelid colors should be placed. This sure comes as a nice help for those who are just starting out with makeup.

Back of the case

*I think the lasting power on Wet n' Wild's eyeshadow trios are good. It's usually not until the 6-7 hour mark that I start to notice some creasing and fading. I am glad that I have added these two babies to my stash. In all honesty, I think you are getting a great bang for your buck, when it comes to these Wet n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios. Affordability and quality are two things that are always appreciated in my book, and Wet n' Wild does it right.

What do you all think of these eyeshadow trios? Which ones are your favorites?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased these products for my personal use.