Sorry for the lack of posts. Have been on vacation (still am) and spending time with family and away from technology which has been, lovely.
I thought I would do a little best of post to highlight some of my favorite finds from the past year. It being the first year of my blog and all ;)
1. Maybelline Color Tattoos. These have basically negated the need for me to ever purchase another paint pot. So great all around!
2. MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural. Not new this year but new to me. Have found super close dupes but nothing identical to this magic powder.
3. Seche Vite topcoat. Again, not new but I just discovered this stuff his year and can not live without it. Reduces drying time and leaves a salon like finish. Massively changed my manicure life.
4. Not Your Mother's hair care line. Probably the best drugstore hair products I have ever used. From shampoo and conditioner to styling products, super high quality at crazy affordable prices.
5. L'Oreal True Match foundations (Lumi and original). Hands down my favorite foundations of the year. Just amazing coverage, finish and a large range of shades. These have been my favorite discovery this year.
How about you? What were your favorite products from 2012? Happy New Year and thanks for reading my blog this year and joining me in this crazy little journey!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Holiday Nail Ideas
I usually just go for red or sparkly during the holidays but this year I felt a little more creative. I tend to do my nails twice a week and so I have had a few "Christmas" themed manis this month that I thought I would pass along.
I didn't have skinny nail polishes when I started so this snowflake ended up looking like a giant fail. But...I think the "idea" of it is still a good one and very festive, once you improve on your snowflake abilities. The gold is Sephora by OPI "Looks Like Rain, Dear". It's so pretty and sparkly but it is the WORST glitter polish to remove. The red is "Target Red" by L'Oreal.
I was definitely on a "snowflake" kick this year and really loved the effect on the nails, especially over glittery polish. First I did this green mani with just the glittery green nails. It's Wet n Wild "Sagreena The Teenage Witch" with Sinful "Call Me Later" glittery green topcoat. It was SO sparkly. It reminded me of The Grinch. I decided to try a better snowflake with the skinny nail brush and LOVED the look of it.
The next mani was an "icy" themed one. I wanted to try a sparkly snowman accent nail on glittery silver nails and I think it was one of my favorites. It was just so wintery and whimisical. I really loved it. I used Wet N Wild "Silvivor" with Nicole by OPI "You're A Star" on top which is silvery holo polish that just makes the nails glow. This mani lasted me 5 days before it started to even think about chipping. I think glitters are that way, they hold the polish better!
The one I decided to just go all out with the Christmas theme. I really loved "Sagreena The Teenage Witch" and I don't know when else I'll wear it if not at Christmas. So I did that on all of my fingers except my accent nails. Those were coated in 2 coats of "Target Red". I used a skinny nail brush to make white snowflakes on all the green nails. I then made the red nails look like Santa's suit. It is SO Christmassy!
Hope that gave you some ideas for your holiday mani!
I didn't have skinny nail polishes when I started so this snowflake ended up looking like a giant fail. But...I think the "idea" of it is still a good one and very festive, once you improve on your snowflake abilities. The gold is Sephora by OPI "Looks Like Rain, Dear". It's so pretty and sparkly but it is the WORST glitter polish to remove. The red is "Target Red" by L'Oreal.
I was definitely on a "snowflake" kick this year and really loved the effect on the nails, especially over glittery polish. First I did this green mani with just the glittery green nails. It's Wet n Wild "Sagreena The Teenage Witch" with Sinful "Call Me Later" glittery green topcoat. It was SO sparkly. It reminded me of The Grinch. I decided to try a better snowflake with the skinny nail brush and LOVED the look of it.
Hope that gave you some ideas for your holiday mani!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Mistletoe Makeup
Here is a list of the products I used:
1. Clinique Even Better Foundation
2. Revlon ColorStay Under Eye Concealer
3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Powder
4. NYC Sunny Bronzer
5. Clinique "Cupid" Blush
6. Sephora Waterproof Eyeliner in Glitter Green
7. Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette (3 green shades)
8. Urban Decay Naked Palette (Virgin as a highlight, Naked as a brow powder and Buck in the crease)
9. Maybelline Blackest Black Gel Eyeliner
10. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Black
11. Benefit Prrrowl Mascara Topcoat (you can see the shimmer in some pictures)
12. Clinique "Merlot' lipstick
Friday, December 14, 2012
Easiest Red Lip...Ever?
I really love a good red lip. Especially this time of the year. It is just festive and brightens up your whole face. But...a good red lip usually takes some work and is more high maintenance than I like on a daily basis.
Until now.
I've talked before about how much I love the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. They are an amazing invention and if I could, I would own every color. I recently picked up Cherry Tart. Like Peach Parfait, Cherry Tart is one of the few Lip Butters that have some shimmer to them. Most are a cream finish.
This is just the easiest, low maintenance red lip I've ever worn. One swipe leaves a beautiful rosy flush to the lips. Two or three swipes leaves a gorgeous, wearable, red lip that feels like you are wearing nothing more than chapstick and actually leaves my lips feeling softer after application. You don't even need a mirror. Just swipe it on like chapstick and BOOM, beautimous red lips.
One of my favorite things about this particular type of red lip is that you don't have to worry about it wearing off oddly. When you use a red lip liner and do several rounds of blotting, reapplying, blotting, reapplying to get a good red lip, you can end up with an odd red ring around your lips by the end of the night. With something like a Lip Butter, it just evenly wears off and leaves a pretty rosy tint to the lips.
I find the wear time on Cherry Tart to be comparable to a regular Revlon lipstick but I enjoy the texture of the Lip Butters much more. It doesn't feel like a lipstick. It just feels like moisturized lips! With this kind of easy wear, I feel more comfortable wearing something a little more bold like a red lip during the day instead of feeling like it's a special occasion only kind of look. I can't say enough good things about Revlon Lip Butters!
Until now.
I've talked before about how much I love the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. They are an amazing invention and if I could, I would own every color. I recently picked up Cherry Tart. Like Peach Parfait, Cherry Tart is one of the few Lip Butters that have some shimmer to them. Most are a cream finish.
This is just the easiest, low maintenance red lip I've ever worn. One swipe leaves a beautiful rosy flush to the lips. Two or three swipes leaves a gorgeous, wearable, red lip that feels like you are wearing nothing more than chapstick and actually leaves my lips feeling softer after application. You don't even need a mirror. Just swipe it on like chapstick and BOOM, beautimous red lips.
One of my favorite things about this particular type of red lip is that you don't have to worry about it wearing off oddly. When you use a red lip liner and do several rounds of blotting, reapplying, blotting, reapplying to get a good red lip, you can end up with an odd red ring around your lips by the end of the night. With something like a Lip Butter, it just evenly wears off and leaves a pretty rosy tint to the lips.
I find the wear time on Cherry Tart to be comparable to a regular Revlon lipstick but I enjoy the texture of the Lip Butters much more. It doesn't feel like a lipstick. It just feels like moisturized lips! With this kind of easy wear, I feel more comfortable wearing something a little more bold like a red lip during the day instead of feeling like it's a special occasion only kind of look. I can't say enough good things about Revlon Lip Butters!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup
I think I'm a foundation junkie.
That's the only reasonable excuse for my ever growing foundation collection. They just make so many different kinds with different finishes and coverages, I just can't resist.
I did have a real reason for buying, yet another, foundation. I'M PALE. All of mine were spring/summer colors and at least one or two shades too dark for me. So off I trudged. Walgreens was having a buy one get one sale on L'Oreal so I decided that since I love the L'Oreal True Match Lumi so much, I'd try the original True Match Super Blendable Makeup.
Gotta say...I'm impressed.
I really didn't think I would be. There's nothing about the "True Match" technology that really wows me. I don't think it automatically adjusts to your skin tone to match. I do think that they have a massive assortment of shades to match a large variety of skintones though and they are grouped nicely between Warm, Neutral and Cool tones to make it easier to find what you need. In the True Match Lumi, I was a C4 but with the original True Match I'm an N3.
I was a little wary when I saw that it's a pour top container. I absolutely hate those. Even more wary when I poured some out and saw how "thin" it is. It's a very runny foundation, which in my past experience has not equated nice coverage.
I decided to apply it with my hands the first time to really get a feel for the texture and how it applies on the skin. It almost has a powdery feel under the fingers, like a primer almost. One application and...completely different skin. Dab a little more in the areas that need extra coverage and they disappear. This stuff is definitely medium/full coverage foundation but in a way that doesn't look fake or mask like. Just covers what you need it to cover.
I set it with a loose powder because I get oily in my T-Zone. It's not a matte finish or a glowy finish, I'd say it's a pretty natural finish and lasts through a normal work day on me just fine.
Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with this foundation and will definitely be repurchasing! My sensitive skin has not broken out from it like I did with ColorStay.
I also think that L'Oreal has some of the best drugstore foundations and am very impressed with their products that I've tried. They are quickly moving up to one of my favorite drugstore brands!
That's the only reasonable excuse for my ever growing foundation collection. They just make so many different kinds with different finishes and coverages, I just can't resist.
I did have a real reason for buying, yet another, foundation. I'M PALE. All of mine were spring/summer colors and at least one or two shades too dark for me. So off I trudged. Walgreens was having a buy one get one sale on L'Oreal so I decided that since I love the L'Oreal True Match Lumi so much, I'd try the original True Match Super Blendable Makeup.
 |
| photo courtesy of lorealparis.com |
Gotta say...I'm impressed.
I really didn't think I would be. There's nothing about the "True Match" technology that really wows me. I don't think it automatically adjusts to your skin tone to match. I do think that they have a massive assortment of shades to match a large variety of skintones though and they are grouped nicely between Warm, Neutral and Cool tones to make it easier to find what you need. In the True Match Lumi, I was a C4 but with the original True Match I'm an N3.
I was a little wary when I saw that it's a pour top container. I absolutely hate those. Even more wary when I poured some out and saw how "thin" it is. It's a very runny foundation, which in my past experience has not equated nice coverage.
I decided to apply it with my hands the first time to really get a feel for the texture and how it applies on the skin. It almost has a powdery feel under the fingers, like a primer almost. One application and...completely different skin. Dab a little more in the areas that need extra coverage and they disappear. This stuff is definitely medium/full coverage foundation but in a way that doesn't look fake or mask like. Just covers what you need it to cover.
I set it with a loose powder because I get oily in my T-Zone. It's not a matte finish or a glowy finish, I'd say it's a pretty natural finish and lasts through a normal work day on me just fine.
Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with this foundation and will definitely be repurchasing! My sensitive skin has not broken out from it like I did with ColorStay.
I also think that L'Oreal has some of the best drugstore foundations and am very impressed with their products that I've tried. They are quickly moving up to one of my favorite drugstore brands!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Revlon ColorStay Under Eye Concealer
How have I not known about this stuff?? I ran out of my usual under eye concealer and then also ran out of the CoverGirl that I was using instead. I found this on super sale at Walgreens and thought it was worth a try. I'm hoping the super sale doesn't mean they are discontinuing it, because it's...AMAZING.
I should have known based off of the ColorStay name that it would be great. I usually go a little lighter with my under eye concealer, just my personal preference on my face. However, since it was a sale the lightest they had was Light/Medium. I actually love the look of it. I thought it might be too dark but it matches my skin perfectly and creates such a nice look! Bright and awake without looking "fake".
It's creamy but way pigmented. I click it about 4 times and apply under each eye with the felt tip. I then use my ring finger to pat it in under the entire under eye area and into the corners of my eyes where I get the darkest.
True to ColorStay, it lasts all day. Once it "sets" (similar to the foundation) it doesn't move and it also dries which helps reduce smudging of your mascara. That's one of my biggest complaints about under eye concealers, I don't want them to stay "tacky" all day, it just turns into a magnet for all of your eye makeup.
I am really impressed with this ColorStay Under Eye concealer and will most definitely repurchase.
 |
| photo courtesy of revlon.com |
I should have known based off of the ColorStay name that it would be great. I usually go a little lighter with my under eye concealer, just my personal preference on my face. However, since it was a sale the lightest they had was Light/Medium. I actually love the look of it. I thought it might be too dark but it matches my skin perfectly and creates such a nice look! Bright and awake without looking "fake".
It's creamy but way pigmented. I click it about 4 times and apply under each eye with the felt tip. I then use my ring finger to pat it in under the entire under eye area and into the corners of my eyes where I get the darkest.
True to ColorStay, it lasts all day. Once it "sets" (similar to the foundation) it doesn't move and it also dries which helps reduce smudging of your mascara. That's one of my biggest complaints about under eye concealers, I don't want them to stay "tacky" all day, it just turns into a magnet for all of your eye makeup.
I am really impressed with this ColorStay Under Eye concealer and will most definitely repurchase.
Monday, December 3, 2012
November Favorites
Can you believe it's December?!?! It's going to be spring again before we know it. Holy Moly this fall just flew by. It's that time again for my favorites from the previous month. Here's what I couldn't stop using for the month of November!
Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream. I can't stop using this stuff. It's gentle but effective and leaves my face feeling super soft and glowing. LOVE love love this scrub!!
MAC Primped Out Essentials Perfectly Plush Brush Kit. I received this as a gift for my birthday and just adore it. The bag is pretty small and went into my makeup bag collection for travel, but the brushes are AMAZING. It's basically everything you need for an everyday makeup look. Foundation, powder/blush, eyeshadow, crease brush and the angled brush is what I use for powders on my eyebrows. Great little kit!
Urban Decay Naked Palette. I started using this again as fall rolled in and am pretty sure the love affair is going to last awhile. The colors are just SO perfect for this time of year and don't require much effort to get a great look. I've been using Sin and Buck together pretty consistently this last month and think with a black cat eye and red lips that would make a perfect festive makeup look!
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. I've been on a gel eyeliner kick lately and this is the one I always grab. It just lasts all day and is so precise, but something about gel is a little bit softer than a liquid black eyeliner. I really like this formulation and think it's a great drugstore alternative!
Covergirl Fresh Concealer. This was my go-to under eye concealer before I found the Maybelline Dream Lumi. I recently ran out of Maybelline and had a backup of this so started using it again. I just really love the look this gives and I think it does a great job of brightening my under eye area. It's a little bit less creamy than the Maybelline so I don't need to set this with anything.
Clinique Cupid Blush. What a gorgeous little pop of color. I am really impressed with this blush and haven't used anything else since I got it. It's a pretty neutral rosy pink and it just perks my face right up. It's so pretty! It's also very pigmented, which hasn't always been my experience with Clinique Blushes, but Cupid is exceptional!
Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream. I can't stop using this stuff. It's gentle but effective and leaves my face feeling super soft and glowing. LOVE love love this scrub!!
MAC Primped Out Essentials Perfectly Plush Brush Kit. I received this as a gift for my birthday and just adore it. The bag is pretty small and went into my makeup bag collection for travel, but the brushes are AMAZING. It's basically everything you need for an everyday makeup look. Foundation, powder/blush, eyeshadow, crease brush and the angled brush is what I use for powders on my eyebrows. Great little kit!
Urban Decay Naked Palette. I started using this again as fall rolled in and am pretty sure the love affair is going to last awhile. The colors are just SO perfect for this time of year and don't require much effort to get a great look. I've been using Sin and Buck together pretty consistently this last month and think with a black cat eye and red lips that would make a perfect festive makeup look!
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. I've been on a gel eyeliner kick lately and this is the one I always grab. It just lasts all day and is so precise, but something about gel is a little bit softer than a liquid black eyeliner. I really like this formulation and think it's a great drugstore alternative!
Covergirl Fresh Concealer. This was my go-to under eye concealer before I found the Maybelline Dream Lumi. I recently ran out of Maybelline and had a backup of this so started using it again. I just really love the look this gives and I think it does a great job of brightening my under eye area. It's a little bit less creamy than the Maybelline so I don't need to set this with anything.
Clinique Cupid Blush. What a gorgeous little pop of color. I am really impressed with this blush and haven't used anything else since I got it. It's a pretty neutral rosy pink and it just perks my face right up. It's so pretty! It's also very pigmented, which hasn't always been my experience with Clinique Blushes, but Cupid is exceptional!
 |
| all photos courtesy of amazon.com |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)