January 31, 2012
Favorite Fragrances: Harajuku Lovers: G
This blonde little character named 'G' is a part of a Japanese girl clan created by celebrity perfumer Gwen Stefani. Not only is she super adorable, but her signature scent is one I love. It is very light and mildly sweet take on a coconut perfume. Despite the cutesy packaging, this perfume is appropriate for all ages. I find myself daydreaming of beaches and palm trees when I wear it, as it is somewhat tropical.
The 'scent life' on average is about 6-10 hours. On my skin, it stays potent for longer than most of my more expensive scents.
Fragrance notes: sandalwood, coconut, mandarin, freesia, magnolia, white cottonwoods, coconut cream, apple skin, jasmine sambac.
Since I purchased this bottle in April, collections have come and gone- however most of the limited edition scents can still be found online.
The size shown above is 10ml and I paid $15 for it at T.J.Maxx.
The size shown above is 10ml and I paid $15 for it at T.J.Maxx.
Liebster Blog Award!
Anisha from http://independentlover.blogspot.com has awarded me this, She is so sweet & I love her blog too, go check her out!
Liebster means "beloved" or "favourite" and meant for blogs with 200 followers or less who deserve recognition. I'm going to award it to these lovely ladies :
Athina from http://thingsipurchase.blogspot.com/
Nicole from http://theglossover.blogspot.com/
Kori from http://awkwardpandamusings.blogspot.com/
Rececca from http://whatrebeccasaid.blogspot.com/
Those girls are so supportive and have awesome blogs I love to check out daily.
January 30, 2012
CVS Mini Haul
I went to CVS this afternoon only to pick up a prescription and a Burt's Bees lip balm. Of course a few other things ended up in my basket, but luckily for me I had some 'extra bucks' I could use that were about to expire. My favorite sweet Starburst Jellybeans were sitting in the mix of all the normally stocked candy. When I spotted them I was so excited and surprised since they usually only are put out around Easter. I had to grab a bag, and also some chocolate I've been craving so badly (thanks to mother nature).
The cute tumbler was only $5 and I figured it would be perfect to put my iced green tea in. I prefer to use straws when drinking, and tend to forget to grab the disposable ones.
The Freeman facial mask was hiding on a bottom shelf when I decided to snag it since they aren't always available where I live. There was a paper attached to it for a mail in rebate for up to $3.99 which is what I had paid. All I have to do is send in my receipt to get the money back; how awesome is that?
I found the Burt's Bee's tinted lip balm in 'Hibiscus' that I first spotted on someone's blog (I cannot find her for the life of me-very sorry!). With these items, I walked out with a 10% off my next purchase coupon as well as $2 in extra bucks.
The cute tumbler was only $5 and I figured it would be perfect to put my iced green tea in. I prefer to use straws when drinking, and tend to forget to grab the disposable ones.
The Freeman facial mask was hiding on a bottom shelf when I decided to snag it since they aren't always available where I live. There was a paper attached to it for a mail in rebate for up to $3.99 which is what I had paid. All I have to do is send in my receipt to get the money back; how awesome is that?
I found the Burt's Bee's tinted lip balm in 'Hibiscus' that I first spotted on someone's blog (I cannot find her for the life of me-very sorry!). With these items, I walked out with a 10% off my next purchase coupon as well as $2 in extra bucks.
What drugstores do you find the best deals at? For me it's usually Walgreens or sometimes CVS- but only when they have extra bucks promotions.
MAC Eyeshadow: Lucky Green
MAC's Lucky Green is a stunning mossy color with a yellow tint. It contains a fine shimmer that glows when the light catches it. The finish is "Veluxe Pearl", which is described as shiny, more pigmented and metallic looking. When swatching with a finger, the texture felt buttery soft and extremely smooth. It it effortlessly blendable and shows up intensely on the lids. The powder tends to clump a little bit, however application with an flat eyeshadow brush would prevent that issue. Consistent with the MAC brand, this product is high quality and a unique addition to one's makeup bag.
This beautiful shadow came out in the summer 2011 collection called 'Fashion Flower'. I first saw it on Temptalia.com and the cute daisy imprint caught my eye. I purchased it for $14.50 at Macy's.
Moroccanoil Hair Treatment
I'm sure if you're a hair product junkie like me then you already know about this holy grail oil. The amber glass packaging with the blue and orange label is a definite staple in many salons. This is my second bottle of Moroccanoil and I am still completely in love. Not only does it have a heavenly scent, but it also works wonders on my chemically damaged and color treated hair.
Formula
The formula is heavy so only a small dime size amount is needed. Even though the texture is thick, my hair never appeared greasy- only smooth and with a beautiful sheen. I rub it between the palms of my hands and all over my head right after I flat iron. It can be used on wet or dry, hair however I personally believe applying it when the hair is wet will dilute the oil and not show it's full effect.
Compared to other argan oils on the market, this one stands out because of it's reputation in the hair care world. From using this product alone, my hair appears much healthier and shiny. I also enjoy the smell too; it is absolutely addictive. There is an infusion of anti-oxidants, omega-3 oils, fatty acids and vitamins all in this one amazing treatment that will repair any damage while protecting anymore trauma from happening.
Recommend
I would recommend this product to anyone- it is a great addition to any daily hair routine. Despite the high price tag, I would repurchase it for a third time. I have had this travel size shown above (25 ml) since early summer; and there is still about 1/4 left. When using it, a little goes a long way so it's like an investment that will last a long time(especially if you have short hair). I found mine at a discount supply store for beauty students only; however this product can be easily found online or in many of your local salons.
Tip: Make sure the Moroccanoil brand product is purchased from a reputable seller. There was a case in summer 2010 of many counterfeits being sold online with just baby oil in the bottle. When I purchased mine, I had to sign a waiver stating that I would not resell the product or tamper with the oil inside.
January 28, 2012
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss
Revlon's Glitz & Glam lip gloss is a pink gloss with a tint of purple, some pink sparkles and gold flecks. The formula is super dimensional and appears more sparkly in the tube than on the lips. The amount of shimmer that shows when applied is just the right amount without looking too intense. The texture isn't sticky like other long lasting lip glosses can be. I can feel the grit of the glitter when I first put on the gloss but it is not too noticeable. The color is absolutely stunning, and looks great on top of matte pink lipstick.
I wore it today while getting my hair done and it stayed on from the time I had applied it to when I got out of the stylist's chair; about a 4 hour time period. I did notice a bit of white film that some lip products tend to get after sitting for awhile, however it was easily picked off.
The only negative factor about this product would have to be the smell. It has a light plastic odor in the tube but luckily it is not traceable when on the lips. I did not find it as moisturizing as the website states, but that does not stop me from wearing this gorgeous color.
I paid $7.49 for this product at Walgreens. It was part of the Holiday 2011 Collection called Spice It Up which is said to become part of the permanent collection.
January 27, 2012
Rainy Day Fashion: Boots
I found these at Target about two years ago and have been in love with them since. They are called the Zakia Houndstooth Rain Boots by Merona. I had purchased them when I was attending college and had to walk some distances in all types of weather conditions. These grabbed my attention because of the bold contrast and my love of houndstooth! They slide on nicely because of the smooth lining and come up mid-calf on me (I am 5 feet 2 inches tall). I find them very comfortable to wear, fitting true to size. A benefit to the rubber exterior is that washing them or toweling off any raindrops or puddle splashes is quick and easy.
Target now carries lots of rain boots in different colors and patterns to choose from. I have worn them in the snow and although my feet don't stay super warm, they are definitely dry. Just wear a few pairs of socks and you'll be good to go; getting lots of wear out of the boots.
Ecotools Powder Brush
This is my favorite brush that I use every time I do my makeup to set my foundation with a loose or pressed powder. The "cruelty free" bristles are soft and not too dense which allows for a light application. Unlike a traditional powder brush, this one is designed to be pressed onto the skin instead of swirled. This motion allows the product to be more concentrated without causing the foundation or any liquid/cream products beneath it to be moved.
On it's side, the brush is very flat and pointed. The flat surface is perfect for applying powder to larger areas of the face. The pointed tip gets the product into smaller areas the corners of the nose, under the eyes, around the hairline, under the jawline, etc.
A benefit to purchasing this versatile brush is that Ecotools makes all their products from recycled and sustainable materials. The green company also claims to donate 1% of sales to environmental organizations. The aluminum ferrule and bamboo handle are also eco-friendly elements on this best selling brush. The price is affordable and the quality is good for what you pay and what materials are used.
On it's side, the brush is very flat and pointed. The flat surface is perfect for applying powder to larger areas of the face. The pointed tip gets the product into smaller areas the corners of the nose, under the eyes, around the hairline, under the jawline, etc.
A benefit to purchasing this versatile brush is that Ecotools makes all their products from recycled and sustainable materials. The green company also claims to donate 1% of sales to environmental organizations. The aluminum ferrule and bamboo handle are also eco-friendly elements on this best selling brush. The price is affordable and the quality is good for what you pay and what materials are used.
Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow
These new cream eye shadows by Maybelline Eyestudio have been the talk of the online beauty community for the past few weeks. Having heard about them from a few of my favorite gurus, I wanted to give them a try myself. As expected, these puppies were extremely hard to find! When in walking into the cosmetic section of a store, I became excited when I would spot the display- but as I got closer I'd see that there was only one left in a color I wasn't interested in, or no more left at all. I eventually found one at a CVS ($7.00) and the other at Walmart for about half the price ($4.34). I discovered some online shops such as Ulta.com were selling them; however I was too impatient to wait for shipping and also have been trying really hard to use drugstore coupons to save on my makeup shopping habit.
Both colors that I tried were very creamy and blendable when swatched on my hand. The texture felt a little bit sticky, which may be the reason for it's long staying power compared to a more slick cream shadow. The glass jar packaging looks high quality, and holds 4 grams of product. I do not wear my makeup for 24 hours, therefore I have no idea if this product would last as long as it claims. However if you have issues with oily eyelids, a long lasting product will be key to making your makeup stay put.
Painted Purple is a beautiful grape shape that has a bit of shimmer when it catches the light. Tough as Taupe is a gorgeous matte grey with a hint of muddy brown. I noticed that the purple shade was not as pigmented as the taupe, and may be better used as a base or primer. If a bold eye look was desired, it would have to be layered on multiple times and topped with an powder eye shadow to brighten the color.
In terms of comparing these eye shadows to MAC Paint Pots ($17.50 for 5 grams), I believe they are a close 'dupe' that is budget friendly and more accessible (hopefully soon to those like me). I would recommend these to anyone who loves cream shadows that will look great under a powder or on it's own.There are 8 other shades in the collection including a cool shimmery white and a striking aqua teal.
Painted Purple
Tough as Taupe
Tip: A creamy eye shadow looks best and more pigmented when applied with a finger or a synthetic brush.
January 26, 2012
Free Clairol Hair Dye at Sally's Beauty Supply
I wanted to share this coupon I found in my January issue of Allure Magazine with Rooney Mara on the cover. The fine print states:
Free Clairol Professional liquicolor permanente or creme permanente with this coupon. Expires 2/29/12
It's priced online at sallybeauty.com at $5.99.
If you like to dye your own hair yourself at home using separate products (not a boxed drugstore kit) from a hair supply store, then this colorant would be worth looking into. I have used a red tone professional Clairol hair color purchased from Sally's in the past and had great results. I used Salon Care 20 Volume Creme developer with it and the color came out even and luminous.
The website offers in depth information about the dye as well as a shade guide to make picking your perfect hair color easy.
Romantic Shimmer Makeup Look
I felt inspired by Valentine's Day coming up to create a soft, smokey makeup look that will gorgeous in romantic candlelight.
Here are the steps:
Cover the lid in a shimmer or matte cream eye base to make the light shadows pop and stay on longer.
Use a dense brush to pack on a shimmery light pink or vanilla eye shadow onto the first 3/4 of the lid.
Using a flat brush, apply a dark chocolate brown color to create a V shape in the outer corner of the eye and blend inwards, then fill in the V.
Take a blending brush to bring the darker shadow upwards a little bit, while fading out the edges and taking the color right to the top of the crease.
For a more dramatic look, I added a bit of the dark brown color on the outer part of the lower lash line and smudged it in to create a softer, more sultry effect.
Apply a matte white or cream color right underneath the eyebrow and blend downwards.
To make the eyes pop, I used a super sparkly light pink color in the inner corner and dragged it out a little bit on the lower lash line.
Curl the lashes and add some black mascara to the top and bottom.
Fill in the eyebrows lightly with a powder that matches your hair color to frame your face and bring together the whole look.
Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Ivory Light
Too Faced Natural Eye Palette in Sexspresso, Erotica, Heaven, Silk Teddy, and Nude Beach
MAC Paint Pot in Vintage Selection
Maybelline the Falsies Waterproof Mascara in Black Drama
Covergirl Cheekers Blush in Snow Plum
Hard Candy Baked Blush in Honeymoon
Rimmel London Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Pencil in 049 Natural
NYX Lipstick in Thalia.
Lipgloss from Tarte Holiday Lip Gloss Set 2010
January 25, 2012
Victoria's Secret: Give a Little Pink Collection
My favorite scent at the moment was a range in the 2011 Winter/Christmas limited edition collection by Victoria's Secret. When I went to the store I had originally been drawn to the adorable pink packaging. I first tried the in store lotion sample and instantly fell in love with the scent. It's called "snowy violet and apple blossom". To me, it's just a very sweet smelling fragrance with some fruity notes. I purchased the lotion for $7.50 (originally $12) and the miniature body mist for $5 in store. The perfume and the large body mist were both gifts from my boyfriend. He wanted me to have the full collection because he knew I loved the scent so much! I don't think this range is sold in store anymore, but I believe it can be found online and perhaps it will come back next holiday season.
Tip: To make a fragrance last longer, apply Vaseline or petroleum jelly to the skin (preferably the wrists and neck) and spray perfume/body mist onto that area.
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter
Here is my latest obsession that led me to all of the Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, and Target stores within a 30 mile radius of my house. I'm not sure about any of you girls from New England, but it took until early January for this product to start showing up in my local drugstores; and even then only about half the colors were displayed and about another half of those sold out. It wasn't until last week that I had been scouting for the last shade that I had really wanted and found the full collection at Walmart. I was so surprised- they carried every shade and even had the cheapest price I've found yet at $6. I paid $6.49 for most of mine but also took advantage of a 'buy one Revlon lip product get one half off' sale a few weeks ago at a Walgreens in a neighboring town.
Positives
The lip butters have been called a cross between a lip balm and a lipstick. Revlon describes them as "a buttery balm with beautiful shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy, glowing lips". They definitely are very moisturizing when smoothed on straight from the tube and tend to glide on easily. I found the darker, deeper colors to be the most pigmented, however the sheerness of the lighter colors still shows up on bare lips.
I did not pick up any of the brown and dark purple shades in the collection (as of yet). I can say that the ones I have tried so far are consistently a beautiful wash of color that would be appropriate for many different skin tones. On days where I want my makeup look to be more natural, I love using one of my lip butters as an alternative to a more bold lipstick that usually takes me longer to put on and requires more touch ups. The moisturizing benefits as well as the medium pigmentation makes this product a staple in colder, drier months or on those days where less maintenance is desired.
Negatives
A downfall of the product is the packaging. When I twist the butter back into the tube, it tends to smudge along the rim and lose it's oval shape. The texture is so soft that if not handled carefully, it can smash and show the smallest nicks. If you're not a neat freak like me, this probably won't bother you. I have heard from reading blogs and watching reviews on YouTube that other people have experienced the same situation.
Another thing to consider is I noticed that if I didn't exfoliate my lips prior to application, then the butter would extenuate dry flakes of dead skin. Even though the product is very smooth, it takes a few minutes to "melt" or sink into the skin and camouflage those little lines that run vertically on the lips.
Gumdrop- Cupcake- Cotton Candy
Strawberry Shortcake-Lollipop-Sweet Tart
Creamsicle-Tutti Frutti-Creme Brulee
Pink Truffle- Berry Smoothie- Candy Apple- Cherry Tart
January 24, 2012
Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush: Hot Tamale & Orchid Hush
The two blushes I picked up at CVS Pharmacy are called Hot Tamale (left) and Orchid Hush (right). They are super sheer and have a unique texture that "feels lightweight like a powder yet melts into skin like a cream". When applied with the fingers, the velvety soft feeling of this product is amazing and blends into the skin quite easily. However, there is not a great amount of pigmentation in either blush I tried- unless it's applied in layers. Because the product is so light and creamy, it looks best when used with the warmth of fingers. With a brush, it tended to look more sheered out and less smooth on the skin.
Hot Tamale
Orchid Hush
There is 5.6 grams of product (.19 oz) in each little pot, a decent amount for the retail price of $8. In all, it's a perfect flush of color for when the cheeks are the more subtle part of a makeup look. I could picture myself applying some with my fingers when I need to be out the door quickly but still want to brighten up my complexion and look natural.
Tip: If topped with a richer powder blush of similar color, this product leaves that slight shimmery glow beneath making the skin look beautifully radiant.
January 23, 2012
Victoria's Secret Eye Shadow Quad
I picked up this product at my local Victoria's Secret store in a shopping mall. This quad called "Sultry" caught my eye due to the neutral colors that I thought would look beautiful in a smokey eye look.
As for pigmentation, I found all shades to have good payoff except for the creamy white with gold glitter. The texture is more powdery but is also smooth and is very blendable on the eye. All four shades have varying amounts shimmer which allows them to be worn in one look if desired. I played around with the classic combination of white on the brow bone, grey all over the lid, gold in the inner corner and the black in the crease and outer V. This style looked stunning and when applied with a lighter hand, could look more natural.
When I purchased the quad I received a 25% discount due to the semi-annual sale that was running. At full price I believe it was retailed at $12- so I paid $9. For 7 grams of product in 3 gorgeous colors that can be used in countless combinations, this was a steal.
January 19, 2012
Simple Brown Sugar Scrub
Although there are hundreds, possibly even thousands of recipes for the homemade sugar scrub, I decided to create mine on the possibly lowest budget ever attempted. I believe beauty does not have to come with an expensive price tag, so I set out to find affordable and effective ingredients.
What you'll need
My local Dollar Tree store had two out of the three main components I use in my scrub. There's the Domino brand Light Brown Sugar and the Pampa Soybean and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The last ingredient I chose to use was the Vitamin E oil which I found in the supplements aisle in my local Wal-mart. This was the priciest item out of all at $3.96 but for the small amount I needed to use, it would turn out be a great deal.
How To
I eyeballed the measurements, keeping it a 1:2 ratio= 1 part olive oil to 2 parts brown sugar. This made the scrub a perfect solid that I wanted, however if you prefer a more liquid exfoliant, then just add more olive oil. At the end I put in about a teaspoon o the vitamin E not only for moisturizing and healing purposes, but the oil itself acts as a natural preservative thus keeping the mixture from going bad.
Benefits
The brown sugar does an amazing job at sloughing off any dead skin all over your body. The olive oil is moisturizing and also can have anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties as well. The benefit of all the ingredients together leaves the skin soft, smooth, and more healthy looking.
I found that I only used about half the amount of brown sugar and olive oil that was in each container, and only a small fraction of the vitamin E oil. If you were to calculate the cost of each item per container made (considering you use a small container like I did) you would come out with:
$.50 (sugar) + $.50 (olive oil) + about $.40 (vitamin E oil)= $1.40 total
It's a great deal on an all natural product that is safe for all over body use due to the mild ingredients and lack of chemicals and fragrances. I would recommend using it 3-4 times per week or whenever you feel like you want your skin to be smooth and glowing.
