The Review

This is the Studio Mascara Primer from e.l.f. Cosmetics in 'Transparent'. The product itself appears white on the wand, however on the lashes I could barely see any color at all. At first when I initially saw the wand, I was a bit disappointed because it looked like a cheap spoolie that other brands pass off as an eye brow and lash tool. Don't get me wrong I really don't mind it, but I was expecting an actual mascara wand to apply the primer on with.

The formula is a bit heavy and watery, therefore clumping together my lashes a little bit. I also think that the spoolie is not the best tool to apply a liquid product with. I find the formula takes a little bit to dry, and after mascara the result is noticeable but I personally don't find it amazing. My eye lashes did look longer, however they still stuck together some which didn't make them look volumized.

What e.l.f. says:
Lengthen and volumize eyelashes instantly with this Mascara Primer. Revitalize lashes with Pro-Vitamin B5, Hydrolyzed Wheat and Soy Protein-enriched formula. An excellent conditioning base for mascara. Coat each lash with this nourishing primer for lashes that appear naturally thicker, longer and stronger!

This product is available on the e.l.f. website for $3. If you are interested in lengthening your lashes for an inexpensive price I would recommend this primer. Personally, I go for the more voluminous look so I don't think I will be repurchasing. I do really like the conditioning properties so I will continue to use this until it runs out or dries up.
Shop e.l.f. Cosmetics - $1 Makeup

Review

This cream eyeshadow by Jesse's Girl Cosmetics in 'Destiny' is a super pretty teal color with a green shimmer tint. The texture is really soft and smooth and shows up decently pigmented on my finger. Unfortunately, when I apply it to my eye lid the color sheers out and creases almost instantly. Even after I tried to pack it on by layering, the shade wouldn't show up and didn't have the same intensity as it looks in the pan.  If I ever wear this shadow again I will be sure to use a thick primer underneath it. 

On the bright side, this product would be okay to use on days where you'd like just a sheer wash of color on the eye lid. The packaging is super cute as it's shaped like an eye with the color in the middle acting as the iris. 

The lack of pigment in this product disappointed me, however I only paid $3.99 for it so this wasn't a big loss for my wallet. I really like other eye makeup from Jesse's Girl but I will pass on trying anymore of the cream eyeshadows.  This product is available at the Jesse's Girl website as well as at select Rite Aid stores. 

Review

The newest mascara from the Revlon Photoready Collection is called 3D Volume. It comes in three different shades which are Blackest Black, Black, and Blackend Brown. I choose the shade 'Blackest Black' simply because I find it makes my eye color pop the most due to the high contrast.
 It is designed with the lens in mind for film and photography. The boldness of the color and precise wand application definitely shows up well on my digital camera.

The formula is very pigmented in just one coat. The look it gives is more magnified and dramatic since each lash becomes lengthened and defined. The wand is relatively long, with a size gradation of the bristles going from long on the base to short at the tip. This shape as well as the rounded tip at the end allows the inner lashes and the small bottom lashes to be coated with ease. 

The formula is more liquid then dry and did not create any flakes of 'fall out' throughout the day which is definitely a positive for me. 

If you are looking for a thickening mascara that will amplify the look of your lashes I would definitely recommend 3D Volume. 

This mascara can be purchased for $8.99 at most drugstores. Right now Ulta is having a Buy 1 get 1 50% off on all Revlon cosmetics including this product.

Photo Ready 3D Volume Mascara at Ulta.com

Review

I figured spring was the ideal time to bust out my glitter nail polish collection and add a little bling to my finger tips. I used Sinful Colors 'Let's Talk' on all my nails then added 'Frenzy' to my pointer and ring finger. I love this combo; it reminds me of the color of the Cadbury Chocolate packaging. Hooray for Easter candy!

Let's Talk is a royal purple color with a slight blue tint that appears opaque in two coats. It dries so shiny with that 'wet' look while contrasting against my skin tone to make it pop and look vibrant. It is known as a hard color to photograph as it shows up like a grape purple in person but on camera it has more of a blue tone. It's one of those polishes that changes colors with the light, giving it a lot of dimension. 

Frenzy is a blend of cyan blue and fuchsia tinted purple glitters in a clear base. The colors show up so well on the nail and cover it perfectly within one coat.

Sinful Colors sells their polishes for $1.99 at Walgreens and Target. The quality is amazing for the inexpensive price, and there are so many fun colors to choose from. The nail polish is also '3 Free' meaning it doesn't contain Toluene, Formaldehyde, or DBP which are popular toxic ingredients in other brands on the market.

Review

This line of lipstick by Covergirl called LipPerfection Lipcolor offers 44 bold shades enriched with a silk moisturizing complex to create soft and smoother lips. All of the colors are rich and shiny with a pigmented satin finish. Some are just super creamy while others have a touch of glitter or light shimmer.

Formula

The formula does hydrate the lips well and give that 'wet' look; however I did notice some caking even after exfoliating with a scrub. The red shades bled a little bit outside of where I applied them, but this may be because the color was on my natural lips without a lip liner to prevent feathering. The lipstick was hard to take off and left a stain for a few hours after being removed. These factors definitely wouldn't hinder me from wearing the lipstick or purchasing more shades simply because it does look beautiful and lasts a long time despite being so creamy.

Packaging

The packaging is plastic but looks super chic with it's 'bullet' shape. The peek of color at the bottom with a easy to read name is a great touch when placed in a lipstick lover's collection. The shade you see is exactly what you get when it's applied on the lips.

Find

These lipsticks can be found at almost every drugstore, as well as Wal-mart and Ulta. The prices vary but remain in the $5.94-7.99 range. The .12 oz size is a great amount of product for such an inexpensive price.

 Visit the Covergirl website to see more shades and try the Signature Shade Quiz to find the colors that would look best on you.

Here's an exclusive coupon code for Ulta.com! Get $60 worth of makeup for $75 and free shipping.

  $15 Off $75 with FREE Shipping Code: AFP312. Exclusions Apply

A true shocking red with slight blue undertone

How to Use

The bottle says to spray it evenly on damp hair and style as usual. It may also be used on dry hair for added moisture.I tend to use 5-6 squirts all over my head. 

Where to Find

I purchased mine at Sally Beauty Supply (I know, I practically live there) for $8.79. It can also be found at Ulta and Beautymart.com. The 300 ml bottle is a great deal for the price, and is usually on some type of sale as well.

An all in one "magic" nail product is something every manicure-crazy girl should have. Weak, brittle, easy to break nails are not only annoying, but are also unsightly and harder to paint smoothly with polish. Naturally thin, flaky nails that crack definitely will benefit from a product like this as well.

The great thing about this versatile nail strengthener is that it can be used as a protective base coat and top coat over polish, or also can be worn alone.

Usually when I wear nail polish for long periods of time without a break in between, my natural nails become soft and super bendable. I also use to be a chronic nail biter which would leave me with stubby nails, torn up cuticles, and sore fingertips. Using this product has not only made my nails strong and healthy between polish use, but also makes them grow super fast. The smell and taste is unpleasant which stops me from wanting to nibble on my fingers. The finish is shiny, and when applied both under and over a polish it prevents staining and chipping relatively well.

Beauty is Pain!

I discovered this product at Sally Beauty Supply and decided to buy it after reading the impressive claims on the box. That night when I tried it I had both good and bad immediate results. It did a wonderful job at hardening and conditioning my nails, however I felt an intense burning sensation right after applying it. It was a severe throbbing feeling that hurt very badly; not stopping even after I tried to remove the product with acetone.

I researched online and found other people who experienced the same side effects as me. I'm not sure if I had applied too thick of a layer or if some of it got on my skin which in turn caused the ends of my fingers to feel extremely uncomfortable. Some people were claiming that the feeling was actually a chemical burn, but for me the pain went away after a few hours with the help of some Ibuprofen.

This obviously turned me off to using Nail Magic so it sat in the back of my polish collection for about a year. Recently, I decided to try it again with much hesitation, and this time I surprisingly didn't feel one bit of discomfort. I don't know why all of the sudden this product started working for me without pain, but I was glad. It does it's job so well and makes my nails grow super fast and hardens them almost instantly. Because of the large amount of negative side effects of this product, I'm not sure if I am able to recommend it. I love how it works on my nails, but many other reviews had different reactions to it. If you ever do come across this product and decide to try it, make sure to follow the steps closely.

How to Use:

Shake the bottle thoroughly
Clean nails with polish remover (I use straight acetone to get off all the oils and any residue)

Apply it as a base coat

Paint your nails with polish of choice

Apply it as a top coat

You can also use a thin coat on natural nails

Be advised to apply it to the nail surface only- contact with the cuticle and skin can cause irritation (for some, even severe pain!)

The mixed reviews on this temperamental product made me hesitant to review it; however those people like me who experienced the positive results of gorgeous, healthy nails made me want to at least spread the word about it. There are so many products like this on the market, some that even claim to be all natural. It might be a wiser choice to go with one that has more positive reviews and less potent ingredients. If you are interested in trying Nail Magic, I would definitely suggest doing a test on a small part of one nail before going ahead and applying it to all of your fingers.

The .50oz bottle shown about is $8.49. It is available at Sally Beauty Supply, Rite Aid, and other places online.

What is your pet?

A long-haired fawn Chihuahua.

What is their name?

Daisy 'Aminia'

Her middle name means "faithful" in African.

She is a Mexican dog, with an Irish birthday, and an African middle name!

She also has a zillion other nicknames; I call her Pookie, Puka Shell, Moo Moo, Pumpkin, Craiz, Daiz, Daisy May..the list goes on.

My step-dad calls her Porkchops and my grandpa calls her Chuchee.

How old are they?

She is now 8 years old and will turn 9 on March 17th.

I have had her since she was a 3 month old puppy.

Where did you get them?

I found her online through a breeder in Catskill, NY. We had to drive a few hours to pick her up and when I saw her I instantly fell in love. She was so easy to house train and learned all her tricks so fast. 

Why did you want to get this particular breed/species?

I had wanted a dog so badly ever since I was little. My parents didn't want a bigger breed so I did lots of research and found that the Chihuahua was a good fit for me. 

Do they know any tricks?

She knows how to give high fives and clap when I hold her up with one arm- it's so adorable.

Her brain may be small but she is so smart- she knows tons of words and phrases like the obvious "go outside" and "who's here?" and her favorite one in the world: "want a treat?"

She also knows our family member's names, and when you say "all gone" when she is begging for food, she listens and just walks away :)

Do they snuggle, give kisses, follow you around?

She is super attached to her momma,; following me everywhere I go. I can't even put some shoes on to go get a coffee without her at my heels looking at me like "okay, where we goin'?".

 She is a great companion and loves to snuggle at night with me, laying under the covers right next to my legs. Sometimes you can get a kiss out of her, but normally she isn't one to lick you out of excitement.

What are some of the funny things they do to make you laugh?

Daisy has my family laughing all the time. I love when she's super tired and goes to lay down, and the next thing I hear is her snoring so loud.

When she sits on her back legs and begs it's so cute too, she looks like a little penguin.

Although she is a girl, when I take her on walks she always lifts her leg and pees on the fire hydrant! I don't know where she learned it from but it's so funny- she does it every single time.

Tomorrow is my baby's 9th birthday. I can't believe how time has flown so fast.. She is my 'best friend' and I love all the joy she has brought me and whomever she meets. 

I'd love to see your cute pets so I tag everyone!

These two lipglosses are from the e.l.f. Cosmetics professional Studio line. The dark pink magenta shade called Wild Watermelon is a "Glossy Gloss" with high shine. The baby pink "Glitter Gloss" with flecks of white and gold sparkles is called Glam Guava. Both glosses are very rich, impressively pigmented, and when applied on the lips they each match exactly to the colors in the tubes. The texture of both are smooth, not too sticky, and a little moisturizing due to the Vitamin E in them.

The applicator is a short brush that works well with the thick formula to apply the gloss evenly. These are definitely not products you would casually swipe on without a mirror. They take a little more time and precision to apply perfectly but the result is so worth it. Each color looks gorgeous on the lips and has a good lasting power that isn't drying.

Wild Watermelon looks super glossy yet milky on the lips and also smells like sweet fruit. Glam Guava has a decently pigmented base for a glitter gloss and shines so much in person it almost looks like a frost.

I'm very happy with the formula of each of these products as they are better quality than some of the more expensive lip glosses I've tried. I paid $3 for each of them online and will definitely be picking up more shades in the future. 

About a week ago I ordered these two and more makeup from eyeslipsface.com. I love shopping on the website because of all the great deals there are and also the new products that are posted relatively often. I can honestly say that e.l.f. is one of my favorite makeup brands. The quality of the products aren't hindered by the affordable prices. There is always coupon codes available for free or discounted items or at the very least free shipping. My packages always arrive so promptly and exact. I'll be reviewing more things from my order soon. Shop e.l.f. Cosmetics - $1 Makeup

 Wow- it feels so good to be back girls! I missed all of you in the lovely world of Blogger.

I wanted to share the prizes I received from a giveaway from my internet friend Nicole's blog The Gloss Over.  She totally made my week when I got her email telling me I had won; she is such a sweet, genuine girl with a cute blog so make sure to go check her out.

The two eyeshadow palettes called "Vanity" and "Greed" have super pretty colors, ranging from shimmer to matte. Nicole wrapped them in adorable heart print tissue paper, and even included a thoughtful card. I will definitely be doing a more detailed post on them soon, so look for that if you're interested in swatches and a review. 

I am officially 'back' now with a new layout, a fixed computer, and upgraded software. I created my new page entirely by myself which took so much time and editing, but I really love how it came out.
Boho Vanity is prepped and ready to move forward with an exciting future ahead. I appreciate your patience and support as always. Today the sun is shining and it finally feels warm, go enjoy the day if you are experiencing the same weather!

My Experience

I did a lot of research online about oral Biotin supplements and decided to pick up a bottle. Although I didn't have any major concerns, I wanted to see if I could notice a difference in the improvement of my acne prone skin, my stubby nails and my hair growth. The pills I picked up by the brand Spring Valley which is sold at Walmart and on Amazon.com. There are also other ingredients in this supplement such as collagen, gelatin, and vitamins A, C, D, and E that work in conjunction with the Biotin for a super powered beauty enhancer. I read all the reviews on this brand that I could find online, and most turned out to be very positive stories of women how had simply taken one a day and saw results within just a few months. I believe I paid around $7 for the bottle, so it wasn't a huge investment even if the product didn't work out. The medication I was taking at the time had been in my system for quite awhile, and to my knowlege had not been noted to cause a negative reaction to any of the ingredients in the caplets.

After months of consistent use, I did not yield any noticeable results like all the other excited women whom I had read about. I faithfully took one pill every morning for about 4 months after eating breakfast. Before taking Biotin, my skin was particularly clear, with only a few small whiteheads popping up right before my menstrual cycle each month. About a month into taking it daily, I had begun to breakout way more than usual;  the type of deep, painful, cystic pimples that I haven't gotten in years. My diet hadn't changed, however I had been busy traveling so I though that maybe the environmental fluctuations and added stress could have been the cause of the new persistent acne. Another month goes by, and the spots still appeared. This is when I decided to stop taking the pills and see if it was the main factor in my acne spots. Sure thing, a few weeks later my skin was back to normal, if not a little more clear than usual. However, me being the hopeful person that I am just wanted to make sure it wasn't some random coincidence, and that it was sorely the Biotin causing my skin breakout. I started the pill once more and took it for about a month when the pimples started to come back again. I was so disappointed to find out that I did not react well because the results others have had were so great. I know everyone's body is different and not every supplement will work properly or the same because of that. My hair grows at the average rate of a half inch per month, and I've never had a problem with brittle nails or horribly awful skin (not counting young teenage years) so either I was putting too much Biotin into my body, or it was the wrong amount, or there was an interaction with one of my medications that imbalanced something in my system. I did some more research after I stopped taking it and discovered the reason why I saw more acne flare ups was because my own hormone levels along with the ones that are altered by my medication somehow did not agree with the Biotin. I found a handful of other people who wrote online about having same side effects as me. Taking any medicine for hormones, hair growth or loss, thyroid conditions, glucose issues, and others may put you at risk for more side effect. To truly know it is safe to use, you may want to seriously consult a doctor before taking Biotin in all medical situations. 

sources of information about Biotin: Webmd & Mayo Clinic