Thursday, March 31, 2011

Flirt! Big Flirt Thickening Mascara


I purchased this mascara several months ago at my local Kohls for roughly $15-$18. The shade is #01 Black Wink and it has a very odd, sickening floral smell. I can't quite put my finger on it but i absolutely hate the smell, just to be honest. I have never had a scented mascara and cant imagine why they would do this. It sometimes makes my eyes sting and I can always faintly smell it throughout the day.

As far as the mascara goes, it coats lashes okay but not great and although it says "thickening" i find that it mostly just clumps lashes and makes them heavy. Its not going to give you that super dramatic thick lashes effect, but it will make your lashes seem a little fuller. When it comes time to remove this mascara you're going to be disappointed also, its a total pain in the a**. Almost as bad as Maybelline's The Falsie's is to remove. Overall, had i known what i was purchasing i would NOT have bought this products and basically never use it anymore. Total waste of my money.

MAC Pigment Samples


I bought these 6 MAC pigment samples a couple years ago off of ebay.com. I believe i payed around $6-$8 for all six pigments, they are about 7G each. They are soooo amazing! I am nearly out of Blue Brown (its my favorite!!) but all of the pigments are very good quality, easy to apply, and with the right eye primer they lasts forever!

I am seriously considering buying a full-size Blue Brown in the near future, its just one of the most beautiful shades i've ever seen. Overall, in my opinion, i got a good deal on these samples. Pigments last such a long time because you barely need any at all for full coverage, so a regular sized bottle of these would last me years, literally. If you have ever wondered about the quality of these MAC pigments, dont doubt them! Theyre amazing.




Top row: Copper Sparkle, Apricot Pink, Chocolate Brown
Bottom row: Melon, Blue Brown, Tan

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Smashbox Softbox Palette


I ordered this Smashbox Softbox Eye Palette $48 from smashbox.com a couple weeks ago and I was so excited when it came in the mail today!!!! Please remember if you're interested in this palette (before or after this review) it is a LIMITED EDITION product from Smashbox and will not be returning!


Came with:
9 shadows
2 cream eyeliners
double ended brush
mini Photo Finish Lid Primer
mini Limitless Eyeliner in black
"Get The Look" pamphlet


❍ SHADOWS:
1st row: Nectar (matte pecach), Vanilla (matte cream), and Flirt (taupe glitter)
2nd row: Lucky Penny (shimmering copper/bronze), Sugar (shimmering pink), Stone (matte grey/cement)
3rd row: Sienna (shimmering coffee), Nude (nude matte), Truffle (deep shimmery mauve)


Please click below to read more & see more photos...


KMart Clearance Haul + Update



Haul:
Today my daughter (she's 2 1/2) and I went to Kmart for a little shopping. I found the new E.L.F. selection there, along with a huge beauty clearance section. Photos above are mine and show sneak peaks of what i purchased. Reviews coming soon!! Ive already done all swatches. I didnt pay over $5 for any of these products...

❑ E.L.F. Concealer Palette $3
❑ E.L.F. Lip Plumper & Primer $3
❑ Rimmel Eye Trio in Fever $1.37
❑ 4 Rimmel U Rock! Cream Shadows $1.99 each
❑ Blending Sponge $2
❑ Image Essentials Brushes $4.99
❑ Mini Grape Bath Bomb (for my daughter) $1.99

I spent less than $25 on all these products together, my assumption is they were on clearance to make room for new products. The last time i looked up E.L.F. prducts they were only $1 each, and now they're all at least $3 each (or more) but I have the say the packaging and overall quality seem much better now. However, I was disappointed that my KMart didnt have ANY of the E.L.F. shadow palettes :(

Update:
My Smashbox Softbox Palette came in the mail today!!!! Ive already swatched and took TONS of photos. Reviews for this and the above haul products will be coming up very soon!!! Please follow/subscribe to keep up to date!

4 AVON Eyeliners: Review + Swatches


Today I'm going to review four different AVON eyeliners for you. Each of them are either bad, or good, in their own way. Swatches are below as well as detailed descriptions of the liners themselves. All are roughly $5-$8 from an AVON representative or shop.avon.com 


From L to R:

  1. AVON Feeling Fine Ultra Thin Eyeliner in Topaz Jewel - I absolutely hate this eyeliner. As you can see from the swatch its tiny and would be great for thin lines, if it were pigmented at all. Its hard, not creamy whatsoever, and basically works as well on eyes as a kids colored pencil. It literally hurts to apply this liner and try to make it visible. Swatch above shoes 6-7 strokes on my arm...
  2. mark. Eye Marker in Enchanted Forest - These liners are sold by AVON and are really nice. Its very pigmented, the swatch above shows one swipe with the liner. This shade is what i like to call "jade" or "forest green", it pairs well with similar shades of eyeshadow and gives a fresh, different, dramatic look. 
  3. AVON Glimmersticks Diamonds Eyeliner in Black Ice - This is by far one of my favorite eyeliners. Its black, creamy, opaque/pigmented and has tiny specks of silver glitter to give your eyes just the right amount of shimmer. It can be used as a thick or thin liner, applies really smoothly and lasts all day.
  4. AVON Glimmersticks Diamonds Eyeliner in Brown Sugar - This is also by one of my favorite eyeliners. Its brown, opaque/pigmented and has tiny specks of silver glitter also. It can be used as a thick or thin liner, applies really smoothly and lasts all day.



I also own a few other AVON brand eyeliners in different shades but they're mostly variations of black or brown, and this review gives you a good idea of the quality you're getting.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Rimmel London "Stir It Up" Eyeshadow


This is Rimmel London's "Stir It Up" Eyshadow in #600 Whatever...

I bought this shadow at least a year ago, threw it in one of my makeup train cases and totally forgot about it. I dont even know if they're sold anymore to be honest. However, I wished i wouldve bought more!!

This shadow has a mix of several different peach, maroon, and pink shades in it that are all VERY shimmery and beautiful. They arent exactly super pigmented, but they're perfect for layering and can give you really bright 'fresh' eyes, or just a tough of shimmer for your inner corners... whatever you prefer. And yes, the name of this shadow is "Whatever..."

As you can see from the swatches, depending on where you rub your finger and/or brush is what determines the shades of shadows you will get. They usually turn out to look like a marbled mix of pinks and golds.


Monday, March 28, 2011

Polyvore Wishlist Set

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-Dull Skin Primer


I'll admit that prior to purchasing, opening, and testing this product I had totally forgotten my vow to not purchase L'Oreal products due to the fact that they are known to test on animals. 

There are three primers in this Studio Secrets Professional line ($13.79): green for anti-redness, pink for anti-dull (light skin), and orange for anti-dull (medium-dark skin). I chose pink for my light skin tone, although i swatched the green at CVS and it made my skin look terrible, like I was dead. 

This Anti-Dull Skin Primer in pink is VERY shimmery. You can't tell at all by looking at the bottle, but believe me, there are alot of sparkles packed in there. The formula is thin and pretty runny, but it makes it easier to blend and spread out and the bottle is pump style. It does make my skin pink/reddish which is a slight problem because i've already got naturally flushed cheeks, but its not too bad. It definitely makes your face ridiculously sparkly, so if that kind of thing is a turn-off for you, DO NOT buy this. I find that concealer and/or foundation does cover most of the sparkle but you're still left with a little and a sort of 'glow'. 








Im still unsure if i like this product or not. Im not particularly fond of shimmer all over my face although my foundation did cover most. I guess it did make my skin less "dull" and it definitely wasnt heavy, but my opinion is still on the fence.

What do you think? Have you tried any of these primers, or would you try them?

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Urban Decay Primer Potion


I recieved a mini UD Primer Potion with my purchase of the Naked palette a month or so ago. The mini bottle i recieved came with the new wand, which is slanted at a slight angle for easier application.

This is the original formula primer which applies to lids very creamy and dries invisibly. It doesnt serve as a base color (obviously! - its invisible), but it will zap any oiliness on eyelids. Not only does this primer make my lids soft, smooth, and ready for shadows, but it makes the staying power of the shadows much more powerful, not to mention it really brings out the pigmentation.  I can go 10+ hours without creasing when using UDPP under my eyeshadows, its really amazing! This product is now a total must-have for me.


Urban Decay is now selling their primers in tube form for upcoming Summer 2011 product releases. They come in various sizes and prices.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

EOTD: Naked & Natural




Today I combined some shades from my Urban Decay Naked, and Too Faced Natural Eye palettes. I started by using UD Primer Potion then I applied....

'Silk Teddy' from Too Faced as a highlight on brow & inner corners
'Push-Up' from Too Faced on inner half of lids & on bottom lashline
'Toasted' from Urban Decay on outter half of lids
'Cocoa Puff' from Too Faced shaded into outer corners.
'Creep' from Urban Decay as eyeliner on top lashline

I used Good Karma eyeshadow brush from Urban Decay, Ecotools shading & eyeliners brushes, and finished it off with CoverGirl LashBlast mascara in black and black eyeliner from AVON.





OPI - La-Pazitively Hot Matte


Image is mine. This is the matte OPI shade my daughter and I are wearing today, lol, it's called La-Pazitively Hot Matte and also comes in regular glossy polish. I bought it for roughly $5 on transdesign.com which is where i basically get ALL of my polishes because its soo cheap.

My favorite part about matte polishes or topcoats is the fact that they dry so ridiculously fast. However, they chip super easy, especially if you use cuticle oil, cream, or hand lotion while the matte polish is on your nails. Thats the only downside :(

Friday, March 25, 2011

Alba Coconut Milk Moisturizing Cream Shave



I bought this full-size moisturizing shave cream from WalMart for $2.50 in the clearance aisle. It has a tropical coconutty scent and has the consistency of conditioner. I find it's best to apply it on my legs or underarms and let it soak in for a minute or two before shaving to soften hairs. It leaves my skin so smooth and soft but i find that the tropical scent doesnt last. Overall, i really like it and would purchase it again, even at full price.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

EOTD: UD Naked Palette Look #3


This is the 3rd look that i’ve tried from the UD Naked Palette. I applied 

‘Virgin’ as highlight on brow bone, 
‘Sidecar’ all over lids + under bottom lashline, 
and ‘Smog’ in outer corners. 

I finished it with Beaming Bronze liquid eyeliner from AVON, and the Falsies mascara from Maybelline. This is one of the softer, and one of my favorite, looks you can create by using the UD Naked Palette. My only is that 'Sidecar' is a glitter shadow, therefore if you dont apply it properly it does have some fallout.


ECOTOOLS Brush Kit


I bought this full size ECOTOOLS brush set for $10 at WalMart. It comes with these 5 brushes: blush/face, foundation, eyeshadow/blending, eyeliner, and brow groomer + hemp storage case. I was most excited about the foundation and eyeshadow blending brushes because the ones i own right now from Mark. (AVON) are a year or so old and i use them like everyday. I was looking forward to trying a new brand. All of the brushes are ridiculously soft.
Blush/Face brush:
Its not as round as my other blush or kabuki brushes, its a little flat, but that may be due to the way it was packaged and doesnt seem to change its effectiveness as a brush. It blended and applied the product well.

Foundation brush:
Im a sponge kind of girl so im not really adapt at using a foundation brush. I liked it although i'll admit its smaller than other foundation brushes i've seen.... ALOT smaller. This basically just means it takes longer to apply your foundation, but if you're not worried about time its a nice brush and seemed to work pretty good but not as good as a sponge. (I use Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge - $10 at Target)

Eyeshadow/Blending brush:
This is my favorite next to the eyeliner brush. It blends amazingly well and is realllyyy soft. Until i got this i didnt really think i had a need for a blending brush, i just used a typical eyeshadow brush to blend. But this works MUCH better, its a necessity for me now.

Eyeliner brush:
This eyeliner brush is short and the bristles are stiff but still soft. I find its best used when 'pressing' the lines on your lids instead of sweeping it on. Just press on using short strokes - this should be done with most eyeliner brushes anyway if you already arent.

Brow Groomer:
I dont find much use for this, honestly. I get my eyebrows waxed and attempt to twweze them regularly in-between times. I also own an electric brow groomer from CVS that's almost as small as an ink pen and very portable (plus it comes w/ different attachments). So i guess i cant really give a fair opinion on this, but if you're someone who already uses a brow groomer similar to this one it might be worth a try just for the fact that everything in this kit is so high quality.

Hemp Case:
I like the look of this case but not it's functionality. I need something a little more structured and something that has some sort of flap over the top which ensures the brushes wont fall out if they it's turned upside down. However, if you're just using it at home it would be fine. If you want to take it in your purse its a little bulky + not very secure.

Overall this was a good buy for $10 and the best quality, softest brushes I have owned so far. *Photo is mine.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Maybelline Amethyst Smokes Quad

Maybelline Amethyst Smokes Eyeshadow Quad

I have had this Maybelline Amethyst Smokes eyeshadow quad for a long time, so im not sure on the price, but i have never swatched it & i felt like it today. Its basically one of my favorite palettes to use when doing a smokey eye because purple is my favorite color and it really brings out the green in my eyes. I applied...
Medium purple shimmer shadow all over lids,
Dark purple matte shadow shaded into creases,
Black glitter shadow shaded into outer corners,
and White shimmer shadow as a highlight.
I finished it with liquid eyeliner pencil in black, and black mascara. Check out the last image for a visual and text of exactly what shades im talking about, and where i applied them. The back of this palette shows you how to create this look yourself but the applicators provided dont work that well. I used my own brushes.




What are your favorite shades to create a smokey look?

EOTD: UD Naked Palette Look #2



This is the second look i have tried from my new Urban Decay Naked palette. It is marked w/ "threelilbears@tumblr" which is my personal blog and where i originally posted this before i created this blog. I applied...

'Smog' all over lids + on bottom lashline
'Dark Horse' in creases + on top lashline
'Sin' as highlight from crease to brow + in corners of eyes.

I generally dont like smokey/evening looks on me because im pale, but the shades in this palette go well with my skin color & hair color so i dont seem to be having a problem. It's pretty simply to use 3-4 shadows from this palette to create a full look, even a beginner would be at ease using Naked.

This look wont be one of my 'day' looks but i will probably use it mostly for date nights w/ my husband, or evenings out with the girls. **Check out my page for more looks from the Naked palette, and the Too Faced Natural Eye palette!!!**