Friday, September 30, 2011

NYC Lip Sliders



This is another item i picked up at Dollar Tree for $1 a few months ago. I had been curious about the NYC Lip Sliders for a long time but i couldnt find them anymore!

This particular shade is Pink Sugar, a warm deek pink. It gives lips a healthy flush but isnt 100% pigmented so they color payoff isnt amazing.... however, it is a gloss and not a lipstick so thats to be expected. These are a tad thick/sticky and i have a feeling if left in a purse, car, etc where its hot they would def. melt.

Overall i'd give this a 7/10 if i had to rate it, but it was worth the $1 i paid for it.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Palladio Rice Powder in Translucent




A few months ago i read a review on this product by Mica G, a Luuux.com friend. Ever since i saw her post i had been dying to try this and one day in June i walked into Sally's Beauty Supply and to my surprise they had a brand new Palladio section!!

Price: $4.99

Size: 0.6 oz

Packaging: This comes in an adorable sturdy plastic box with a tight fitting lid.

Product: This is a translucent finishing powder but it also comes in two more shades for light and dark skin tones. Translucent is meant to suit all skin tones and types. I apply this with a duo fibre brush or powder brush after applying my liquid foundation to finish & set it.

PROS: Very affordable, doesnt feel heavy on skin, blends very well, no scent

CONS: May be hard for some people to find, only comes in 3 shades

Overall im pretty pleased with this and ive been using it all summer. It gives a nice matte finish to foundations and sets it so it doesnt budge, while reducing oily/shinnies at the same time. Definitely worth the $4.99

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Almay Pure Blends Eyeshadow in Cinnamon




I got this full size Almey Pure Blends eyeshadow in Cinnamon at Dollar Tree for $1 :) If you don't live near a Dollar Tree or have never been in one you are totally missing out! EVERYTHING is only $1 and they have a fairly large beauty selection with products like E.L.F., Almay, Maybelline, Revlon, and more!

This eyeshadow, called Cinnamon, is a bronzey-brown sheen shade. Its very pretty and pigmented pplus i love the packaging! It has a very sturdy, tight metallic closure and its very feminine looking. Overall im pretty pleased with this and i think ill be heading back for more!

Monday, September 26, 2011

LUSH 9 to 5 Cleanser/Makeup Remover




This is an amazingly gentle makeup remover and cleanser! It smells very lightly floral and is white & runny in consistency. I purchased this from LUSH in June after running out of my prized Baby Faced makeup remover. However, over Summer i actually have learned to like this alot more!

To Use:

  1. Apply to a DRY face and massage in, especially where there is heavy makeup like the eye area. It will not irritate or burn eyes.
  2. Allow to sit for 1-2 minutes.
  3. Using a warm damp washcloth (ring out the excess water) begin to wipe away the cleanser.
  4. When you're finished wipe face w/ a cotton ball soaked in toner and put on your favorite moisturizer once your face is dry.
Thats it! Its a little different from most products but its very soothing and softening on skin PLUS it takes away all dirt and makeup. I have combination-oily skin and this has never broken me out or gave me problems. I really love using it before bed.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

NOTD: Essie - Super Bossa Nova





This is ONE coat of Essie's Super Bossa Nova from their summer collection called Brazilliant. Isnt it beautiful??

Saturday, September 24, 2011

My Everyday Look




So this is basically what my makeup & hair looks like on a daily basis and it has been this way throughout Summer and Fall. I do switch up my eyeshadow colors alot but they usually stay pretty neutral. My hair is naturally wavy/curly so i can shampoo, comb, and spritz in some Aussie Sprunch Spray when its 1/2 dry after pulling the bangs back to achieve this look.

Its pretty quick and very simple for me to do which is important because i'm a stay at home mom so all the laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, feeding the dogs, running errands, paying bills, sweeping & mopping the floors, cooking, and taking care of my daughter is left up to me everyday. Therefore i need something quick & easy so i can get back to doing what i need to do for the day.

Products Used:
price are approximate

  • NYC Skin Matching Foundation in Light, $4
  • CoverGirl Pressed Powder in Buff Biege, $6
  • Wet N Wild Eyeshadow Trios, $3
  • Physicians Formula Solar Powder Bronzer, $9
  • CoverGirl Liquiline Blast eyeliner in Brown, $8
  • Rimmel Extra WOW Lash Mascara in Black, $7
  • Wet N Wild Lipstick in Bare It All, $2
  • NYC Liquid Lipshine in Brighton Beach Peach, $3
  • Aussie Sprunch Spray, $4
  • Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo, $8
What does your everyday look consist of?? Is it simple or complicated and roughly how long does it take you to get ready everyday? Thanks for reading!

Friday, September 23, 2011

EOTD: Cool As A Cucumber






I purchased this Wet N Wild Cool As A Cucumber at Rite-Aid (along with I'm Getting Sunburned) in a Buy On Get One 50% Off deal. Im bored and staying at home today w/ my daughter today so while she was taking her afternoon nap I decided to try this look.

Eye Look Steps
    simply used the instructions on this palette to create the look - but i added the purple on my bottom lashline also. I finished it off with black eyeliner on my waterlines and black mascara. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Overall i like this trio but i dont love it. It goes really well with my green eyes (in my opinion) and definitely makes them appear brighter but its not a trio i would choose for an everyday look.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

NYC Skin Matching Foundation in Fair







I bought this foundation a few months ago at Rite-Aid. It was a new product for NYC at the time so in figured for only $3.50 i should give it a try!!

I've had a chance to give this foundation a fair try over summer so below are my PROS and CONS for you. Please keep in mind i have combination-oily skin and i am acne prone.

PROS
squeeze tube
super cheap
comes in 4-5 shades w/ blend to match skintone
medium coverage
gives skin a healthy glow
not sticky or heavy

50/50
blends okay, but not great

CONS
Can get cakey if you accidentally apply too much
Makes dry areas look worse

Apart from the con's i actuallt like this foundation alot and when applied super sheer it almost works as a nice tinted moisturizer which was perfect for Summer. It's only $3.50 so it's worth a try and if you're looking for a new foundation give it a try! :)

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

WnW Cool As A Cucumber Trio

I p



Back in June i purchased this trio from Rite-Aid (along with I'm Getting Sunburned trio) in a Buy One Get On 50% off deal.

This trio comes with:
forest green sheen
purple sheen
light cucumber-green sheen

None of these shades have shimmer, they're more of a sheen or satin finish. They were pretty pigmented but not quite as pigmented as some other WnW trio's..... but they were not super sheer, so dont worry. As you can see from the swatches they have nice color payoff.

I've never been disappointed with a WnW eyeshadow trio and I own 7 all together now which i use more foten than my high-end brand eyeshadow!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Rimmel Extra WOW Lash Mascara in Extreme Black




This mascara came out back in June, which is when i purchased it, and it claims to have a huge brush which volumizes and lengthens lashes. I bought this Extra WOW Lash Mascara in Extreme Black for roughly $6-$8

PROS
large brush picks up alot of product
distributes mascara evenly to lashes
volumizes AND lengthens well
1 coat is nice for an everyday soft look
2-3 coats is great for a dramatic look
available in drugstores, not too pricey
long lasting, didnt smudge or wear off
o.k. for contact lens wearers
i prefer the slim straight-line packaging instead of some other bulky mascaras that are rounded or pointy
doesnt have that weird floral mascara scent that some do

50/50
N/a

CONS
N/a

Overall i love this mascara and i've been using it alot more than the other I own. Once im finished with most of mine i most likely will be buying another tube of this, or maybe getting one now for a backup! LOL.

Monday, September 19, 2011

NOTD: Coral



I got this beautiful polish from Crystal Nichols in a recent giveaway of hers that i won! She must have been reading my mind because this is the one & only E.L.F. polish i have been coveting for quite some time now. However, its always sold out online and no stores near me were selling it either.
"Coral" is a gorgeous peachy-pink shimmer.
Swatches
1 coat Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
2 coats E.L.F. Coral
1 coat INM Out The Door Topcoat
I loooove this! I seriously dont own another polish in the shade, or even remotely close to it. It's so gorgeous and it goes great with my skin tone. It's said to be a dupe for NARS Orgasm polish, but since i dont own that i cannot compare them. Either way this is def. my new favorite nail polish! =D The application and formula are GREAT. It was nearly opaque in one coat but as always i did 2 anyways. If i can ever find this polish in stores or in-stock online I will definitely be buying a couple more!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

NOTD: Fair Dinkum Pinkum by OPI


CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Sultry





I had been curious all Spring about the new CoverGirl lipsticks, but most of the shades were SUPER bright and although i loved them i knew i wouldnt wear them. Finally i found 'Sultry' #200 one day in CVS back in June and decided to give it a try!

These lipsticks are impressive! Is so creamy, moisturizing and smooth it's like a lip balm plus the color payoff is amazing - they're very pigmented! They don't come in a ton of shades but theres enough variety that almost everyone should be able to find a couple shades that suit them. This is one of the most (if not the most) neutral shades in the collection.

The thing i love best about Sultry is that it's just a few shades darker than my natural lip tone so it looks really nice on me and compliments my skin well. I would highly recommend these lipsticks!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Gel Eyeliner Trio for Hazel Eyes





I gave into the pressure and finally bought a set of these gel liners. I have the stick form for Green Eyes, and these are the gel form for Hazel Eyes. I really loved the taupe shade so that made it easier on me when it came time to decide which set i would buy. These were $11.99 at CVS and So far i love them!!

Shades
Taupe
Black w/ pink shimmer
Pink

PROS
VERY creamy and smooth
Super pigmented (those swatches are one swipe!!)
Comes in 12 shades (3 for each eye color)
Affordable - if you tried to buy 3 other drugstore brand gel liners, which are sometimes $8-$10 each, they would be a lot more expensive than only $11.99 for all three.
Customized to your eye color to enhance your eyes
You need the tiniest amount for a full application
Packaging is super cute
Once they dry they definitely stay put for a looong time
No wearing off or flaking

50/50
The brush is O.K. but not amazing. If you want a super thin precision line, don't use this one. Try an angled liner brush instead.

CONS
none!

I seriously cant think of any real CON's to this gel liner trio! I was absolutely amazed when i swatched these so i used them in my EOTD earlier today and i am still very impressed! They have not worn off, flaked, or smudged at all! I really love the black because of the tiny pink shimmer in it (you can sorta see it in the swatch) and the taupe will get a lot of frequent use from me. The "pink", which is more lilac if you ask me, wont be used a ton but im sure i can find some sort of use for it!

Have you tried these? What did you think, and what eye color did you get them for?

Photos are mine, do not use. Please comment and follow!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Wet N Wild Ultimate Match SPF 15 Foundation in Porcelaine




Unfortunately i am NOT in love with this foundation! As you can see from the photo i got it for 50% off at CVS which made it only $2.50 per bottle but it still wasnt worth it.

PROS
cheap
easily available in drugstores
formula wasnt too runny or too thick
felt light on my face 

CONS
shade was the lightest in "porcelain" but was still too dark for me
made my face and hand oily when i swatched/applied it
way too pink toned for someone who needs a "porcelain" shade
only comes in 4 shades (at least thats the only ones my CVS sells)

I totally wasted my money by buying this because it was so wrong i cant get any use out of it, unfortunately. It wasnt the worst foundation ive ever used but it wasnt great. I definitely will not re-purchase.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Clinique 3-Step Skincare for Oily-Combination Skin



About 6 months ago i purchased a 3-Step Clinique skincare regimen from Elder Beerman in my local mall. I wasn't sure what to think of it as none of this system claims to clear or control acne (they have an acne line specifically for that). So my assumption was since my skin is basically clear anyways, except for the occasional hormonal breakout, this should work okay for me.
According to the test i took online and at the Clinique counter, the products below are what suit my skin best. Above are photos of the backs of the labels so you can read more about them.
My Skin Type: I have combination-oily skin and i am sometimes acne prone in my t-zone. I typically only have hormonal breakouts during "that time of the month", lol.
Clinique Mild Facial Soap, $16.00
I started using this 2x per day as instructed, and even though i have oily skin, this "mild" facial soap STILL dried me out really bad. It could be because its new and my face needed to get accustomed to it, but idk. Now i only use it 1x per day instead and the results are a lot better. It comes with a convenient pump and because the bottle is slim i can stick it in the shower or on my vanity with no problems. One pump of this is more than enough to cover your whole face and it does lather really well. But as i said, it does dry me out a little and give me some tightness on my face which i don't like. I suspect one bottle of this to last me roughly 4 months.
Clinique #3 Clarifying Lotion, $12.50 
Other than the moisturizing gel, this is by far my favorite product of the 3-Step system. This toner, called a "clarifying lotion", cleanses pores, removes dirt & oil, AND exfoliates at the same time. Not sure how but it definitely removed skin build-up and any flakiness. Its also very gentle but effective at the same time. I don't notice any strong scent, just your typical toner smell i guess. I use this 2x per day (morning and night) after i cleanse my face. I put a cotton ball on the top and simply tip the bottle upside down to allow some of the product to soak into the cotton ball. I then wipe my face with it and thoroughly as i can. Im really pleased with this toner and because its only $12.50 for a HUGE bottle i will continue to repurchase this. Lasts forever!
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, $24.50
This is the gel, not the lotion (yes there are two). It is more sited towards oily skin tones and I have to say i really love this stuff! It has a sort of light minty scent that fades very quickly and for the first couple minutes my skin is a tad sticky then once the gel soaks in its very soft and smooth. This is the most expensive of the entire 3-Step system, but the most useful in my opinion. Not to mention it takes me ½ a pea-sized amount for my ENTIRE face! Its crazy just how little you actually need. As i said ive been using this for 6 months (every morning) and i still have about 45% of my bottle left.
Overall i guess im pretty pleased with this 3-step system, but i do have to admit it doesnt really control my oily face it just keeps it clear and blemish free. My face still gets pretty oily. And my only disappointment is the Mild Facial Soap. Although its meant for dry-normal skin (and as i said, mine is oily) it still dried me out really bad so i would hate to see what it would do to someone with dry skin already! I still use my beloved LUSH Angels On Bare Skin cleanser in the mornings because it has never failed me and i use the Clarifying Lotion #3 and Moisturizing Gel after it also. At night i use the full 3-Step Clinique system.
All together the three products will cost you about $53 every 3-4 months which isn't too bad for me considering i used to pay $60 every 2 months for Proaciv. Im actually saving myself money by using Clinique AND it'll last longer.