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Glam Liner Aqua Luxe in Glam Lagoon (Review & Swatches)

2012-09-03T18:17:00.002-07:00

Price: $5.49 at Ulta, $5.50 at CherryCulture.com
Where to purchase: any place that sells NYX prodcuts

So, I went to Ulta the other day because I wanted to use the 20% off coupon that was being offered before it expired. I was focusing more on the drugstore section because I don't think the coupon could be used on higher-end products. As I was walking around I saw a stand of NYX products near the back of the store that included in eyeshadow palette, liquid liners, and lipsticks. I have been looking for a good, long-lasting colored liquid liner to try out so I thought I'd give the NYX one a try. I picked up the green shade in Glam Lagoon, and this has become one of my favorite liquid liners!

^ Above is what the brush looks like. It has a brush applicator as opposed to a felt tip. I find that the liner was fairly easy to apply.

I am extremely impressed with the wear of this liner because it doesn't smudge on me. I have very, VERY oily lids and my fold is very close to my lash line so it's difficult for me to find a liner that will last. Well, this liner lasts ALL DAY! After it dries, it stays put! *happy dance* :)

^ The left is a line swatch of the liner. To the right I applied a thicker liner so that you can see the color a bit better. This green shade is very pretty. It has a metallic finish.

I've worn this liner on its own before but after a few uses I find that I like it better when I use it over another dark liner. This makes the green stand out more on my eyes and it appears more opaque.

Below are close-up pictures of the green liner on my eyes. I used really neutral eyeshadow shades since the liner is my pop of color. Before applying the NYX liner, I used a black pencil liner underneath.

I love the effect that this liner gives on my eyes. I'm planning on wearing it to class on those days where I want to look put together without having to put in much effort. I think that a colored liner such as this one does the trick! Not only does it make you appear as if you've spent a decent amount of time on your makeup but it also adds a bit of fun color to your look! I definitely plan on going back to Ulta to pick up a few of the other shades from this line! :)

What is your favorite liquid liner? Have you tried the NYX liquid liner? What are your thoughts?

Revlon Colorstay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Precocious (Review + Swatches)

2012-05-12T16:29:00.002-07:00

Price: ~$10-$12 depending on where you buy it Where to buy: any drugstore that sells Revlon products (I purchased mine at CVS) I picked up one of Revlon's Colorstay 16 Hour Quads a few months ago. There are several quads that contain various colors but the one I decided to buy is Precocious because I love berry tones!

These eyeshadow quads are supposed to last for up to 16 hours. I've never worn them for that long before so I can't say if they last that long. I have worn these shadows for up to 5 or 6 hours though (with an eyeshadow primer) and they hold up pretty well. I have not tested these without an eyeshadow primer because I tend to always use primer regardless of whether the shadows are good or bad quality.

This particular palette comes with four eyeshadows: a silver, a pinky-purple, a burgundy, and a dark gray. All four shades are shimmery, which I don't mind too much, however I do wish that one of them were matte.

Out of the four shades, the only one I find to not be as pigmented is the pinky-purple one on the bottom left. I was a bit disappointed because one reason why I picked this quad over the others one is because of this shade. The swatch actually appears more pigmented than when you apply it onto your eyelids. I've tried packing on the color when applying it but it still isn't as pigmented as I was hoping. I was able to get a somewhat decent pigmentation from it if I use a colored base underneath. The other three shades, however, are quite pigmented and blends easily. I especially like the burgundy shade and the gray shade. They're perfect if you wanted to do a smokey eye look. The silver can be used in the inner eye area or as a highlight.

^ Silver shade in the inner corner of the eye and outer third of lower lash line. Pinky-purple shade all over the lid. Burgundy shade on the outer third of the lid and lower lash line. Gray shade in the outer V.

Overall, I do like this quad but I don't think I'd be using the pinky-purple shade as much. I really like the other three shades though, and I think I'd most likely use when I want to do a smokey eye. If you already have similar shades to these three colors then I'd say skip it. But if you're wanting to try out a drugstore palette with berry tones then you should give it a try! I definitely want to try out a few more other Revlon quads from this line.

Review: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Airbrushing Pressed Powder SPF 30

2012-05-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

Price: ~$14
Where to buy: any drugstore that sells Physicians Formula products (I purchased mine at CVS)

This powder is described to be "an ultra-fine mineral powder that delivers impeccable coverage for a flawless airbrushed finish," and it "visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pores and sun damage." It is also hypoallergenic, fragrance free, paraben free, and non-comedogenic. It comes with an SPF of 30 which is good so that it protects your skin from the sun. While I don't really have any fine lines or wrinkles, I do notice that it reduces the appearance of my pores. Now, I bought this powder because I've been trying to find a drugstore alternative for my beloved MAC MSF Natural. I honestly don't think it is as good and offers as much coverage to my MAC powder. The coverage is decent and it blends really nicely onto the skin though. On me, this product lasted for about 3-4 hours before I had to touch up. Keep in mind though that I have oily skin, so this powder didn't really control the oil very well. If you have dry or normal skin, then I think it might work better for you! I'd also like to add that this powder did not break me out.

This pressed powder comes in two shades (Translucent and Beige). I have the one in Beige, which is a bit too dark for me at the moment but I think it'll work better with my skin in the summer once I get a little more tanned. I wish it came with a better selection of shades instead of having just two.

I love the packaging for this product! I really like the shade of blue that they used for the casing. The packaging itself is really similar to other Physicians Formula products such as the ones in their Happy Booster line. Some say that it is a little bulking, but I don't really mind. There is also a small brush that comes with this product. If you're familiar with their Happy Booster line, those also came with small brushes underneath the product as well. While this brush is fairly soft, I don't really find myself using it. I'd rather use my full-sized face brushes to apply the product.

Overall, I don't think I'd be repurchasing this face powder. I love the fact that it has SPF and it does diminish the appearance of my pores. However, oil control is a huge factor for me and it doesn't seem to control my oils too well. I would reach for this product if I'm running out to do errands for a few hours or if I'm just lounging around but I wouldn't wear it if I know I will be out all day. For those of you with oily skin like me, I'd skip it (You'll probably be able to find other drugstore powders that work better!). For those with dry or normal skin, then I'd recommend you give it a try! You might like it! ;)

Wet 'n' Wild Silent Treatment Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio (Review + Swatches)

2012-03-02T02:10:00.002-08:00

Where to buy: CVS, Target, Walgreens
Price: $2.99

After eying this eyeshadow trio for so long, I finally got my hands on it! Click on the link below to see swatches and my thoughts on it!

I haven't really bought any makeup from Wet 'n' Wild prior to 2010, but from what I've heard, their products weren't that great in previous years. It wasn't until the past few years that they've released better products! I own some of their 8-pan eyeshadow palettes so I knew that these trios would be just as good!

The Silent Treatment trio is a pretty neutral palette. It has a light peach shade (browbone), a plummy dark brown shade with flecks of gold glitter (crease), and a grayish-lavender shade (eyelid). The pigmentation of the browbone shade doesn't look too great when I swatched it with my finger, but when I used a brush to apply it onto my lids I found the pigmentation to be fairly good. I don't really use it as a browbone shade because I like my browbone color to be less peachy, but it's a really nice shade for an all-over lid color or it can be used as a transitional color. The crease color has really good pigmentation. This color can be used in the crease to intensify the look or it can be used as a liner. My favorite shade out of the three is the eyelid color. I really like purples and I really like taupes; this color is a combination of the two. Sometimes it leans more purple and sometimes it leans more towards a gray shade. I like to use this on my lid. Sometimes I use it with other shadows, other times I wear it on its own and blend out the edges for an all-over lid color.

^ Eyelid, Crease, Browbone

This palette can be used for everyday neutral looks but it can also be used for a more intense smokey eye. This is the only trio I have from this Wet 'n' Wild line, and I really like it. For just $2.99 per palette, I don't think you can go wrong! It's really inexpensive and the quality is really good! :)

*Be sure to check out your local CVS for weekly deals because Wet 'n' Wild products are on sale from time to time. I actually got this trio for 40% off ($1.79)!

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in "Plum Wine" (Review & Swatch)

2012-01-27T18:11:00.000-08:00

Price: ~$7-8
Where to buy: any drugstore

My thoughts on the new Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in the shade "Plum Wine"!

The packaging of these blushes are made out of plastic, which I'm not really a big fan of. The product almost feels a little cheap to me. The product inside is dome-shaped. The consistency and texture of these blushes are quite interesting. When you touch the blush with your finger it dips down similar to memory foam or a dense sponge cake. Although the color of these blushes look pigmented in the pan, the application of them is so-so. The wear on these blushes aren't as long as I was expecting. Unless I really pack it on or top it off with a powder blush, it only lasts for a few hours.

I purchased these blushes in two shade (I will have pictures and swatches of the other one in another blog post which I will link to later on!). The reason why I chose to pick up "Plum Rose" is because it is one of the darker ones. It is a deep plum-rose color, which goes on well for me since I have light skin. I think it would work for fair-light skin tones, possibly medium skin tones also. I'm not sure if this shade would work well with dark skin tones since the pigmentation isn't excellent - maybe if you use a really heavy hand with it.

^ This was taken right after I swatched it onto my hand. I did notice that about 15-30 minutes later, the blush did fade quite a bit.

My recommendation is to with a powder blush with these cream blushes. I find that it lasted much longer when I did. I think this particular shade is pretty, and it works decently with my light skin tone. I don't really reach for it often though.

Have you tried any of these Dream Bouncy Blushes? What are your thoughts on them? :)

Glitter Gradient Nails

2011-12-18T19:01:00.000-08:00

I wanted to do a nail design inspired by the winter. I think this would be perfect for the holidays and for New Years! :)

Read on for a more in-dept description and to see what polishes I used for this nail design!

This is my first time attempting to do a glitter gradient! It's a lot easier than I thought it would be, and it's an easy way to spice up your nails with glitter! :)

OPI Swimsuit...Nailed It!, China Glaze Nova, OPI Gone Gonzo!

- Swim Suit...Nailed It! is part of OPI's Miss Universe Collection. It is a gorgeous ocean blue nail polish with a subtle glitter. In the sunlight, you can really see the polish sparkle. The application was amazing; I definitely think you can go with one coat for full opacity but I did two just in case. My only gripe with this polish is the staining. It is very difficult to remove; it stains your nails and cuticles. But I can handle a bit of staining considering how pretty the polish is! :)
- China Glaze Nova is a silver holographic glitter polish. It has a clear base, so I usually use it to layer on top of other polishes.
- Gone Gonzo! is from OPI's The Muppets Collection. It is a very pretty glitter polish with blue and silver glitters. The glitter specks are different sizes so the polish has a lot of dimension. The only negative thing is the fact that it has a clear base, which means you have to do a lot of layers if you want to wear this color on its own. Like Nova, I like to layer this glitter polish on top of other colors.

To achieve the nail polish design above:
- One coat of base coat
- OPI Swimsuit...Nailed It! (base color)
- China Glaze Nova (Begin applying this polish starting from the middle of your nail toward the tip of your nails. Concentrate the polish on the tip to create a gradient effect.)
- OPI Gone Gonzo! (Apply the same way as you would Nova. I decided to use this polish along with Nova because of the blue and multi-sized glitters. It enhances the design in my opinion, and you can go wrong with more glitter!)
- Seal everything in using a top coat

I've had this on my nails for almost three weeks and I've only noticed a little bit of tip wear. The wear of this combination of polishes is amazing! I will definitely be trying out other color combinations of gradient nails in the future! :)

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters (Review & Swatches)

2011-12-01T02:56:00.000-08:00

After seeing so many great reviews of these lip butters on YouTube, I knew I had to get them! I love them!<3 It's a plus that they aren't too expensive and are easily accessible since drugstores carry them! :) Price: ~ $7-8 Where: CVS, Rite Aid, Target (drugstores!)

Candy Apple, Tutti Frutti, Sweet Tart, Strawberry Shortcake, Creamsicle
(no flash)
These lip butters are part of Revlon's Colorburst line. I am very pleased that they come in a lip stick form. Most lip butters tend to come in a pot, which I can a bit unsanitary since you're constantly dipping your finger into it to get the product out. If you don't know what a lip butter is, it's kind of a hybrid between a lipstick and a lip balm. These lip butters are great because they are moisturizing with good color payoff!

Candy Apple, Tutti Frutti, Sweet Tart, Strawberry Shortcake, Creamsicle
The design of the packaging is very similar to their other Colorburst lip products with the criss-cross pattern. The packaging is very sleek and with a silver tube, and you would use it just like you would a normal lipstick. The top of the cap is clear so you can easily the true color of the product inside.

Although these lip butters have sweet dessert names, they do not have a scent or taste to them. I don't really mind though because I don't like some of the scents/taste of certain lip products so this doesn't bother me at all.

This product glide onto the lips very nicely and they are moisturizing. Of course they don't last as long as a normal lipstick. The wear of these are probably a few hours, maybe even longer if you don't eat or drink anything. I wouldn't mind having to reapply them though since they are so easy to use. These lip butters also have a glossy finish, and they aren't sticky at all. What I love most about these is the pigmentation. You would expect them to apply really sheer, but the color payoff is great! You can apply one coat for a sheerer look or apply multiple layers to make the color stand out a bit more on your lips.

I only have 5 colors from this line right now but I will definitely be purchasing more! These are the ones that I currently own:

* Candy Apple (bright red)
* Tutti Frutti (medium bright coral)
* Sweet Tart (medium warm pink)
* Strawberry Shortcake (light pink)
* Creamsicle (pale creamy orange)

Candy Apple, Tutti Frutti, Sweet Tart, Strawberry Shortcake, Creamsicle
(with flash)
Overall, I am very impressed with these lip butters! They apply just like a lip balm, but have the pigmentation of a lipstick. Every time I go to the store to look for new shades, they are always sold out! But don't be disappointed if you can't get your hands on them yet because these are not limited edition! They will be part of Revlon's permanent collection starting 2012. You should definitely pick up a few shades if you can! I don't think you'll be disappointed because I sure wasn't! :) <3

China Glaze Ruby Pumps & OPI Gettin' Miss Piggy With It

2011-11-22T03:38:00.000-08:00

Since Christmas is about a month away, I was feeling a little festive and wanted to wear something red! :)

2 coats of Ruby Pumps + 2 coats of Gettin' Miss Piggy With It

Originally, I only wore China Glaze's Ruby Pumps on its own. I have no idea why I've never tried this polish before because it's so pretty! It is a red glitter polish with a red base. It applies very nicely and is opaque in 2 coats.

2 coats of Ruby Pumps
After a few days of wearing Ruby Pumps on its own, I wanted to add a little something to it. I didn't want to just take the polish off altogether since glitters are such a pain to take off! Therefore, I was looking through a few of the new polishes I had bought and I decided to pair it with OPI's Gettin' Miss Piggy With It.

2 coats of Ruby Pumps + 2 coats of Gettin' Miss Piggy With It
Pairing these two polishes together really gives your nails dimension because of the different sized glitters that are in them. It is really gorgeous! I have received several compliments on it! Sometimes I can't help but stare at them because the polish is so pretty! :) Also, since both polishes are glitters, it is long lasting. I've had the polish on for about two weeks and I've only had a little bit of tip-wear!

I think I might wear this combination for Christmas!<3 What are your favorite red polishes to wear during the holidays? :)

OPI The Muppets Collection (Bottle Pics & Swatches)

2011-11-10T22:43:00.000-08:00

OPI has released an entire collection of polishes that goes along with the new Muppets movie that will hit theaters on November 23rd! There are twelve polishes total - six are glitters and six are shimmers/foils.

Price: $8.50 a bottle
Where: Ulta

Click here for close-up bottle pictures and swatches!

I have nine out of the twelve polishes. The ones that I didn't buy are Wocka Wocka!, Meep-Meep-Meep, and Pepe's Purple Passion.

^ Animal-istic, Warm & Fozzie, Designer...de Better

"Animal-istic" is a red foil polish. It is a very interesting color because the shimmers in it causes the polish to change depending on the lighting. Sometimes it looks red while other times it leans towards an orangey-coral red. It has an iridescent because of the shimmers that are in it.

"Warm & Fozzie" is a very complex foil polish. This shade looks predominantly bronze, however in certain lighting it has a gold-mustard iridescent to it. I'm usually not fond of bronze/brown polishes, but this one is absolutely gorgeous!

"Designer...de Better" is a very unique foil! The polish looks silver, but it some angles it looks champagne. You wouldn't be able to tell if you just took a quick glance at it, but if you look closely, there are small orange sparkle particles in it. It's really pretty!

^ Gone Gonzo, Gettin' Miss Piggy With It, Fresh Frog of Bel Air, Divine Swine

"Gone Gonzo" is a polish that consists small blue glitters and larger hexagon flecks. It has a clear base, and is very sheer. I have two coats on in the picture above.

"Gettin' Miss Piggy With It" is a bit different from the other sheer, glitter polishes. It has small red glitters and larger silver hexagon flecks in it. It also has large flecks of red glitter in it as well. The base is clear. I have two coats on in the picture above.

"Fresh Frog of Bel Air" is also a sheer glitter with a clear base. It has small green glitters and larger silver hexagon flecks in it. I have two coats on in the picture above.

"Divine Swine" has small purple-magenta-colored glitters. Like the other sheer polishes, it also has larger silver hexagon flecks in it. It is sheer. I have two coats on in the picture above.

^ Rainbow Connection, Excuse Moi

"Excuse Moi" is also glitter. However, it is different from all of the sheer glitters from this collection. It has a berry red base, and it also has pink microglitters. It is accented with medium-sized multicolored glitters. It can be worn without a base. I have two coats of it on in the picture above.

"Rainbow Connection" is like a party in a bottle! It is very unique in the fact that it consists of multicolored glitters and hexogon flecks of all different sizes. It can be worn on its own, but it might look better with a base color underneath. I have 3 coats of it on in the picture above.

I love the polishes from this collection. I really like the formula of the foil polishes and the colors are so pretty! The glitter polishes can be worn on their own but they are quite sheer (excluding "Excuse Moi"). I think that they would be good for layering though!

I'm a big fan of glitter and sparkles so I really enjoy this collection! I've only been collecting nail polish for less than a year so I've never gotten anything from OPI's previous holiday collections. I am really happy with The Muppets Collection! All the polishes are so gorgeous!

Have you picked up anything from this collection? Which ones are your favorite? :)

China Glaze "Santa's Little Helpers" Holiday Set (Bottle Pics & Swatches)

2011-11-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

This is the set that I purchased from China Glaze's holiday collection for the winter of 2011. It is called the "Santa's Little Helpers" set.

Price: $9.99
Where: Sally's Beauty Supply

Click here to see close-up bottle pictures and swatches! :)

The set comes with four colors (two creme finishes and two glitter finishes) from the "Let it Snow" Collection. They do not come in full-sized bottles like the regular China Glaze polishes. Each bottle is actually 0.325 oz instead of .5 oz.

"Ring in the Red" is a red glitter polish with a red jelly base. This color can be worn on its own or it can be used to layer over another polish.

"Holly-Day" is a creme-finished forest green polish. When worn on the nail, the green shows up a bit deeper than it is in the bottle. It is opaque with two coats.

"Twinkle Lights" is a glitter polish that consists of red, green, and gold glitters. The glitters are densely packed so it can be worn on its own (3 coats). It can also be layered on top of another polish.

"Velvet Bow" is a deep burgundy polish with a creme finish. In certain lighting, it has a reddish hue to it. It is opaque with two coats.

^ Ring in the Red, Holly-day, Twinkle Lights, Velvet Bow (all with two coats)

This set screams Christmas! These colors are perfect for the holiday season! :)

Sephora Friends & Family Sale!

2011-11-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

Sephora recently had their Friends & Family Sale, where customers are able to get 20% their entire purchase. I've never tried many brands from Sephora yet, but I have been eying these certain products for quite awhile! So, I hopped at the chance of this opportunity! :)

I'm not sure how often Sephora does these Friends & Family sales. If you know, please let me know! Thanks<3

^ Yayy! I got my package in the mail today!

Items:
-Make Up Forever Face & Body in 32 Alabaster Beige ($38)
-Make Up Forever Aqua Cream in 13 Warm Beige ($22)
-Benefit Feelin' Cheeky Minis ($15)
-Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($24.50)
Samples:
-Juicy Couture Peace Love & Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum Spray
-Clinique 3-Step System
-Clinique Acne Solutions Anti-Imperfections

* I will be doing reviews on these products after I have some time to test them out! :)

I'm Back! & New Hair

2011-11-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello! :)
I apologize for my long absence, but I have been completely swamped with school and work lately! :( I will try to post more frequently though because I realized that doing a blog post would be much faster than having to record, edit, and post a video on youtube. I will definitely try to get more videos up after my second rounds of midterms, but I'm apologizing in advance if I can't get those up quickly enough.. Anyway, I'M BACK! & I've missed you guys!<3

^ I've recently changed my hair color. It's a bright red/magenta color now. I did this myself at home, and I'm very surprised that it turned out as bright as it did! For the most part, it looks red but in certain lighting it looks pink. I'm happy with it, but I know that it will be difficult to maintain!

MAC Posh Paradise Collection Fall 2011 - Paint Pots (Photos & Swatches)

2011-09-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

MAC Posh Paradise Collection hit the stores on September 15 (Fall 2011). Eight new Paint Pots were released with this collection! Each Paint Pot costs $17.50 for 0.17 oz. of product.

Here are the ones that I got:

- Nubile: light peachy nude
- Treasure Hunt: light pearled yellow
- Pure Creation: mid-tone frosty blue
- Genuine Treasure: reflects antiqued gold
- Half Wild: mid-tone purple

These Paint Pots have the same packaging as the Paint Pots from the permanent collection. They come in glass jars with a black screw-top lid. I haven't had any problems with my Paint Pot drying out on me yet. I've only had one and I purchased this 2 years ago. The product inside still works very well! These also have a good amount of product in it, so I have no doubt that these paint pots will last you awhile.

The texture of the Paint Pots are very creamy, with the exception of Genuine Treasure. The MAC website states that these are all Frosts, however, Genuine Treasure does have flecks of antiqued gold in it. Nevertheless, they all blend easily and don't take too long to dry.

Pure Creation, Half Wild, Genuine Treasure, Nubile, Treasure Hunt

I really love these Paint Pots! I was only planning on getting 3 out of the 8, but when I swatched them at the counter, I ended up getting 5. These Paint Pots are gorgeous so I couldn't resist! I think that you should definitely go check them out at your local MAC counter!

Essie Ballet Slippers + OPI Last Friday Night

2011-09-12T02:52:00.000-07:00

^ 3 coats of Essie Ballet Slippers

^ 3 coats of Essie Ballet Slippers & 1 coat of OPI Last Friday Night

^ Here's a close-up of the nail so you can see the glitter more clearly.

Last Friday Night is from the OPI Katy Perry Collection released in 2011. I've never wore it on its own before, but I've heard that the polish color in the bottle isn't the same as when you apply it onto the nail. Regardless of this, I still really like this polish because I love glitters! Last Friday Night has fine particles of glitter in it as well as hexagonal glitters, and the base is a sheer blue color. This polish has a lot of dimension since there are different types of glitter in it.

As for Ballet Slippers, I think that it's a really pretty nude polish. I don't usually wear nudes that often, but I've had this polish for awhile and have never tried it so I thought I'd give it a try. Like most Essie polishes that I've tried, the formula can be a little streaky if only one layer is applied. I think you can get away with two layers, but I did three just in case.

With the two polishes combined, the color on the nails ends up looking like a very muted periwinkle. I think this would be perfect if you're wanting to wear something that is less dramatic but still has glitter on it. If you're not used to wearing glitters but would like to ease your way into using them, then you might want to try this combination since it's a little more toned down.

All in all, I really like these two polishes together! :)

Fall Eyes Using Wet 'n Wild Comfort Zone Palette

2011-09-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

This palette is perfect to use for the fall! I think I'll be using it a lot because of the eyeshadow colors it has. Here's a fall look I did using the champagne/brown shades with a pop of green!

1) Start off by applying a base to your entire eyelid. (ELF eye primer and NYX jumbo pencil in Gold)
2) Apply color A to the brow bone and to the inner tear duct area.
3) Apply color B to the inner half of the eyelid.
4) Apply color C to the outer half of the eyelid. Soften the edge of the eyeshadows by blending out the harsh lines.
5) Apply color D to the outer v area. Soften this by blending the color out with a clean blending brush.
6) Apply color F to the lower lash line.
7) Use color E to soften up color F.
8) Line the upper lash line with a black gel liner. (MAC Fluidline in Black Track)
9) Tight line the upper and lower water line with a black pencil liner. (Revlon Colorstay Pencil Liner in Black)
10) Curl the lashes and apply mascara. (Maybelline Colossal in Black and Maybelline Falsies in Black)

I hope you like this look! :)

COMPLETED! Project "x" Pan

2011-09-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

Project 10 Pan was created by lollipop26 from youtube. For those of you who don't know what Project "x" Pan is, it is when you use up x-amount of beauty products and you aren't able to buy any other items until you're done with the ones you already have.

My Project "x" Pan was from March 2011 to July 2011. I originally started out with 10 products. (Click here for the original post. I did end up switching out some of the items because I just wasn't using them enough.) After the completion of my first 10 products, I decided that I wanted to continue P10P because I wanted to use up more of the items that I already had. In total, I finished about 30 products (a few were mini size)! :) I am super happy about this because I didn't think I would be able to use up that many products!

Read on for my rules and pictures of the items I completed! :)

My Rules:
- I have to use up my products before I can buy any other beauty product (This excludes nail polish because I was doing my P10P on just makeup, skincare, and haircare products).
- I am able to buy a product after I finish it if it's essential (face wash, shampoo/conditioner, heat spray, etc.)
- A product can be counted only if it's COMPLETELY finished - not just hitting pan on it!

My Products:

1) Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation (101 Porceline)
2) Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (004 Sandstorm)
3) Bath & Body Works Single Eyeshadow
4) Victoria's Secret Lip Gloss
5) Alba Chapstick (Pineapple Quench)
6) Ardell Eyelash Glue
7) Ardell Eyelash Glue
8) ELF Lip Gloss Tin (Candy Fix)
9) Maybelline Single Eyeshadow (Night Sky)
10) Chapstick (Strawberry)
11) ELF Concealer (Apricot Beige)
12) Softlips Chapstick (Peach Mango)
13) L'oreal Decrease Eye Primer
14) Revlon Colorstay Eye Pencil (Black)
15) Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara (Black Brown)
16) Covergirl Lashblast Length (Brown)
17) ELF Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara

18) Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray
19) Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray
20) Garnier Fructis Leave-In Conditioning Cream
21) L'oreal Everstrong Shampoo [not pictured]
22) L'oreal Everstrong Deep Replenishing Masque [not pictured]

23) Mini Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitizer [not pictured]
24) Up&Up Baby Wipes (Sensitive Skin)
25) St. Ives Apricot Scrub
26) Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
27) Up&Up Face Wash
28) Oly Complete Moisturizer (Combo/Oily Skin)
29) Mini Nivea Hand Cream
30) Mini Victoria's Secret Lotion

I'm actually really glad that I did P10P. I didn't spend as much money on makeup, and I rediscovered some products from my current collection that I really love! Overall, it was a good experience! :)

L'oreal Everstrong Deep Replenishing Masque

2011-08-31T04:35:00.000-07:00

Price: ~$5.99
Purchased at: any drugstore (I bought mine at Target)

I've never used a deep conditioning masque for my hair before, so I thought I'd test out a few drugstore ones before I spend money on a more expensive product. This product is actually my first conditioning masque that I've tried.

I use this about 2 times a week on my hair, in which I would just replace my regular conditioner with the conditioning masque. I leave it on for about 5 minutes. When my hair is completely dried after I shower, I do notice that my hair feels a bit softer. However, I'm not sure if this product necessary makes my hair healthier though. I dye my hair quite a few times a year, and I didn't really notice a difference with my hair getting healthier after using this. Moreover, I really like the smell of this product - it's really fresh. If you're sensitive to scents, then I think you might find that the smell can be a little strong. I actually love it because I can still smell the scent hours after my hair has already dried.

Overall, I think that this conditioning masque is okay. It's not too bad for the price considering it's only about $6. I don't think you'd have too much to lose if you're thinking about trying this out since it's not as pricy as other deep conditioners.

I, personally, would like a conditioning masque that softens my hair as well as hydrates it so that it can be healthier. For now, I think I'd be able to get the same effect that this product has from my regular conditioner (except I'd probably just have to use a little bit more of it). For this reason, I don't think I'd be repurchasing it.

L'oreal EverStrong Reconstruct Shampoo

2011-08-25T01:31:00.000-07:00

Price: ~$5.99
Purchased at: any drugstore (I bought mine at Target)

I have never tried a sulfate-free shampoo before so when this product came out I was really intrigued. I've been looking for something that isn't too expensive so I thought I'd give this a try.

At first, I didn't think it was too bad. It has a nice smell (rosemary and juniper). The scent was really pleasant and natural. I was also surprised at the amount of lather this has. You only need a small amount and it foams up really well. I think it's a lot creamier than most shampoos I've tried.

My main gripe with this product is the fact that it's not as hydrating as it claims to be. My hair felt really strong after showering with it while it was still wet. But after it dries, the ends were extremely dry. At first, I thought it might have been my conditioner, but I've used the same one with other shampoos as well and it was never this drying. My ends felt really stiff and brittle. For someone who dyes their hair frequently, I need a shampoo that is hydrating because my hair is already exposed to a lot of drying chemicals as is.

Overall, I'm not a big fan of this product. Maybe it would work better with its counterpart conditioner, but I think that you can find a better shampoo at drugstore price. I don't think I'd be repurchasing this.

OPI Significant Other Color & China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle

2011-08-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

To be honest, when I first purchased these two polishes I wasn't too fond of them. OPI Significant Other Color was extremely sheer on me when I first swatched it. As for China Glaze Crushed Candy, it didn't crackle as well as the other crackles/shatters I have. Last night I was experimenting with colors and I thought I'd pair these two polishes together. To my surprise, I actually ended up liking it a lot! :)

^ Significant Other color is a duochrome polish. It goes from a light purple to a light green. It looks really pretty in the sunlight where the color change is more noticeable. The polish applied much nicer this time because I used a gray base to help enhance the color. I would suggest using a white, black, or gray base when using this polish - unless you like the look of sheer polish! :)

^ Crushed Candy also applied better for me as well. Lately when I use my crackle polishes, I'd always put thinner in it before and after I used it (just a couple of drops!). I think this helps the polish because it prevents it from getting dried up over time. I also shake the bottle every once in a while to keep the formula from separating. I'm not too sure how other people maintain their shatter/crackle polishes, but for me, this works!

Overall, I really like this color combo! :)
What do you think?

Product Rave: China Glaze "For Audrey"

2011-07-24T01:51:00.000-07:00

So, I finally hopped onto the "For Audrey" bandwagon! At first I was a little hesitant to buy this nail polish because it looks more like a light blue in the bottle. From my experience, light blue shades don't look very flattering on me but I decided to get it anyway just to see what all the hype was about. I tried it on today and I immediately fell in love with it! On the nail it comes off looking a lot more turquoise than it does in the bottle. It is very similar to the Tiffany blue that Tiffany & Co. uses as their trademark color.

^ I have two coats of the polish on in the picture above.

Overall, it's a gorgeous color! It also applies nicely and I didn't have any problems with it. Now I know why so many people love this color! I'm already thinking about getting a backup! :)

Cheshire Cat Inspired Look

2011-07-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

I did this look inspired by the Cheshire Cat from Disney's Alice in Wonderland. The cat in the movie is pink and purple so I wanted to incorporate these colors into my look. Hope you like! :)

Eyes:
-L'oreal Decrease
-NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
-88 Shimmer Palette
-88 Matte Palette
-Covergirl Eyeshadow in Vanilla
-Revlon Colorstay Eye Pencil in Black
-MAC Fluidline in Black Track
-ELF Mascara in Black
Lips:
-MAC Lipstick in "Most Popular"
Face:
-Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer
-Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation in 103 True Ivory
-Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Sandstorm
-Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sunlight
-ELF Blush in Candid Coral

Wet n' Wild Bar-B and China Glaze Oxidized Aqua Crackle

2011-07-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

^ taken in the sunlight. you can really see the shimmer and glitter!

Top Layer:
China Glaze Crackle Metals in "Oxidized Aqua"

"Oxidized Aqua" is a metallic blue polish with lots of shimmer in it. The shimmer consists of blue and silver specks of very fine glitter. In the bottle, the polish comes off looking like a tiffany blue with s silver hue. However, on the nail the polish looks lighter than it actually is in the bottle - almost like a baby blue.

Base Color: Wet&Wild Wild Shine in "Bar-B"

"Bar-B" is a light pink nail polish with subtle shimmer. You can't really see the shimmer in the picture, however, you will be able to notice it in the sunlight. It's a very basic, light pink color.

* This was actually from yesterday before I trimmed and filed down my nails (they're a lot shorter now). I still wanted to show you though because I ended up really liking the color combination! :)

Face of the Day:

2011-06-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

A pop of teal! :)

Face:
-Jergens Natural Glow Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 20
-MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC25
-Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Sandstorm
-Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light
-Maybelline Expert Wear Blush in Pinch o' Pink
-MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

Eyes:
-MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
-Teal color from Covergirl Quad in Tropical Fusion
-3 shimmery browns from Milani's Quad in Touch of Brown
-Coastal Scents Hot Pot in M09
-MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
-ELF Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara in Black
-Model 21 False Lashes in #5

Lips:
-Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sparkling Cider
-Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rose Velvet
-MAC Lipglass in Jest For Fun

^ a picture taken in artificial lighting

Lendi Exotic Lavander and China Glaze Broken Hearted Crackle

2011-06-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

A cute and playful nail combination for summer! :)

I have been in love with China Glaze's Crackle nail polish in "Broken Hearted." It is a bright pink color that I think could go well with many colors! It's a great nail polish to use for the summer to brighten up your nails! :)

^ The base color I used is Lendi's "Exotic Lavender." On camera it comes off looking like a metallic silver, but it is actually a metallic lavender (just as the name describes). I'm not sure where you'd be able to purchase Lendi nail lacquers. I buy mind at my local beauty supply store.

When wearing any of the crackle polishes, I like to play around with textures. Most of the crackles that I have dry matte, so I would use a shimmer or a metallic color underneath. When using crackle polishes that are shimmery/metallic, I usually use a cream color as the base. With these polishes, there are plenty of ways that you can pick and choose colors though! Not one way is correct, so there are lots of options! I'm a big fan of the crackle/shatter polishes! :)

Sunless Tanning!

2011-06-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Since it's now finally summer, I've been wanting to try out some self tanners. After watching many reviews on youtube and doing a good amount of research, I finally decided on purchasing a drugstore tanning lotion. It is called the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer for fair to medium skin tones.

PRICE: around $9 for 7.5 fluid ounce
WHERE: drugstores, Target, Walmart

Now, I've used tanning lotions in the past and I've never really had good experiences with them. The L'oreal Sublime, for example, made me look really orange and it left me looking streaky. I've been on the hurt for a drugstore tanning lotion for awhile because i don't want to have to spend too much! I've heard that the St. Tropez mousse tanner (you can get this at Sephora) is really good but I don't think I want to spend $30 on a bottle!

Therefore, I thought I would try the Jergens Natural Glow. I purchased this in the "fair to medium skin tones" range because I don't really want to get too dark. I was also skeptical of weather it would make me orange so I wanted to try out the lighter color first before I consider trying out the darker one. This comes in a lotion form so I just used this as my daily moisturizer. I would apply this on my entire body right after I come out of the shower while my skin is still damp so that the lotion could easily sink into my skin. It doesn't feel heavy on me at all, which I really like, and it also dries pretty quickly. I have a pretty sensitive nose, so the smell was a bit overwhelming for me during the first day. However, as the days went by I got used to it and it became tolerable. For a self tanner, I don't think the smell is that bad at all! Also, the lotion also has a hint of shimmer in it, but it is really subtle. Just at a glance I wouldn't be able to see the shimmer but if I were to look closely then I do see some subtle shimmer here and there.

I like this product because it gives me a natural glow (just like it claims!). Keep in mind that this is a gradual tanner so you won't be able to see results within the first day! I applied this on everyday during my first week of usage and after that I put this on every other day. I started noticing that my body was a bit tanner at the end of my first week of using it. Also, it doesn't leave my skin streaky! I have an even tan all around my body, which is a plus! I also want to suggest that you should allow the lotion to dry completely after applying it. (I did have a little accident with minor streaking at the beginning but that was my fault because I didn't let the lotion dry completely and I accidentally scraped some of it off my knee while it was still drying! This made my tan uneven just around my knee area so make sure you apply even layers throughout your entire body!) I haven't had any problems with it staining my clothes but that could be because I completely let it dry first.

Overall, I really like this product. I'm actually impressed with it because it does what it claims to do and it goes on really nicely without making me look orange. The price isn't too bad either for the amount of product you get! Again, I bought this for the fair to medium skin tones because I didn't want to get too tanned. I might purchase the one for medium to dark skin tone towards the middle of summer if I'm looking for a darker tan. For those of you looking for a gradual self tanner, I would definitely recommend this product! :)

* I am so glad that summer's here! Happy Tanning, Everyone! :D