What I'm Currently Reading:

 

This is an absolute masterpiece! Ayn Rand has made architecture, actually interesting!

I'm about half-way through, but what I can tell you so far is that it's about an young architect who's struggling to stay true to himself, and a modern, unique way of architecture. Of course, along the way he meets many an interesting character!

I'm really enjoying it so far. Have you read it? 

Sinful Colors-Beautiful Girl, Review & Swatch

 

Such a perfect color for summer! I absolutely adore this hot, fiery pink.

The colors is great, but the application could be a bit better. It went on pretty streaky the first coat, and the second was better, so I would recommend a good 3 coats to get an even, opaque finish.

But I still love it!

The Bottom Line

9/10 

You can find "Beautiful Girl" from the Sinful Colors collection here, for just a $1.99 

Burt's Bees Radiance Night Creme, Review

I have a little .25 oz sample jar of the Burt's Bees Radiance Night Creme with Royal Jelly from this Burt's Bees kit, but there's also a full size version here, a 2oz size for roughly $17.

This jar is pretty large for a sample size so I'm rather impressed. I've been using it for 2 weeks now and am only about 1/4 through which is very good. It's a solid glass jar with a screw on cap that can be screwed very tight so the product stays fresh.

As for the product itself, it's a white, creamy color with a creamier consistency than most of the moisturizers I've used. There's a very prominent shimmer to the product, hence the 'radiance', but it doesn't transfer to my face at all.

As for the actual moisturizing, it does a good job. I know that before I used this product, my skin was very dry due to the weather and now it looks healthy again. I don't feel oily at all, my skin just feels...normal.

My only problem is the smell-it can be very overwhelming. It's very floral, and the first time I put it on, I had to go wash my face to get it off. But after a few uses, the smell didn't bother me as badly.

Youtube Video Round Up

This week I have been loving...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2-I cannot wait!!

An amazing woman to go with the amazing voice <3

I love the dramatic makeup!!

Tresemme Naturals Finishing Spray, Review

I'm a pretty finicky person about hairsprays. I don't like ones that leave white powder in my hair, and I definitely don't like the ones that make my hair a rock. I'd had both of these experiences with Tresemme hairsprays before, so when I picked this up off the clearance rack, well, let's just say I didn't have much hope.

But it's actually quite nice. I'm really into the organic and all-natural scene at the moment, so this hairspray was a perfect indulgence. It already earns a plus for being natural. It holds my hair really well, but I could still brush it through if I needed too. 

The Bottom Line

9/10

I love things that are natural, but can still perform up to standards. I'd definitely check it out!

Available here at drugstore.com

ELF Studio Eyeliner & Shadow Stick-Black, Review & Swatch

At only $3, these eyeliners seem like quite a steal. Which they are, but they just lack in certain areas. The silver eyeshadow is an okay color, it's not "WOW" and it's not "oh". It did crease a little when I wore it, but when I ran my finger across it, it smoothed over again. And for these particular sticks, I don't think it really matters if it creases because they're very portable and easy to carry around for an easy touch up.

My biggest problem was when I attempted to put this on my waterline. The black turned gray, and within 5 minutes of applying it, it had begun to collect in the corner of my eye, and I was not impressed. If you really layer the black on, (waterline or skin), it will come out pigmented. But if you're like me and prefer a softer look, the color looks gray and faded. The packaging is about the same as my last ELF stick review, except I haven't had any breaking parts yet. But we shall see...

The Pros:

For just lining my lash line (which is what I recommend-only!) this does an okay job. The price is good for my budget, and it's smudgeable. The fact that I don't have to sharpen it is also nice!

The Cons:

It's just...okay. The colors are okay, the application is less than okay, and the packaging is okay.

The Bottom Line

7/10

If it fits the budget, then it's not bad. I bet if I set it with a black eyeshadow I'd be able to get a little more staying power out of it. But it's just okay, so if you're looking for an intense black eyeliner that does most of the job for you, you might want to look somewhere else~

Dreaming of Summer...

 

This is my new favorite bag for summer! I have a large Coach hobo that I would normally use, but it's such a pain to lug around when it's 80 degrees out. I found this little beauty at Kohl's and it fits my phone, ipod, and some money. Perfect for walks into town or on a really hot day! 

There are a few other colors to choose from, but I like the pastel pink the best. If you look under Candies brand in the handbag section, you'll find a TON of other cute small cross body styles! 

You can find it here at Kohl's! 

ELF Professional Bronzing Brush

Words cannot describe this brush. And unfortunately, I don't mean that in a good way. It was a cold, crowded Black Friday morning many moons ago at Target when I spied this brush for only $1 and thought it was a steal. It was a steal, as it robbed me of the skin cells on my face. The top has popped off numerous times, and Elmer always does his job to repair it. As you can see in the picture, the bristles are splayed, no matter how hard I try to clean it delicately. And it's so scratchy, there's no wonder that it's at the back of my brush vase.

The Pros:

Haha. What?

The Cons:

Pretty much everything about this brush.

The Bottom Line:

1/10

Don't bother.

Around the holidays, you might be able to find any of the brushes from the not-so-accessible "Professional" line, but you can purchase them year round on ELF's website in a package of the complete line. I won't provide a link because that's how much I want you to save your money. There are so many other brushes out there if you're on a budget, so please, don't try to waste your money on these. I speak from experience!

Easter Shopping Deals

American Eagle Outfitters-20% off plus free shipping with code 92447511
Arden B.-$0.99 shipping today only & take an extra 50% of clearance (no code)
Asos-free shipping on US orders, and check out their huge mid-season sale
ELF-free shipping on orders of $25 or more with code SHIP25
Express-Free shipping today only (no code) and for every $60 spent, take $15 off with code 1274
Forever21-they're having a huge 75% off sale for Easter so be sure to check it out!
Hollister-40% off the whole store (instore & online) with code 34223
Kohl's-Check out their homepage for all the great promos today!
Macy's-15% off with code EASTER
Papaya-Special sale for Easter
Wetseal-$0.99 shipping today only with a $15 minimum purchase, and check out their "Buy one get one for a penny" clearance

Happy Shopping

&

Happy Easter 

Sinful Colors-Glass Pink Nail Polish, Review & Swatch

0.5 fl oz for $1.99 in most locations

I'm a pink nail polish kind of girl, so I have quite a bit, and this color is my favorite! It's a light baby pink with a beautiful shimmer shot through.

It takes two coats to get an opaque color, and the application is smooth-no brush lines or anything. As for staying power, it began to chip after a couple days like all nail polishes do, but there wasn't anything significant.

 

The Bottom Line

9/10

I docked one point because it's nothing TOO special, really. It's just a nice nail polish.

Buy it here at Walgreens. You can find it at most drugstores and supermarkets in the US.

++This week at Walgreens online & instore, the entire Sinful Colors line is on sale for $0.99!

(Made in the USA) 

Blog of the Week

Lauren Conrad's new beauty blog!!

She's got some great tutorials and pics so be sure to head over to the Beauty Department!

Screenshot taken from http://thebeautydepartment.com/

Up & Up Eye Makeup Remover, Review

I paid about $4.50 in store, and you can now get it online, here. On the bottle, it says that it's comparable to the Neutrogena remover, which I haven't tried, and I don't think I'll have to. I bought this for $3-4, and for 5.5 fl oz, it was quite a deal. The packaging is rubbish, I always poured out too much so I just bought a 99 cent spray bottle in the travel isle and I pop the remover in there instead.

As for the product itself, it's oil-free, which I'm indifferent about because I've never had to worry about products that had oil in them. I spray two sprays on a cotton ball and then swipe it over my eyes and the eyeshadow melts away! My lids feel silky smooth and makeup free. As a side note, after you use it, be sure to go over your eyes with lukewarm water because this remover is not designed to be left on to dry!

As this is the first eye makeup remover I've ever used, I can't do a full review because I have nothing to compare it to. But, for the bottom line, I do like this product and since I'm almost out, I will definitely be repurchasing!

ELF Studio Blush-Tickled Pink, Review

 

The first thing I noticed about the ELF studio blushes was the packaging, which is an obvious rip off of Nars. Except for one thing-it doesn't get grimy like the Nars ones do. Yes, I know in the picture there's a small spot, but that's from the stubborn glue from the price tag. I really do enjoy the packaging on this. It's sleek, it's lightweight, and it snaps loudly and securely.

As for the color, Tickled Pink is a bright hot pink in the pan with a hint of shimmer, but on the face it transfers as a pinky glow with no shimmer. On the website, ELF's description of their studio blush is that it's designed to be sheer, and a product that you can layer on to reach the desired shade. That's why I love this blush. I don't like highly pigmented blushes that you have to really control the amount you get onto the brush, and then you always end up putting too much on your face. I like the subtlest of hints that there's a flush to my cheeks, and this product is PERFECT for layering.

 As for the texture, it's chalky. But, if you put tiny amounts on at a time, it's not so bad.

The Pros:

I love the price-$3, and it's perfect for me for layering. The packaging is also an awesome plus!

The Cons:

If you're looking for a pigmented blush, this won't be the product for you. 

The Bottom Line:

9/10

This product does exactly what it claims to do. In short, it's great to get that flushed look.

Buy it here at elf.com! 

They Say Pain is Beauty...

 

...and it certainly better be after the state of my feet when I wore these! 

They're the cutest shoes ever, and I got them on sale for under $30 at Kohls, but after just six hours of wearing them, my feet had turned into giant blisters. But, I did get a ton of compliments on how cute the shoes looked!

I might give it another try...any tips on how to wear heels?

Because they're really cute, but, if my feet are bleeding at the end of the day... I don't know if I can take it...

You can't buy them online anymore, but click here and there's a ton of similar styles from Candies! 

Benefit Stay Don't Stray, Review

Yeah, I know, it's a sample, but it has become my savior product so until I can get the full size, these are the only pictures I have. 

So, back to reviewing, when I was new to the world of makeup, when I heard the phrase "eye primer", I immediately thought of UDPP.  But when I was at Sephora about a month ago, and the lady gave me a sample of the Benefit primer, I thought I wasn't going to be impressed. But, let me tell you, I have fallen in love with this! For me, this also works as a great concealer because of my skin tone which is awesome because I'm always looking for products that can be used two ways. I really like the formula as well, it's a cross between a liquid and a cream, which is really strange at first, but once it blends into my skin, it'll be fine.

Cucumbers and Melons...

I received this lotion for my birthday last year, and it smells delicious! I love cucumbers, and I just love smelling fresh all day! I'm not usually a fan of Bath & Body Works because they use parabens in their lotions, but I can't resist this scent! 

Buy it at Bath & Body Works here! 

ELF Studio Eyeliner and Shadow Stick in Plum, Review & Swatch

In plum/purple. Buy it here from elf.com!

To be honest, I was super excited to buy these for a long time. And when I finally got them...let's just say the big reveal could have been better. For someone who is just starting out in makeup, these are fine. They're only $3, and they come in all colors. But for someone looking for a serious eyeliner, look somewhere else. The color fades after a few hours, if you use the shadow, it will crease horribly, even if you use a primer, and the packaging is horrible. For mine, I have to be super careful when I pull off the cap on the shadow side because the whole thing will pop out. It's just very cheap feeling, which I don't like. I have a few other ELF products, and they don't feel as extremely cheap as this one does, so I'm wondering what went wrong in the packaging department.

They colors themselves are really lovely, and pretty true to the picture (don't ever go by the color swatches on the ELF website!). The purple is a warm violet that compliments my brown eyes, and the shadow is a neutral purple that works great for night or day. There does seem to be a medium size of product in the tube, so for the price it's at, it's not that bad.

The Pros:

I really do love these colors, and I love the price, and that's about all I love.

The Cons:

The packaging could be improved, it could not break as often as it does, and they could label the containers better as for which color they are. There are six different colors total, so it would definitely be a problem to find the color you want. I know I already experience this and I own two! I think I will take a small piece of masking tape, color it with a Sharpie and wrap it around the middle so I can tell them apart.

The Bottom Line

5/10

I did expect creasing, because it's not a high quality product, but the amount I had was NOT desirable. As I said, the packaging could be improved. But the colors are great, and there's no parabens or fragrances in this product so at the price point it's at, it's just average. I don't recommend it, and I don't say to go out and buy it. If you're looking for a cheap eyeliner just to keep in your purse for on the go, or if your budget just doesn't allow for higher-end brands, then give it a go!

Burt's Bees Radiance Lip Shimmer, Review

A few weeks ago, I bought a tiny Burt's Bees radiance sample kit, this one here, only I found it at TJ Maxx for $2.99 (luv!), and in the little kit, it came with a lip shimmer. Now I had one of these when I was younger, but the tingly sensation from the mint just freaked me out. But now that it's 6 or 7 years later, I have to say that I'm quite impressed. I've gotten over the tingly sensation, which honestly, isn't that bad. All in all, it's my new favorite lip balm.

The Pros:

The shimmer is the perfect amount. It's not overdone, but it's still noticeable. Also, I love natural makeup, and Burt's Bees is one of my favorite brands for that type of product. My lips feel very moisturized and soft after I use this, and I'm really glad I picked it up.

The Cons:

It's too small!(=  I wish it came with more product.

The Bottom Line

9/10

These could be bigger, it might be just because mine was a sample, I'm not really sure if it is regular sized, but because the container is so small, the product has a little trouble getting out. But other than that, if you're a lip balm fanatic like me, I'd definitely give this a go!

Find more info about the natural ingredients here!

So I Went Shopping...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...at Kohls over the weekend, and while I was moseying around in the bags, I wandered over to the clearance section (duh. I'm like a master bargain hunter) and on clearance for only $11.70 was the cutest Simply Vera bag I have ever seen! 70% off!! And I had a coupon for 20% off the purchase total, so it was literally, $10. Best deal ever. And I totally had to share(=

OPI-Gone Platinum in 60 Seconds, Review & Swatch

 

As you can tell by the pic (after one week), it chipped quite a bit on a few of my fingers. But, of course, that happens to pretty much every nailpolish. Overall, this was a really nice nailpolish. My problem was with the application. First coat went on pretty streaky, and the second coat seemed to smooth things over, but you could still see some of my brush lines.  But overall, the color is very nice. It was part of the Ford collection and has been discontinued, but, Amazon still sells it here!

The Bottom line

7.5/10

Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Cheyenne, Review & Swatch

Some of you may have picked up Nars duo like I did a last year when they were $10 at Sephora. I got this for my birthday, and it was probably the best deal of the year. I had always heard great things about Nars formulas, and I wasn't let down. The colors are vibrant, and they did not crease at all through the day!

I don't use the gold color on the right, because it has way too much of an orange undertone for my fair skin. But, the maroon side is gorgeous for an eyeliner. I have brown eyes, so this warm purple really makes them pop.

The Pros:

The texture is lovely! I have never used such satiny shadows. Although I don't use the yellow much, it's still a lovely color. And the best part-they never creased on me. The look stayed as perfect as it was when I left the house.

The Cons:

As always, Nars packaging isn't the greatest. It's so grimy now! As well, parabens was included in the ingredients list, which I'm not crazy about. Another thing, it was discontinued, although you can still find it online. Here's a link to a Google shopping directory on where you can find it.

The Bottom Line

9/10

The only thing keeping it back from a ten is the use of parabens, and the packaging. Other than that, definitely buy this while you still can!

Beauty Steals and Deals-Sephora Edition

Head on over before April 21 to Sephora to get a 15% discount! Beauty Insiders only-but don't worry if you're not! It's super quick and easy to sign up(:

Image courtesy of FashionProspectress.blogspot.com

 

 

Yes, the code can be used in store as well!

Here's the link to the fine print & all that jazz

Happy Shopping!

Image courtesy of http://fashionprospectress.blogspot.com/2011/04/sephora-15-off.html. Thank you!!

Giveaway!

Giveaway 

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've decided to do a giveaway at 100 subscribers! I'll have more details as we get closer. You just have to follow my blog to be entered!

xoxo 

Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer, Review

Maybelline concealer, .016 oz/3 g, about $7. Mine's in Fair, Light 0-1

I'm new to the Maybelline brand, I'm not really a drugstore make up person (primarily because of the ingredients), but when I saw this on clearance, I couldn't resist. The packaging is actually my favorite part about this concealer-it's a nice, solid glass jar that keeps my product preserved.

If you invest, be sure to close the lid super tight to keep the air out as much as possible. I also really like the texture-it is a mousse! And what I love the most, is that a little product goes a long way. I use one teeny-tiny dot on my eye area and that's all I need.

The coverage itself isn't bad for being a drugstore product. The only problem I had was that after an hour or two, the product started to look cakey and the tiny bumps I had under my eyes became more pronounced. As far as concealing on other areas of my face goes, my acne was really well concealed.

The Pros:

I love the packaging! It's sturdy, and I know my product won't spoil.

The color range is also quite nice. I've seen better, but it's not bad. My skin is very light, and this shade is perfect for me.

I also really liked the texture. The thick formula made it feel like I was truly getting a good coverage.

The Cons:

The product did turn my undereyes cakey, and a slightly darker color after a little while. While this doesn't really bother me, I don't like how it made my flaws more prominent.

The Bottom Line:

8/10

For being a drugstore concealer, it's relatively good. The only problem is, I've used better. The formula is good, but it could be improved. If you're looking for a good concealer on a budget, I'd definitely say to check this one out!

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Creamliner in Brown Eyes, Review

Creamliners in Brown Eyes for about $10, depending where you buy them

This pack comes in 3 stackable jars of liner. The jars themselves are relatively small, which is great because not only are they easy to store, but since creamliners dry out easily, you won't waste much product.

The colors themselves are okay. I noticed fading after 2 1/2 hours which wasn't bad, it was just okay. But the colors are very nice. I expected a regular plain black, but once you get the product moving around, there's actually a ton of sparkles and glitter in the black one. Unfortunately, it doesn't really transfer to the eyes. The formula is very creamy, as well. My brush glides on my eyes and I've never had to pull or drag to get the product to apply properly.

The Pros:

They're so easy to store! I don't stack mine, and turn them upside down to see the colors and they take up next to no space. 

I do like the colors, even though they fade. They're really vibrant and while my eyes don't look 'brightened' or really any different at all, it is a nice accent.

I also really like that these were only $5. I got them on clearance at Target, but regularly they're about $10. It's still a great deal, because you're basically paying $3.33 per jar, which is awesome!

The Cons:

These fade. That's my biggest problem. I wish they had more staying power. But other than that, I didn't find any unnatural smells or coloring that could have been a problem!

The Bottom Line

7/10

As good as these liners are for the price, they could have been better. I still enjoy using them, but I probably won't be repurchasing.

Beauty Steals and Deals

April 13th, 2011

ELF-Get 10 $1 items for free with the code essentials (ends April 18!), or get free shipping with code ship25 (ends April 18!)

Sephora- New weekly specials! Get an Ole Henriksen skincare duo for $20 (no code) or a Stila "it Girl" palette (with the Kitten eyeshadow) for just $14. Check out their promo page for all their great deals!

Happy Shopping

ELF Studio Brushes Vol. 1

ELF Studio Complexion, Contour, and Eyeliner Brush-just $3 each

These brushes are SO soft-after having to use horrible scratchy brushes from Walmart, this upgrade was much needed!

Complexion Brush-It's a big, fluffy brush that's not completely round, it's flattened out at the sides, but it still applies products well.

Contour Brush-The perfect brush for getting in the socket! It's very round and it's the perfect shape and size to fit my eyes.

Eyeliner Brush-I had trouble applying my eyeliner with a regular angled brush (like the MAC 266). It would always come out looking like the Bride of Chucky applied my makeup. But this brush has such fine, stiff bristles that form such a small point that I can get right into my lash line. And the fact that the handle is slanted makes it super easy to get around my lashes!

Complexion Brush

Eyeliner Brush

Contour Brush

 

The Pros:

They are so soft! And they're only $3. I love the sleek, black look and they don't retain the product in the bristles right away. I just swipe the brushes on a tissue with a little bit of water and little to no product is left on my brush! They're also so light and the handle is the perfect length.

The Cons:

I've only had these for a little while, but they could have the potential to break and shed since they're so cheap :(

The Bottom Line

8/10

They're great for the price, and I'll definitely be purchasing more from the line, but I'm afraid of their potential to break. Overall, they're wonderful!