Youtube Channel!

Today I just launched my new Youtube channel in conjunction with my blog! I will be making a few videos from time to time, just to complement some of my other reviews! My first video is on the elf brushes!

I know, the camera quality is horrible, but I paid like $40 for it, so I get what I paid for, I guess!

xoxo

Let Me Tell You About This Epic Fail

China Glaze.Silver Lining

...

Failure.

I just painted my nails with this yesterday, and I thought, Wow, what a great color. It was really pretty. For about 6 hours. And then I woke up this morning and half my nails were chipped. Yeah. That happened.

The glitter is so incredibly fine in this nailpolish that it just breaks off your nails. There's barely anything holding it to my nails. And yes, I did use a top coat. I just bought the Seche Vite one and tried that on top of this. And it epically failed.

Has anyone else had the same problem? Or am I sleepwalking and doing destructive things to my nails in my sleep? It's a good thing I got this on clearance. It is not worth the full price!

Sinful Colors~Dream On, Review & Swatch

The color in real life is just a tad darker

This is a really interesting color! It's this bright, fluorescent pink/purple in the bottle, but when it dries, it's a matte finish that's not really so scary looking. You can retain the brightness though, if you used a top coat to make it shiny & pop more.

As for the application, it's pretty streaky. And especially since it dries to a matte finish, it's really noticeable. The color applies uneven, so be weary! 

Overall it's just a weird color. There's really no other way to describe it. I tried to Google the color and the only place I can find online that sells it is eBay, but I just bought mine a few months ago at Rite Aid so I'm sure it's in stores.

The Bottom Line:

8/10

I'm just not sure what this color is supposed to be. But I like the matte fluorescent effect. It's pretty cool(:

What do you think?

Two coats

Beauty Coupons~Week May 29

No coupons in this week's paper :(

However...

Rite Aid just uploaded new videos in its Video Values promotion with a total of $22 of savings in the beauty department!

Here's what you can save:

Save $2 on Samy Fat hair products

Save $2 on Almay One Coat mascara

Save $5 on Samy Fat hair color

Save $3 on products from the Revlon Photo Ready makeup line

Save $2 on L'Oreal Million Lashes mascara

Save $2 on Samy Twisted products (not all)

Save $1 on John Frieda Sheer Blonde products

Save $3 on John Frieda foam hair color

Save $2 on Revlon Just Bitten lip stain

Access the site here & start saving some money!!

xoxo

Memorial Day Sales!

Here's a few sales for the Memorial Day holiday!

Aeropostale: 50% off everything & get $10 off $50, or $20 off $100 (codes on their homepage)
American Eagle Outfitters: 30% off your purchase & free shipping w/ code 82934281 (ends 5-30)
Delias: Site-wide sale! Check out their homepage for all the great offers. (ends 5-30)
elf: BOGO w/ code MEMHALF for orders $25 or over (ends 5-30)
Macys: Take an extra 10 or 15% off w/ code KICKOFF (ends 5-30)
Pacsun: Visit their homepage to see all their great deals + free shipping (ends 5-30)
Papaya: Entire site is 15% off w/ code SALE15

please consult the stores' websites for confirmation that sales are offered in stores as well

Know of any other great Memorial Day Sales? Let us know in the comments! 

Happy Shopping!

xoxo 

Elf Mineral Eyeshadow~Outdoorsy, Swatch

See the first part of my review that I did on elf's website/my blog here

...And here are the swatches/pics!

This comes out to be a really dark green. WARNING-you only have to use the tiniest amount! I literally used half the size of a pencil eraser and that was WAY too much!! 

Youtube Video Roundup~May 28

Looking for some summer inspiration?

I love how Tanya mixes some beautiful oranges & corals into an amazing summer look!

I tend to wear super bright colors on my nails in the summer too. My favorite to wear is Paradise Blue (something like that-I don't exactly remember) by China Glaze.

I tried this look out and got so many compliments!

Hope you had a lovely week!

mine wasn't

but that's okay(:

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick~Peachy Scene, Review & Swatch

I'm not a person who is normally into lipsticks, but since the summer was coming around (or maybe not due to weather in my area), that I would look for a nice coral color. My lips are naturally very, very pigmented so I was skeptical that this would even show up. But actually, my lips are the exact shade of pink I wanted!

I got about 3-4 hours before this started to wear off, and it is a bit drying, so I was sure to use a lipbalm underneath. But what I did notice that was it doesn't rub off on my water bottle too badly, which is awesome. It has that cosmetic smell that all lipsticks have, and as for the taste, I honestly didn't notice any.

The Pros:

It shows up on my lips! That automatically means it's good if it shows up on my deep red lips. I managed to get mine for just $2.54 at Target with a coupon, so it's very affordable at drugstores.

The Cons:

It does smell a little off, but it wasn't too bad. It also could be a bit more moisturizing.

The Bottom Line:

8/10

I really like this color-it's now become my everyday lip product. I didn't give it full marks, simply because I don't have a lot of experience in the lipstick field, so I don't want to jump the gun(:

I found it cheapest at Walmart

Have you liked A Thing of Beauty's Facebook page? Click here!

elf Studio Powder Brush

I have found my new favorite brush!

To put my mineral foundation on in the mornings, I used to use the complexion brush from elf, which worked just fine, but I felt was too little coverage for my face. This brush, on the other hand, because of its denseness, distributes a lot more product. I feel like the powder stays on the very tip of the brush because the bristles are so dense, therefore putting more product on my face and less on the brush.

I also love this brush because it would be great for traveling. It's perfect for blending in foundation beautifully, and quickly. I also found it to put my blush on exactly how I wanted it to, because it blends it into the skin much more. I haven't tried it with any cream face products, but I foresee it being a perfect match!

This was undoubtedly the best $3 I've ever spent on a makeup tool. Nothing blended the products into my face smoother, or softer.

The brush itself is kabuki style, but much more controlled and smaller. The top is completely flat, circular, and packed with bristles! 

The Bottom Line:

10/10

You need this brush!

Buy it online at elf, and I found mine at my local Target.

elf Mineral Eyeshadow~Earthy, Swatch

Read my original review here!

To go along with the review that I've already done on elf's website, I have some swatches!

This is such a lovely green! It has a really beautiful shimmer that is gorgeous in the sunlight!

Buy it at eyeslipsface.com

elf Studio Blush~Candid Coral, Review

For $3, these blushes are quite nice. But they have one flaw: since they're so sheer, they all tend to look the same. So really, you only need to buy one. They're each a little different, but unfortunately, that little difference won't show up well on your face.

This one, Candid Coral, isn't really much of a coral color. What it really is, is pink with golden shimmer. The golden shimmer does transfer to the face, so it gives a really nice, pinkish golden flush which is perfect for the summer.

The packaging is the same, a nice solid black plastic with the mirror as always.

The Pros:

It's only $3, and I really like the golden glitter. It adds a nice touch for summer.

The Cons:

It's pretty sheer. I know that it was designed to be sheer, but it would be nice if it had some more pigmentation.

The Bottom Line:

9/10

My only problem is that it's just a tad too sheer. But other than that, it's a lovely color!

You can find elf products at elf.com, or at most Targets.

Haul! Target, May 22

Be on the lookout for upcoming reviews! 

I got the Herbal Essences gel spray, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick, elf Powder Brush, two Scunci things that were $1, and a elf blue mineral eyeshadow set that was on clearance.

I spent a total of $13 today! Not bad

Have a Wonderful Week!

I'm Dieing to Try These...

ELF just came out with a new lip tint from their mineral line and being a person who loves lip balms & tints, this looks amazing! It's $3, and has a SPF of 8, and comes in 8 beautiful shades that would be perfect for summer.

If I were able to find these in stores, I would buy them all, since I can't buy online. 

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

Buy them online at elf.com

xoxo 

Max Factor Lipstick in 04, Review & Swatch

Especially since I'm not big on lipsticks, a lipstick would really have to impress me for me to actually use it. But unfortunately, this fell flat. Flat on my lips, and flat on my expectations. Which is disappointing because it looked like such a lovely color in the tube. I love pinks, and I thought that this candy pink would be delicious.

While the color is a really pretty pink, the application is what did it for me. When I put it on, my lips looked horrendous. The color streaked, and was incredibly uneven. Instead of making my lips a beautiful color, this lipstick highlighted all the flaws in my lips, which was not a good thing.

The Pros:

It was cheap.

The Cons:

It smells weird, and the color is just not uniform. It was unfortunate.

The Bottom Line:

4/10

I just didn't like this particular lipstick. I've enjoyed far many others that I've tried.

Skin Cancer Awareness Vol. 3

In the third volume of my Skin Cancer Awareness series (Vol 1, Vol 2), I decided that it isn't enough to just throw on a sunscreen because what if you're in a rush and you forget, or you just aren't feeling like slathering lotion on your face on a hot sunny day. Or you've got a hot date at the beach and don't want to reek of chemical sunscreen smell.

So, here's some make up products that have SPF in their formulas, so you'll be especially protected on your face which after all, is the most vulnerable to the sun. Your face is the fastest aging part on your body, becoming wrinkly and sagging, and exposure to UV rays plays a big part in that. So it's very important to protect your face!

• Neutrogena Glow Sheers

Photo Credit: Walgreens

 

These are a sheer, lightweight foundation that retails for around $10. They're perfect for summer because they're lightweight, and they have a SPF of 30! The only downside is that they don't come in a large shade range.

• Bare Minerals SPF 15 Foundation

Photo Credit: Shopping.com

I've seen quite a few positive reviews on this foundation. And for the summer, this would especially be great if you switch to a powder foundation in the summer due to the heat.  

• Clinique High Impact Lip Color SPF 15

Photo Credit: Shopping.com

Looking for some lip color that'll still protect your lips, but want something more than just a tinted lip balm? Clinique's lipstick comes in a nice shade range, and has a SPF of 15! 

Overall, you can find some really great makeup that will still help protect your skin!

Stay Safe in the Sun! 

So What's New with You?

Big news for me this week!

• I got a big internship position at my local newspaper! I start the first week of August and I am so excited!

• I am putting new limitations on my spending! I started couponing to save money, and while I've had over 50% savings on all my receipts, I am actually spending more. So, I will no longer buy anything that is over $1.50. Couponing is tricky. It's great to find all the good deals. But when you start to find too many of them, it's easy to spend the money, constituting it that I'm saving money. So now, if I can't get it with a coupon & on sale for under $1.50, no deal!

• I found some ELF sets at my local Target on clearance! Mineral makeup sets, beauty books, nail polish sets, etc. Great deals! 

I hope that everyone else's week has been great! Mine's been kind of sucky, but there's nothing I can do about that until school is done!

Happy Almost Friday! 

St. Ives Apricot Face Wash, Review

Such a yummy smell! I have the apricot face scrub too and they smell delicious. For me, this is an okay face wash. But this is all prone to my specific skin type, so what doesn't work for me, can work for others. 

I do like this. It's not great for me, but it's pretty good. It lathers up, and then after I've rubbed it into my face for a good 3 minutes, my skin has a slightly tingly feel to it, like it's been tightened. My skin also feels very soft and smelled nice! But I had one major problem...

If you're sensitive to sulfates at all, this is not for you! Sulfate is an ingredient, and my skin is literally peeling off when I've dried my face off. Pay special attention to the ingredients!

As for the actual product, it's a liquidy consistency that's slightly creamy with orange microbeads that feel soo good on my face! I love the product itself, just wish it was made without sulfates!

The Pros:

It has a lovely smell, and my skin feels great after I've used it

The Cons:

It's made with sulfates. Boo :(

The Bottom Line:

7/10

It's good, but they could update the ingredients list.

It can be found at drugstores across the nation!

Maybelline Eyeshadow~Cinnamon Spice, Review & Swatch

I've actually had this for about a year, and when I first opened it, I hated it. No love for cinnamon spice.  But a few days ago, I found this in the back of my eyes drawer, put it on my eyes, and loved it. It has an effect similar to that of Woodwinked from Mac (I've never tried it, I'm just comparing it to pictures that I've seen) and it made my eyes pop!

The color itself is shimmery and can have quite a bit of fallout if you're not careful. It has an okay color payoff-it's pigmented. But for the $3 I paid for it, it's not bad!

The Pros:

It's such a beautiful brown! It has nice pigmentation, and you can find it for under $3 at most stores.

The Cons:

There is a bit of fallout due to the glitter and shimmery bits in it. But if you really work it into the brush, it's not that bad.

Over Benefit Stay Don't Stray, swatched darkly to show up on camera

 The Bottom Line:

9/10

For being a Maybelline eyeshadow, it's quite good. And if you're looking for a more budgeted version of some Mac browns, I would definitely check it out!

*For the swatch in the picture above, I swatched it really darkly so that it would show up on camera. In real life, it's not quite so dark or so reddish-brown

Find it at Target 

Organix Acai Berry Avocado Shampoo, Review

I love this brand of shampoo to no end! I bought the red one a year ago, and loved it, so I repurchased, but decided to go with the purple packaging because I love anything that's scented berry. And this has quickly become my absolute favorite shampoo! It comes out a purple color with a consistency like any normal shampoo, but the biggest difference for me is that it's sulfate free. I'm very vulnerable to sulfates, as they really dry my hair and skin out, so this was the perfect solution. It still lathers up nicely, and it's organic, which earns it an A in my book!

The Bottom Line:

9/10

It could be a little more moisturizing, but it's a pretty good shampoo!

Save Your Money! Beauty Deals

Check out these awesome coupons & deals for the week!

Sorry, there were no beauty coupons in the local Sunday paper!

Neutrogena has a whole ton of coupons on their website right now. You can access them just to look at them, but you will need to create an account to print.

• $1 off Naturals product
• $1 off Healthy Defense product
• $2 off any Suncare or Sunless product
• $5 off Clinical product
• $2 off Therapeutic Hair product
• $3 off Wave Power Cleanser
• $2 off Wave refill
• $5 off Complete Acne Therapy System

*Neutrogena sun care is Buy 1 Get 1 50% off at Walgreens this week!

Every month RiteAid uploads a new set of videos, where if you watch the entire video on a product, you get a coupon for a certain amount off!

•  $1 off Sally Hansen Salon Effects
• $2 off Almay Intense I-Color
• $1 off Veet
• $5 off Dermasilk
• $2 off Physicians Formula Bronzer

Play the Suave Professional "Can You Tell" and if you win, you will receive coupons for Suave Professional products!

Know of anymore greats sales or coupons this week? Please let us know in the comments!!

Happy Shopping 

ELF Mineral Eyeshadow in Earthy & Outdoorsy, Review

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

Bring a touch of natural beauty to your eyes with these soft, translucent shades that add subtle highlights for daytime or increased drama for night. With key vitamins A, B, C & E these eyeshadows hydrate and minimize the appearance of fine lines. Available in an array of light-reflecting colo...

Eyeshadow

Beautiful!

By Beautiful Stranger from The Midwest on 5/15/2011

5out of 5

Pros: Highly Pigmented
Cons: Cheap Compact Case
Describe Yourself: Natural Style
Skin Tone: Fair

I bought this on the clearance section at my local store because I'm not normally a person who wears green eyeshadow (I've got brown eyes & hair), but since it was so cheap, I thought why not? I have never tried an ELF eyeshadow before, from any of their lines, but I'd read good reviews, and now I'd like to add to them. I received Outdoorsy and Earthy in my kit, along with the mineral eyeshadow brush, and I decided to swatch Outdoorsy on the back of my hand just to see if I'd like it. I picked up the tiniest amount on my finger and when I rubbed it on the back of my hand, the color just spread out and I had to go wash my hands because the color is SO pigmented. Outdoorsy is a VERY dark green color, so the color swatch depicted on this site is not the greatest. It's got a nice shimmer to it, and it is the exact color I'd picture of a forest. So beautiful! As for Earthy, it's a lot lighter than depicted in the color swatch here, and it has gold flecks shot through it, making it the perfect color companion to Outdoorsy. All in all, I've found my new favorite eyeshadow line! I have never used more pigmented or smooth formulas and I'm very impressed. It's affordable, but unfortunately, not easily accessible as I can't order off this site. But, I'll always keep my eyes open for ELF Mineral kits at my store! Definitely try these out(:

(legalese)

Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion

Calling all vampires...

I swear to God that I sparkled like Edward Cullen after I put this on. Talk about radiance. I was full on sparklin'. I love how on the back, it says how it can be used as a facial moisturizer. Is this a joke? This would be awesome for Halloween if you wanted to mock Twilight, though.

I can't really do a full review, because the second I started sparkling, I rushed to wash it off. I guess it felt nice for the 30 seconds I had on.

When it first comes out of the tube, you can't see any of the shimmer. But once it's blended in, WHOA. Yeah.

So, the bottom line is, try at your risk. If you've tried it, let me know your thoughts in the comments, since I can't do much of a review. Maybe because mine's a little old, it's be slowly becoming sparklier. I don't know. But for Halloween, this would be great!

Urban Decay Lipstick in Rush, Review & Swatch

$22, find it at Sephora

I remember when, many moons ago, it was the day of my freshman homecoming-my first dance ever-and my mom asked if I wanted to go to Sephora to pick out some makeup. Not even knowing what Sephora was, I readily agreed because who doesn't love shopping, and my parents were paying.

This, along with a few Sephora eyeshadows and powder foundation, are the first "highend" products I've ever owned, and most likely the last (sooo out of budget now). And it sucks too because I really like this lipstick.

Stylish Blogger Award

Metroswimgal from Beauty, Brains, What Else? awarded me and a few other bloggers the Stylish Blogger Award in a tag (Thank you!), so I have decided to continue it! 

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who sent the award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award recently discovered bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

My Seven Things:

1. I hate eggs with a passion

2. The one book I always go back to is Romeo and Juliet

3. I love trains

4. I currently work in a library (not a career though)

5. I have lime green curtains (a mistake from my preteen years)

6. I buy way too many purses

7. My dream is to live in England

And I give the award to:

La Bella Vita

&

 Adora Mehitabel 

Love your blogs! 

xoxo

Outfit Of the Day~May 13

Sorry for no posting for the past 24 hours...I blame it on Friday the 13th :(

What I'm Wearing:

~Hot pink cardigan from TJ Maxx

~This tank from Kohls - it's embroidered but you can't tell in the picture

~Unknown stretch belt

~Polka dot skirt from H&M (I bought it last summer)

~Lei strapped heels

~My new vintage Dooney & Bourke bag!!

I simply adore the bag! A new thrift store just opened up where I live
and I swear that they have the cutest vintage bags!

I hope everyone's had a lovely week <3

xoxo

Skin Cancer Awareness Volume 2

This week's post about Skin Cancer Awareness is all about sunscreen. Different brands, different prices, etc. Keep in mind that I haven't tried any of these, I'm just providing the links for some different options.

Or read my first post on Skin Cancer Awareness

Doctor T's Supergoop! Sunscreen Wipes:  

• SPF of 30
• Currently has a rating of 4 1/4 stars of 69 reviews on Sephora.com
• Does not have parabens or sulfates
•  You can buy 8 wipes for $10 or 40 wipes for $34

 Ole Henriksen "Protect the Truth" Sunscreen

• SPF of 50
• Currently has a rating of 5 stars of 1 review on Sephora.com
• Does not have parabens or sulfates
• $35 for 1.7 oz

*If it weren't so expensive, this would definitely be my pick because the more SPF, the better!

 Loving Naturals Sunscreen UVA/UVB

• SPF of 30
• Currently has 4 stars of 260 reviews on Amazon.com
• 100% natural; vegan
• $14.99 for 5 oz

*I'm actually going to be buying this one because the price is great, and it's vegan, and the best part is, is that it protects against both types of UV rays, not just the general UVA.

Neutrogena Advanced Spectrum+ Sunblock Lotion

• SPF of 100+
• Currently has a rating of 4.7 stars of 3 reviews on Ulta.com
• Does not have parabens or sulfates
• $12.99 for 4 oz

*I might just be starting a sunscreen drawer! I think I'll stock up on this too for days at the beach, or on vacations. 

  Stay safe in the sun!

Burt's Bees Radiance Exfoliating Body Bar, Review

Anyone who knows me knows that whenever I look for a beauty or skincare product, I will always read the ingredients to find out how natural it is. And one of my all time favorite brands is Burt's Bees. This particular product is just a sample size-0.8 oz, but the regular size is 4 oz for $4, which is a pretty good deal considering the quality of product you're getting. I used to use Dove bar soaps in the cucumber scent, but since I've been converting more and more to natural & organic products, I decided to give this a go. What impressed me most, was how moisturized my skin felt after my shower! My skin felt so smooth that even my mom noticed it. It lathers up nicely, and has a beautiful smooth texture on my skin. It does have a scent to it, but it smells earthy and flowery so it didn't really bother me.

Now I've looked for this at all of the local drugstores and Targets, etc, around me and unfortunately I haven't been able to find it. I did see that my local RiteAid will be stocking them soon, but who knows. I don't know if this is just my area, or if they aren't available in stores anywhere. But they are online at Burt's Bees for $4.

The Pros:

I'm in love with the fact that it's 100% natural. To be honest, I feel cleaner knowing that I'm using a soap that doesn't have foreign chemicals. I also love how moisturizing it is, and I just feel cleaner in general.

The Cons:

I can't find it anywhere except online, but hopefully that will be changing!

The Bottom Line:

9/10

The smell might irritate some people, but I'm extremely sensitive to fragrance and I'm pretty okay with this one, so there really shouldn't be any problem. I strongly recommend this for anyone looking to change soaps!

Have you tried Burt's Bees Radiance Exfoliating Body Bar? Let me know what you thought in the comments!

Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, Review

 I am unfortunately, a person who suffers from dandruff. I used to be loyal to Head and Shoulders shampoos, but, they smell weird. And look weird. So when Garnier Fructis launched their new dandruff shampoo, I decided to go out on a whim and try it.

This will be a shampoo that I will definitely be repurchasing! It got rid of my dandruff in two shampoos. Gone. And it smells like oranges. I am really happy that I made this purchase.

Mine's just in dry scalp, but I believe that they come in a variety of "flavors"

The Pros:

It smells lovely, has a good consistency, and best of all, I no longer have problems with dandruff! Not to mention that you get a lot of product for just $4.

The Cons:

To be quite honest, I don't have any!

The Bottom Line:

10/10

If you suffer from dandruff too, I would definitely give this a go!

 You can find it at your local drugstore, or here at Amazon.

Makeup Deals~Week May 8

My grand total: $1.08 (w/out tax)

I found these deals at RiteAid

Last week, Revlon crazyshine buffers were on sale for $2.09, but they've gone back to the regular price of $3.49. EOS lip balms are regularly $3.29, but THIS week, they're on sale for $2.99.

For both items, you'll get a $2 rebate each, that you have to sign up online for.

So, the grand total with rebates is: $2.48!

Keep in mind that for pretty much all of RiteAid's sales now, you will need a Wellness Card!

Happy Shopping

Sinful Colors: Night at the Barbados, Review & Swatch

This is a really similar color to "Let Me Go", except that it's blue. It's also a little more opaque, and it's not quite as sheer. Beautiful!

The Bottom Line:

10/10

You can purchase the Sinful Colors line here, at Walgreens.

Pick Your Poison...

My chosen lip balm. I love how it moisturizes my lips, and gives a slight shine as well. Perfect! If you haven't tried it yet, you're missing out!

The Bottom Line:

10/10

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Blush in Winter Glow, Review

So...yeah. Bleh.

I really hated this. Like no other. It's a trio of three blush colors, a matte pink, glittery pink, and that weird burnt orange color. I don't understand what the point of this blush was. Was I supposed to swirl all the colors together for that "soft winter glow". Because I got the "I don't know to how apply my blush so I look like a clown" glow. Yeah. That last color sure is a doozy.

I also hated this because of the texture. It's so chalky! There was little flecks of blush EVERYWHERE by the time I was done. And don't get me started on the glitter.

Without flash

With flash

The Bottom Line:

3/10

After I squeezed my brush onto the first pink shade only, I managed to get a little product to actually look nice on my face. But that's about it.