Valentine Kisses

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks - shades: Taupe, Twilight, Purple Rain, Firework - swatches, pics, review

2012-01-28T00:16:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Have you tried Mally's Evercolor Shadow Sticks? I recently acquired four shades from two or three Mally kits I purchased from QVC. I tested them out and really like these, making me want to buy more.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks

Shades: Taupe, Twilight, Purple Rain, Firework
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks

Shade: Taupe

Shade Description: A light-medium taupe brown.

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks

Shade: Twilight

Shade Description: A milk chocolate.

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks

Shade: Purple Rain

Shade Description: A metallic-like eggplant purple.

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks

Shade: Firework

Shade Description: A metallic-like rose gold champagne.

Mally's Evercolor Shadow Sticks PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: creamy, easy to use, great pigmentation, long-lasting

CON's: a little pricey if you buy just one - way more affordable to buy them in a duo or trio, or when they come in a Mally kit

Basic Stats for Mally's Evercolor Shadow Sticks:

Formula: creamy stick shadow

Wear: above average

Coverage: nicely pigmented

Shade Info: Currently available in 17 shades

Cost/Availability: $25.00 (0.06 oz full size). for one, or $35.00 for two, or $50 for three. Available on Mally's website and QVC's website.

Packaging: white rounded tube with pull-off cap and twist-up color stick

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

These creamy shadow sticks are one of the best shadow sticks I've used. They glide on with ease thanks to a special silicone system, and then the color seals itself to last until you're ready to take it off. Use these shadow sticks as an all over eyeshadow, as a smudgy liner, or with other shadows.

Wear:

Above average wear. These shadow sticks last a very long time on me, even without a shadow primer. I didn't see any information on if these are waterproof or not, but I think they'll stand up to some water exposure (such as if you were walking in the rain or went on a water ride) but I don't know if they'd last through swimming. I guess I'll have to test these out this summer when I do more Amusement Park-Proof Testing!

Coverage:

Very nicely pigmented. Of course you can build the coverage up or make it more sheer depending on your application method.

Shade Info:

Currently available in 17 shades. I have four shades, all of which were acquired through Mally kits I purchased on QVC. Out of the four I own I probably wear the shade Firework the most. Other shades that I would love to try are Champagne, Gunmetal, and possibly Saddle Shimmer.

Cost/Availability:
$25.00 (0.06 oz full size). for one, or $35.00 for two, or $50 for three. Available on Mally's website: click here to check out the shadow stick sold individually or click here to check out the 3-pack (only one trio of shades available to choose from). Also sold on QVC's website: click here to check out the shadow stick sold individually or click here to check out the 2-pack (three duo's of shades to choose from).

Packaging:

Rounded white tube with pull-off cap and twist-up color stick; no need to sharpen.

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks Review:

I'm not a huge fan of shadow sticks because they can be difficult to apply and blend, however, Mally's shadow sticks are fantastic! They make me a fan of shadow sticks once again because they have a wonderful, creamy formula that applies smooth and even across your eye lids. They are easy to work with, so you can use them all over the lid, with other shadows, or as a smudgy liner.

Once they set, they don't move! They're very long lasting on me, even without a shadow primer. Of course using a shadow primer won't hurt, so if you prefer to use one then go for it.

I really like all four shades I own, although Taupe and Twilight are very similar. Twilight is just a tad darker. That's why I swatched those two shades next to each other on my hand, because unless they are right next to each other it's a little hard to tell them apart. On my eyelids they look near identical, but I prefer the Taupe shade.

The shade Firework is the one I've been using the most, just because it's a quick and easy way for me to get a wash of pretty color. The shade compliments my skintone well and makes my eyes look bright and awake.

Out of all the shades swatched on my hand, Purple Rain is my favorite, but it's probably the only shade I haven't used. I think it's gorgeous purple, even prettier in person, but for some reason I just haven't made use of it. I know I will eventually.

Overall, yes, I do recommend these. They are another fantastic product from Mally's line.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of these shadow sticks? What shade is your favorite? Discuss in the comments below.

Urban Decay Book Of Shadows IV - swatches, pics

2012-01-27T10:24:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I was lucky to get this for about $35 on Sephora's website. The original price was $64, on sale for $44, and then they had an extra 20% off sale items. What a great deal for a superb shadow palette! I would pay that price just for the eyeshadows alone, but you also get a full sized liquid liner (which I love), mini mascara, mini primer potion, and a mini speaker (which my son has taken, but I did test it out first).

Check out my pics, swatches, and mini review...

Urban Decay Book Of Shadows IV

The mini speaker.
This mini speaker comes with two cords; one to connect to something like an iphone/ipod and the other to connect to your computer.

The Look Card
You'll scan the QR code on the back to see how-to videos using this palette.

Mini Mascara

Mini Primer Potion

Full-Sized 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion

Let's go into detail with the shadows...

Urban Decay Book Of Shadows IV Review:

This was such a great purchase for me! I got it during a sale at Sephora when they had an extra 20% off their clearance, so this was really affordable since it was already on sale. You can still buy it on Urban Decay's website for $44.

The shadows are of course great quality. I've been using this palette a lot; the shade Crystal may be my favorite.... but I may be biased to the shade name :)

Overall, a really great palette that I'm really happy to own!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this palette? Do you have this or is this on your wish list? What shadow shade is your favorite? Discuss in the comments below.

Winner of my SinfulColors Holiday Collection Giveaway; plus I added an additional entry method for my Reviva Labs giveaway

2012-01-26T22:14:00.001-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

The winner of my SinfulColors Holiday Collection Giveaway has been chosen. Thank you to everyone who entered!

And the winner is....

Congratulations to Heather from Peace, Love & Polish!

I've sent her an email and if she doesn't reply back I will choose an alternate winner.

Thank you again to everyone who entered!

Don't forget to enter my other giveaways currently going on; they are:

- My January 2012 Mega Giveaway (ends January 31, 2012)

- Reviva Labs Giveaway (ends February 14, 2012)
* I've added an additional bonus entry method to this giveaway. You can now earn 2 additional bonus entries for following Reviva Labs on Twitter!

Even more giveaways coming soon!

WTF Beauty: e.l.f. Cosmetics Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black

2012-01-26T19:55:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I haven't made a WTF Beauty post in a long time (the last one was in September 2010). I think I just got into the habit of making my typical review posts and then rating the product poorly that way. But I'm sorry, I'm not wasting my time writing up a review post for this product. That's why I'm making it a WTF Beauty post!

For those that don't know, WTF stands for exactly what you think it does: What The F*ck. It's usually the first thing I say when a product truly fails and disappoints me. That's why I created WTF Beauty posts. Anyhow...

I purchased this during a 50% off sale on the e.l.f. Cosmetic's website, making it just $0.50. Even spending so little, I still felt like it was a total waste of money. This was a swatch-and-toss product to me. A lot of e.l.f. Cosmetics products are like that though; they're either really great and I can't believe they are so affordable, or they are really bad and I remember that sometimes you get what you pay for.

So why does this product land in a WTF Beauty post? I'll tell ya...

The first and very obvious reason has to do with the actual shade. The pigmentation is really lacking and doesn't apply evenly. Then, after a single use (and by a single use I mean after swatching) the tip was already slightly worn. I can't imagine how it would look after a few uses. I didn't even dare use this on my eyes. I know some people use this and are happy with it, but I can't understand why.

Maybe I'm just spoiled by other liquid liners that have great pigmentation and apply smooth and even. I own both drugstore brand and high end brand liquid liners; this e.l.f. Cosmetics liquid liner was the worst I've ever tried. Maybe I just got a bad tube? It's possible, but I know I can't be the only person who didn't love this. To sum it up: I like using liquid liners, but this one is not for me!

e.l.f. Cosmetics Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

Shade: Black

Shade Description: A not very pigmented black.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this liquid liner? Have you tried this? If so, was it better for you? Discuss in the comments below.

Mahya Mineral Makeup Mineral Concealer in Natural - before & after, swatches, pics, review

2012-01-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I recently tried out the Mahya Mineral Concealer. It has great coverage and goes on really nicely. I have the shade Natural, which works well with my skintone (although a little light). You can see the coverage level in the before & after photo later in this post. I've been using this instead of my Bare Minerals concealer!

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Mahya Mineral Makeup
Mineral Concealer

Shade: Natural

Mahya Mineral Makeup
Mineral Concealer Before & After

Mahya Mineral Makeup Mineral Concealer PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: great coverage, buildable, blends well, great shade selection, affordable

CON's: ?

Basic Stats for Mahya Mineral Makeup Mineral Concealer:

Formula: loose powder

Wear: average to your skin type

Coverage: buildable; light to full

Shade Info: currently available in 13 shades

Cost/Availability: $13.99 (2.5g jar) or $19.99 (10g jar). Available on the Mahya Mineral Makeup website.

Packaging: round jar, twist-off lid, sifter

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:

This loose-powder mineral concealer is fortified with vitamins A and E. It will restore tired, dull eyes to a natural, healthy, awake look. Great coverage, blends well, and lasts a long time. The minerals have a creamy consistency to them, where they will just glide on your skin like butter.

Wear:

I list this as average wear for your skin type. We all wear mineral makeup differently, some people can wear it for a few hours before needing to touch up while others seem to wear them for days, lol. I always carry this with me when I go out, but never needed to touch up with it yet!

Coverage:

Buildable coverage, from light to full!

Shade Info:

Currently available in 13 shade choice. If you're having a hard time finding a seamless match I suggest purchasing two shades and mixing them together.

Cost/Availability:
$13.99 (2.5g jar) or $19.99 (10g jar). Available on the Mahya Mineral Makeup website.

Packaging:

Round jar with sifter and twist-off lid.

Mahya Mineral Makeup Mineral Concealer Review:

Up until this point, the only other loose-powder concealer I've used is from Bare Minerals. The Bare Minerals version works great, but I have to admit that I prefer the Mahya Mineral Makeup Mineral Concealer! I don't know why; I guess maybe it just works a lot better for me? Whatever it is, I just love this concealer!

As I mentioned above, I always bring this with me in my purse when I'm running errands or going places. I've never needed to use it yet to do a touch-up; which says a lot if you knew how much I struggle sometimes with how my makeup stays on my face. I haven't had the chance to test this out in the summer, but I bet it performs just as well!

This formula is more creamy-powder than it is powdery-powder, if you know what I mean.

The shade I have, Natural, works well with my NC30 skintone. I think Sandy Beige may be a better fit for me, but I'm not totally sure. On the Mahya Mineral Makeup website they are super helpful if you also purchase their mineral foundation (which I have and will review soon). They'll list if a concealer will work for you based on what shade you are in their mineral foundation. You can also email them if you need help with shade selection.

Overall, yes, I would recommend this! It really impressed me with its coverage level and how well it went on my skin!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this concealer? Have you tried this concealer or another mineral concealer? What are your thoughts? Discuss in the comments below.

Reviva Labs Giveaway!

2012-01-25T07:53:00.001-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

You may have noticed I've recently reviewed some Reviva Labs skincare products. I started using them in early December and so far, I've really come to like this brand! Ulta now carries them too.

Well guess what? The kind people from Reviva Labs wanted to give my readers a chance to experience their brand too!You can win 2 great products that I've reviewed! I reviewed 4 products in total from their brand, but you'll choose the two you want most from the four items I reviewed (all listed below). This giveaway is only open to those in the United States; sorry international ladies!

You'll choose two of these products!

If selected as the winner, you'll choose two products from this list (all pictured above):

Reviva Labs Microdermabrasion Pomegranate Scrub -- click HERE to view my blog post about this product.
Reviva Labs Pomegranate/Lactic Acid Exfoliant -- click HERE to view my blog post about this product.
Reviva Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream -- click HERE to view my blog post about this product.
Reviva Labs 100% Pure Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads -- click HERE to view my blog post about this product.

Giveaway Rules/Details:

Giveaway ends on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2012
Must be a follower of my blog to enter; new followers are always welcome :)
Must be a resident of the United States
Must be 18 or older, or have parental permission to enter.
You automatically receive one entry for giving me your follower name, but you can also earn bonus entries by visiting the Reviva Labs website and telling me what other product you think would be worth testing (a product other than the 4 products already listed in this post), by Liking the Reviva Labs Facebook page, following Reviva Labs on Twitter, and by posting this on your blog (details in the Rafflecopter giveaway form below, after required entry has been recorded).
If selected as the winner I will contact you by email to verify your win. You'll have 72 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be selected. If you are selected as the winner and did not follow the giveaway rules you will be disqualified.

ENTRY FORM:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reviva Labs 100% Pure Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads -- pics, review

2012-01-24T20:30:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Reviva Labs 100% Pure Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads are a unique way to brighten skin. These sheets (you get two per pack) can be cut to fit any area you wish to brighten. It will help fade brown spots and skin discoloration, with results you can begin to see after the first use. You can even use them on other areas of the body, like hands.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Reviva Labs
100% Pure Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre
Skin Brightener Pads

This is how I stored them after I opened the package:

Reviva Labs 100% Pure Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: works quickly

CON's: ?

Basic Stats for Reviva Labs 100% Pure Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads:

Formula: foam-like pad

Cost/Availability: $13.00 for 2 pads (3"x4" each pad). Available on Reviva Lab's website and everywhere else Reviva Labs are sold (although I haven't seen this particular product on Ulta's website).

Packaging: needs to be put back into a zip lock bag after opening

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

100% Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre pads lighten and brighten brow spots and uneven pigmentation on areas of your face and hands... in minutes! You can see temporary results in as little as 15 to 20 minutes and long term results in about a month (if using 2 to 3 times a week). They are foam-like pads... although not foam exactly in feeling but I can't describe the texture properly. You get two pads in the package, each are 3" x 4" and can be cut to cover any spot you want to treat, meaning you may get a ton of uses from each pad or just a few, depending on how large an area you are covering. You will dampen the area with water before putting these on, or ideally with their Brown Spot Lightening Gel. I only had water. Alpha-Arbutin is an ultra lightening ingredient infused into the collagen fibre and is supported by licorice extract and citric acid; making it a powerful lightening/brightening trio.

Cost/Availability:

$13.00 for 2 pads (3"x4" each pad). Available on Reviva Lab's website and everywhere else Reviva Labs are sold (although I haven't seen this particular product on Ulta's website).

Packaging:

I had to put these back into a zip-lock bag when I was done using them. I don't know if they updated packaging since I purchased these or not, but that was the one flaw of the packaging because there is no where for them to go (and you certainly won't use up both pads in one use... unless you are covering huge areas of your body).

Reviva Labs 100% Pure Freeze-Dried Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads Review:

These pads are a new concept to me. I was intrigued online and was surprised when they arrived. I think I was expecting them to be more like other pads I've used in the past, which are generally thin, cloth-like and wet/soaked with product. Not the case with these. They had a unique texture; foam-like but not really. I don't know how to describe it; someone else may have a better description than me.

Using them was super easy. I just cut them into the size I needed to treat the dark spots I wanted to brighten (you can even use these under your eyes). I did notice some brightening/lightening after one treatment (I left them on for a little more than 20 minutes), but like they said, it's temporary. Long term lightening/brightening results will happen if you continue use (2 to 3 times per week) over at least a month. This combined with Reviva's Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream will be a powerful duo to fade my hyper pigmentation.

Overall, yes, I would recommend these. They are great because you do get a temporary brightening effect after one session, so you could use these before big events to brighten your skin.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this skin brightening product? Have you tried this or is this on your wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

LaROCCA Skincare C-Gold Reparative Primer: swatches, pics, review

2012-01-23T01:39:00.001-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I'm really excited to share with you an amazing product. This is one of those products that comes along and really stands out from everything else. It's one of those products where I call my husband at work to tell him how amazing it is. What product am I talking about? It's LaROCCA's C-Gold Reparative Primer.

Now I want to mention right now that this is not a cheap primer; it costs $90. Ever hear that saying "It's how much?!! What is it made of gold?"... well now you can answer "Why yes, yes it is!". This primer features 24K Gold, which is luxurious in itself. Now you may be saying "There is no way I'm paying $90 for a primer!" but what you're getting in this bottle isn't your typical makeup primer; it's skincare too. I'll explain why this is so amazing and more than just a makeup primer in my review below.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

LaROCCA Skincare C-Gold Reparative Primer

LaROCCA Skincare C-Gold Reparative Primer PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: most amazing makeup primer, great skincare benefits, luxurious

CON's: expensive

Basic Stats for LaROCCA Skincare C-Gold Reparative Primer:

Formula: liquid-gel

Cost/Availability: $90.00 (1 fl oz full size). Available on LaROCCA's website, and everywhere else LaROCCA Skincare is sold.

Packaging: pump-top tube; pull-off lid

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:

This lightweight liquid-gel primer is made with 24K gold that protects, repairs and smoothes! 24K helps stimulate cell regeneration, protect against UVA/UVB rays and repair sun damage, making skin appear smoother, firmer and healthier. LaROCCA's Skincare's exclusive Cellular Gold Complex is formulated with 24K Colloidal Gold which is known to promote electron transfer with the metal ions naturally found in the skin to stimulate anti-aging cell turnover.

This primer clarifies and brightens the skin providing a more even skin tone. Helps accelerate collagen production resulting in optimum skin health. Assists in reducing the appearance of acne. Cyclopentasiloxane smoothes and hydrates skin while firming for a healthy glow. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is a stabilized form of 15% Vitamin-C that easily penetrates into the skin. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate has better improved absorption and stability qualities. Unlike absorbic acid, it will not exfoliate or cause irritation. It's a great antioxidant, a lightening and brightening agent. It also helps decrease wrinkle depth.

Cost/Availability:
$90.00 (1 fl oz full size). Available on LaROCCA's website, and everywhere else LaROCCA Skincare is sold.

Packaging:

Pump-top bottle with pull-off top.

LaROCCA Skincare C-Gold Reparative Primer Review:

I know this is an investment, but it's one that is totally worth it. At least it is to me. This is literally one of the best products I've ever tried --- not just one of the best primers, it's one of the best products out of any makeup, skincare, or other beauty item I've ever tried. That says a lot. It really stood out to me with how great it was from the first use!

Now if you think about the cost you need to actually break it down into two products: a primer and a skincare serum-like product. This is a two-in-one, so really the price isn't that much for what you're getting (if you look at it that way). The amount you'd spend on a primer ($20 to $40 average if shopping at Sephora), plus a skincare serum ($30 to $50 average if shopping at Sephora), you could put that money into this one product that will work wonders. This is one of those products where I will re-arrange my beauty budget in order to make sure it's always on my makeup table.

I can say this is hands down the best makeup primer I've ever used. For the price, I expected it to work wonders but I often expect a lot from products and don't get it back. This primer, however, delivers a perfect canvas for makeup application. You think your makeup goes on smooth now, well give it a try over this primer and you'll feel and see a difference in how your makeup applies. I mean, I thought I had great primers before (and I do have other great primers) but this primer makes everything seem just okay. This creates the perfect base for your makeup to go over. Not only that, but it held my makeup on all day long. I have oily skin, so sometimes primers don't work on me. I didn't have any issues with this, even though it's very moisturizing.

A little goes a long way; I only need one pump for my entire face and I usually have some left over that I will rub onto my eyes and neck. It has a golden shimmer look, which I think is beautiful because I love anything shimmery, but don't worry; you won't turn into a disco ball. Your skin will have a great glow to it after application.

I haven't been using it all that long to really see long-turn results, as I currently only use this before makeup application and I don't wear makeup every day. However, LaROCCA recommends applying morning and night because remember: this isn't just a makeup primer, it's skincare too!

Overall, yes, without a doubt I would recommend this! It is a luxury item but consider it an investment. This is one luxury item that not only feels great going on, but works like it says and it works really, really well!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this primer? Have you tried this or is this on your wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

New Beauty Test Tube - QVC Limited Edition - January 2012

2012-01-21T23:43:00.001-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

It seems like forever since the last QVC New Beauty Test Tube shipment (the last shipment was in October 2011). I was excited to open this shipment because there are great items this time around that I've had on my "want-to-try" list; although I've loved all my QVC New Beauty Test Tubes! The value is once again over $100! Two full sized products and the rest are generous sized deluxe samples.

In case you want to buy your own, click here for a link to the test tube on QVC's website (the link will not work once they remove it from their website). The cost is $29.96 plus $6.97 shipping & handling. I get mine on auto-delivery so I never miss a shipment.

Enough talk, let's check out everything included...

New Beauty Test Tube - QVC Limited Edition

January 2012

Shipment Quick Stats:

Total value of this shipment WITH magazine: $120.96 (value is approximate)
Total value of this shipment withOUT magazine: $111.01 (value is approximate)
Total # of items: 9
# of makeup items: 2
# of nail items: 0
# of skincare items: 2
# of body care items: 3
# of hair care items: 2
# of other items: 0

Now I'll break it down, product-by-product...

MALLY Volumizing Mascara

DESCRIPTION: Despite a nonstop schedule filled with red-carpet premiers, music videos and celebrity photo shoots, Mally Roncal always finds time to share her expert makeup tips and positive energy with QVC viewers. In fact, the Q was the first to carry her beloved line of cosmetics. We know you'll adore this volumizing mascara's unique formula infused with natural waxes and carefully chosen powders that creates the look of full, luxurious lashes and has been a QVC Customer Choice Award winner for two consecutive years. The plush brush works with the powders to help thicken lashes without clumping, giving you gorgeous volume that lasts.
MORE INFO: Combines Mally's favorite Italian mascara, a special powder from the Orient and a French-inspired brush. The plush brush works with the powders in the formula to help thicken lashes without clumping, giving your lashes a boost that lasts. You'll get evenly coated lashes that appear longer but feel lightweight, and it won't flake on your cheeks.
FUN FACT: Fans of this mascara include celebrities from the film, TV and music industries.
TO USE: Apply to lashes from base to tip. For luminous lashes, apply one coat, let dry, and than apply a second coat. Repeat until you've got the lash look you love.
MY THOUGHTS: This mascara is my go-to mascara of choice! I didn't open this tube for photos because I've already photographed this in the past and I plan to keep this tube as another back-up (currently making it my 3rd un-opened tube of this mascara, which I keep in my mascara makeup drawer). This is almost the only mascara I use (I still like Benefit's They're Real! Mascara and MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara). This works great, although I'll be honest and say I've gotten a bad tube twice (one where the wand scrapper thing didn't work and it came out in huge chunks and another where the formula was very dry). But when it's good, it's really good. I love this mascara!
FULL SIZED: 0.39 fl oz @ $20.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.39 fl oz (I received a FULL SIZED tube)
SAMPLE VALUE: $20.00

TARTE Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in Navy

DESCRIPTION: Infused with ultra-rich pigments by way of hydrous pigmentation technology, this revolutionary vitamin-infused aqua-gel eyeliner makes defining your eyes a cinch. The formula glides on like pure silk and won't move throughout your busy day.
MORE INFO: A revolutionary way to deliver color. Rich color pigments are suspended in 50% water in this formula to soothe and soften the skin. Pure water, aloe leaf extract and cucumber work together to hydrate and retain moisture balance around the delicate eye area.
MORE INFO: Define and contour without dragging, pulling, or skipping. The high-pigment concentration and staying power of a gel pot is now available in an effortless pencil. No brush required!
TO USE: Twist up the wand very slightly, and glide across the entire lash line for richly and precisely defined eyes. Due to the creamy texture of this formula, do not over advance the tip to prevent breakage. A little is all you need to achieve rich color intensity. This liner is not intended for the inner rim.
MY THOUGHTS: I've always wanted to try one of these liners, so it was nice to receive a full sized version in my Test Tube. There are four shades going around in all the test tubes, all are colors -- there is a green, teal, plum, and navy. I really wanted the navy and I was pleasantly surprised to open my test tube and find the navy blue shade! That's where my excitement ended. I love the color; it's dark enough to wear during the day and the blue really brightens and brings out my brown eyes. But the formula wasn't as creamy as I was hoping for. It was a bit stiff and didn't go on as nice as I was expecting. Still, it's better than others I've tried and it's a nice liner to have. Although I would not buy another.
FULL SIZED: 0.003 oz @ $18.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.003 oz (I received a FULL SIZED liner)
SAMPLE VALUE: $18.00

KATE SOMERVILLE ExfoliKate

DESCRIPTION: Get Kate's signature facial at home! ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment clarifies and polishes skin to reveal a glowing, healthy-looking complexion after just one treatment.
MORE INFO: Scrubbing microbeads and three powerful P's -- Papaya, Pineapple and Pumpkin Enzymes -- are designed to effectively clean pores. Salicylic acid is designed to balance hydration, without over-drying. Aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E smooth and soften skin. Rosewood and cinnamon extracts are combined in an effort to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
DID YOU KNOW: Clinical results show that 75% of users reported a reduction in skin roughness and dullness and 88% said they had smoother skin and improved texture.
TO USE: Use once or twice each week, morning or evening, to keep skin radiant. Apply a thin, even layer to a clean, wet face, massaging in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Leave on for up to two minutes. Rinse off with warm water and gently pat dry. This product may cause the skint o flush slightly for a short time. For sensitive skin, leave on for less than one minute.
MY THOUGHTS: I've had small sample packets of this in the past, and I've used and sort of liked it. I didn't get a good enough test drive of the formula, so it's nice to have a larger sample size to test out. Although I did just get the Kate Somerville Blemish Banisher Kit from Sephora, which has the same deluxe sample size of the ExfoliKate Acne Clearing Exfoliating Treatment, which is basically the same thing but for acne prone skin. I plan to alternate between both sample tubes, using the original version when my skin is behaving and using the acne version when my skin is breaking out. I've used the original version (the one in this test tube) and this time around I LOVED it. My skin was baby butt soft in minutes!
FULL SIZED: 0.5 fl oz @ $19.00 (a full sized tube is actually 2 oz @ $85, but Sephora sells a 0.5 fl oz size)
SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.5 fl oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $19.00

FIRST AID BEAUTY Ultra Repair Cream Intense Therapy

DESCRIPTION: FAB Ultra Repair Cream provides temporary relief and visible improvement for severely dry or distressed skin. The luxuriously rich, non-greasy cream has a whipped texture that is packed with ingredients to hydrate, heal and protect the skin. It absorbs with exceptional penetration, leaving behind a smooth, soft finish.
MORE INFO: This formula with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, allantoin and ceramides hydrates, calms and soothes skin and temporarily relieves minor skin irritation and itching due to eczema and other conditions. It can be used on the face and all over the body.
MORE INFO: The regular application of antioxidants helps protect the skin from the damaging effects of the environment. FAB Antioxidant Booster is a blend of powerful antioxidants known to botanical science, including licorice root, feverfew and white tea extracts, to combat free radical damage.
MORE INFO: At FAB, the packaging says what the products do, and the products do what they say. FAB keeps the packaging simple, assuring customers that resources are spent on what goes into, and not onto, the bottle.
DID YOU KNOW: Colloidal oatmeal is FDA-approved for the treatment of eczema.
TO USE: Apply to skin as needed (face and/or body).
MY THOUGHTS: The First Aid Beauty brand is a brand I've always wanted to try out, but for some reason never have. I don't plan to use this on my face, because I have so many moisturizers I'm currently trying to rotate between, but I've used this on my body. It melts into your skin very quickly, which was impressive, but I didn't think it had the moisture level I was expecting. It's good, don't get me wrong, but I think I was expecting something more. In all fairness, my skin is super dry at the moment; recovering from surgery has dried out my skin like you wouldn't believe, plus the cold winter air doesn't help. Nothing seems to do a perfect job at the moment, but this did a good job. My husband, however, has taken this tube and uses it on his face. He has some mild eczema and sensitive skin; this cream is a near perfect match for him!
FULL SIZED: 2 fl oz @ $12.00 (a full sized jar is 6 oz @ $28, but Sephora sells a 2 of tube)
SIZE I RECEIVED: 2 fl oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $12.00

PHILOSOPHY Field Of Flowers Perfumed Body Lotion and Perfume Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath

DESCRIPTION: Philosophy has captured the essence of a field of flowers and infused it into its 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath formula and into it's ultra-rich, hydrating body lotion.
MORE INFO: Infused with the fresh floral scent of peony. The "philosophy" behind this product is "stop and smell the flowers". A flower is the embodiment of everything that is right and beautiful in this world. The luxurious body lotion contains shea butter, and olive fruit and macadamia seed oils to moisten, soothe and soften dry skin so it feels silky smooth and extremely touchable.
FUN FACT: In Chinese medicine, the peony was often used for its soothing properties, but the flower could only be picked at night because of superstition.
TO USE: Shower Gel: Apply to wet body or scalp, lather, rinse, repeat. If using as a bubble bath, drizzle a generous amount under running water and enjoy. Lotion: Apply a generous amount to skin with fingertips and massage in gently with circular motion.
MY THOUGHTS: I am not a floral scent type of person, so these are not my cup of tea at all. But I have to admit the scent isn't too strong or over powering. It's light and fresh, and certainly does remind me of a field of flowers, but it's not for me. These are going to my grandmom.
FULL SIZED: 16 fl oz @ $16.00 (shower gel); 16 fl oz @ $24.00 (lotion)
SIZE I RECEIVED: 1 fl oz each bottle
SAMPLE VALUE: $1.00 (shower gel); $1.50 (lotion)

CALISTA TOOLS Achieve 10 Styling Cream

DESCRIPTION: Calista founder Maria McCool's clients wanted a hair product that addressed their Top 10 hair needs. Her solution to scoring perfect hair: Achieve 10, a lightweight styling cream formulated with nourishing argan oil.
MORE INFO: Achieve 10 controls frizz and adds shine, for smooth, silky hair. It increases hair body and fullness without being sticky. The cream restores damaged hair, plus detangles, reducing breakage. Blocks the effects of humidity, guards against heat styling and protects hair.
FUN FACT: In 1989, Maria McCool opened the doors to her salon, Calista, which means "most beautiful". More than 1,000 clients visit the salon each week. All product ideas go through grassroots testing on actual clients.
TO USE: Apply to towel-dried and/or dry hair. Rub dime-sized amount into the palms of your hands, apply directly to hair and style as usual.
MY THOUGHTS: This is the first Calista Tools product I've ever owned. I've been curious about this brand, always seeing them on QVC and being interested in what they have to offer. I haven't tried this out yet, but I'm looking forward to.
FULL SIZED: 4 fl oz @ $21.25
SIZE I RECEIVED: 2 fl oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $10.63

TRADITIONS BY NICK CHAVEZ Yucca Root Shampooing Cream

DESCRIPTION: Traditions Yucca Root Shampooing Cream is formulated to cleanse, restore and provide ultimate hydration and moisture to your hair. This rich and luxurious cream is highly effective on hair that is chemically treated or has a tendency to be dry or brittle. Leaves your hair feeling and looking balanced, healthy, shiny and beautiful.
MORE INFO: Yucca root is used by Native Americans and to make hair shiny and beautiful. Yucca root and wild yam are home remedies for healthier hair and a cleaner scalp. Rich, luxurious, creamy formula hydrates hair. Effective for dry, brittle and chemically treated hair.
FUN FACT: Traditions by Nick Chavez is based on the ancient traditions and home remedies used in Nick's Latino and American Indian culture, mixed with modern technology. Each product contains ingredients from Nick's upbringing in the American Southwest.
TO USE: Wet hair thoroughly with water, apply a small amount of shampoo on hand and massage into root area of hair. Rinse with cool water. Follow with Nick Chavez's Traditions Conditioning Cream.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm curious about this, but not that curious. I will likely try it, but I will be honest and say it will be awhile before I give this a try. I'm in a routine with my hair, especially since I dye parts of my hair navy blue, so I'm really picky right now. I'm not as open to testing other shampoos at the moment. I know my hair won't have blue in it forever (at some point I plan to go back to my natural color all over), so I'll give this a try at that time.
FULL SIZED: 8 fl oz @ $39.00 for BOTH the shampoo & conditioner, making it $19.50
SIZE I RECEIVED: 2 fl oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $4.88

OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum Collagen Booster

DESCRIPTION: Olehenriksen Truth Serum Booster is loaded with antioxidants to fight off environmental aggressors and moisture-binding ingredients to keep skin nourished and protected.
MORE INFO: Packed with vitamin C -- a protective antioxidant that calms, heals, brightens and evens skin tone. Powerful antioxidants fight free-radical damage. The aromatic, oil-free formula penetrates the skin to hydrate and smooth. Perfect for all ages and skin types.
FUN FACT: Truth Serum was recently awarded "Miracle Worker" of the year by Natural Health magazine.
TO USE: Apply daily, in the morning, to face and neck as your first step before moisturizing. May be used under the eyes.
MY THOUGHTS: I've heard so many great things about this product, and I have sample packets of it that I haven't used yet. This deluxe sample is enough to last me a long time (it's half the full sized version!) and I fully plan to incorporate this into my skincare routine. I'm actually very excited to begin using it!
FULL SIZED: 1 fl oz @ $48.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.5 fl oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $24.00

NEW BEAUTY Magazine

DESCRIPTION: This magazine is sold by itself for $9.95. It's a larger magazine that covers a wide range of beauty topics; from makeup to skincare to plastic surgery. To me, it's a fun read and I always learn something new.

Now let me know what you think...

Did you receive a New Beauty QVC Test Tube this month? If so, what did you think of this shipment? If not, is this something you'd be interested in receiving? Discuss in the comments below.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores -- pics, swatches, review

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I have to admit that I've fallen in love with the Origins brand. I don't know why, but I haven't tried their products until just a couple months ago. So far, every product I've tried from them has been a home run! One of my favorites being their Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Origins Clear Improvement
Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: works great to target bad spots like a magnet, clearing pores

CON's: may be on the expensive side for some people; may not work for everyone

Basic Stats for Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores:

Formula: liquid/cream mask

Cost/Availability: $22 (3.4 oz full size). Available on the Origin's website, Sephora's website, and everywhere else Origin's is sold.

Packaging: squeeze tube, pop-open top

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:

This mask is formulated with active charcoal that acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. White China clay absorbs environmental toxins, and lecithin dissolves impurities. Without all that stuff down there, skin breathes a sigh of relief. Best for all skin types, but especially acne prone.

Cost/Availability:
$22 (3.4 oz full size). Available on the Origin's website, Sephora's website, and everywhere else Origin's is sold.

Packaging:

Squeeze tube with pop-open top.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores Review:

This is one of the best masks I've used for clearing my pores and helping with acne. You can see in my photo above, where I show how it looks immediately after application and then once it dries, that the mask will focus in on all the bad spots and work like a magnet to clean out your pores. I was impressed from the very first use and I continue to be impressed every time I use this mask.

It's recommended to use this mask once a week, but if you have oily or acne prone skin you could use this twice a week. If your skin is good but you suffer from time-of-the-month breakouts, use this mask twice during your problem week and then once every other week as a preventive measure and to help clear your pores. I've been using this once a week, but if my skin is acting up I'll use it twice that week.

For $22 this mask is well worth the price. You don't need a super thick layer to get the job done so you'll get plenty of uses from this one tube. I fully plan to re-purchase when I run out.

Overall, yes, I absolutely recommend this!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this mask? Have you tried this or is this on your wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser -- pics, swatches, review

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Boscia's newest cleanser is their Detoxifying Black Cleanser. After reading the description on Sephora's website I caved and purchased it. The warming sensation intrigued me the most. I already own the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask, so I was curious to see how their black cleanser would work. At the time I purchased this cleanser there were only two reviews on Sephora's website, and both where 5-star. Shortly after trying it out I also added my own 5-star review! I really like this cleanser and even though I don't use it exclusively, it's still a great cleanser to have in my skincare routine.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser

Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: warming effect, does a great job cleaning face

CON's: a little pricey for the amount you receive

Basic Stats for Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser:

Formula: liquid-gel

Cost/Availability: $28 (5 fl oz full size). Available on Sephora's website.

Packaging: pump-top bottle

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

This liquid gel cleanser has a nice warming effect. It will deeply clean and detoxify your skin. It heats up on contact with skin to effectively open and de-clog pores. It's not super foaming, but it does turn into a light, yet effective, lather to dissolve oil and makeup, rinsing away pore-clogging surface debris, impurities and excess oil. It refines skin texture, brightens skin clarity, and minimizes the look of pores over time (which I have yet to see, but I haven't been using this all that long).

Cost/Availability:

$28 (5 fl oz full size). Available on Sephora's website.

Packaging:

Pump-top bottle.

Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser Review:

The warming sensation is the main factor that made me want to purchase this cleanser. I really love it! It doesn't stay warm the entire time, but it really feels great on your skin. Makes washing my face really enjoyable. Afterwards my face feels very clean without making my skin feel dry or tight.

The liquid gel formula is a little gloopy, but still runny enough to use with the Clarisonic. I use this with my Clarisonic but will first apply a pump or two with my hands to massage all over my face, working it into a light lather, then apply one pump to my Clarisonic and wash my face like normal. Doing it that way uses 2 to 3 pumps, but I don't use this every day so I'm okay using that much. You may not want to do it that way and you certainly don't need 3 pumps if you were to use this with just your hands. You may find you only need one pump, but I would recommend 2 pumps. I find that if you apply directly to the Clarisonic and then to your face it doesn't have the same warming effect as it does when using your hands, which is why I use my hands first because I like the warming effect.

Overall, yes, I do recommend this cleanser because it feels great and does a really effective job at cleaning my skin.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this cleanser? Do you own this, or want to try it out? Discuss in the comments below.

Giveaway: SinfulColors Holiday Collection -- plus swatches of the polishes you can win!

2012-01-18T08:05:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Today I want to share with you the 2011/2012 SinfulColors Holiday collection, as well as give them away to one of you lucky readers! They are not new shades to the SinfulColors line, so you may already have them, but they are pretty shades. My favorite shade is Daddys Girl, followed by Last Chance. What shade is your favorite?

This giveaway is only open to those in the United States (sorry international ladies!) and will be a quick giveaway (ending in just one week). It starts today, January 18, 2012, and ends in one week on January 25, 2012.

Up for grabs is a set of 7 polishes from the SinfulColors 2011/2012 Holiday Collection.
Please Note: The polishes in this prize have all been used for swatches in this blog post (each color used to paint one nail), so if you're not okay with that then please don't enter this giveaway.

Before you enter, let's check out the pretty polishes you can win...

SinfulColors polish in the shade Last Chance

SinfulColors polish in the shade Midnight Blue

SinfulColors polish in the shade Out Of This World

SinfulColors polish in the shade Daddys Girl

SinfulColors polish in the shade Sugar Sugar

SinfulColors Nail Art polish in the shade Fashionista

SinfulColors Nail Art polish in the shade Flower Girl

What you will win:

SinfulColors polish in Last Chance
SinfulColors polish in Midnight Blue
SinfulColors polish in Out Of This World
SinfulColors polish in Daddys Girl
SinfulColors polish in Sugar Sugar
SinfulColors Nail Art polish in Fashionista
SinfulColors Nail Art polish in Flower Girl

To Enter:

You must be a follower of my blog. New followers are always welcome!
Open only to those in the United States.
If you're under 18 you must have your parents permission.
Fill out the form below; no bonus entries - just the one mandatory entry (this is a quick and easy giveaway)
Giveaway ends January 25, 2012
Winner will be contacted by email.
If you are selected as the winner you will have 72 hours (that's 3 days) to respond or an alternate winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow in Sultry Smoke, Iced Latte, Midnight Blue -- swatches, pics, review

2012-01-17T13:52:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I couldn't wait to find the L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadows at my local Target. I found them a few weeks ago but haven't gotten around to posting about them until now. I originally only purchased one shade, Sultry Smoke, but after trying it out I went back to my local Target and picked up two more, Iced Latte and Midnight Blue.

This shadow has a unique texture; it's not a cream shadow, although that's what I first assumed it was. It actually feels rather soft and even a bit bouncy. Feels slightly dry but goes on smooth. Like I said, it's a bit of a unique texture and I like it. It's a hybrid of cream shadow and loose pigment.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow

Shades: Sultry Smoke, Iced Latte, Midnight Blue
Continue scrolling down to see more photos of each individual shade.

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow

Shade: #998 Sultry Smoke

Shade Description: A medium putty charcoal gray; matte.

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow

Shade: #888 Iced Latte

Shade Description: A shimmering light golden champagne.

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow

Shade: #889 Midnight Blue

Shade Description: A shimmering vivid smokey navy blue.

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: Great shades to choose from; great pigmentation; goes on nice; unique texture

CON's: I think they are priced a dollar or so too high, especially with Maybelline's Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadows available for about $6 a piece and you get slightly more product.

Basic Stats for L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow:

Formula: a unique texture that is soft, bouncy, yet has a creamy feel to it as it goes on nice and smooth

Wear: long wearing

Coverage: nicely pigmented; buildable

Shade Info: currently available in 12 shades

Cost/Availability: $7.50 to $10.00 depending where you shop (0.12 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc. Basically anywhere L'Oreal cosmetics are sold.

Packaging: square jar with round twist-off lid; has protective circular insert that you will replace after each use

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:

These shadows are fantastic! The texture is very unique and they glide on with ease and blend easily too. Waterproof, fade and crease resistant, these shadows aren't going anywhere once they set!

Wear:

Very long wearing. With "24HR" in the product name, they aren't just assuming; it's true. They will last all day, and then some!

Coverage:

Great pigmentation; buildable.

Shade Info:

Currently available in 12 shades. I would love to own them all because they are really beautiful shades.

Cost/Availability:
$7.50 to $10.00 depending where you shop (0.12 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc. Basically anywhere L'Oreal cosmetics are sold.

Packaging:

Square jar with round twist-off lid. There is a protective circular insert, which you'll want to replace after each use. I assume this circular insert has double-duty; to help the product from drying out and to press the shadows back down.

L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow Review:

I originally assumed these were cream shadows, but was surprised to find the texture very different from what I assumed it would be. The texture is soft, bouncy and smooth. As L'Oreal describes it, it's the best of a powder and cream. I would agree with that!

The color payoff is really nice. Sultry Smoke was the one shade that originally stood out to me, because I love grays, but I ended up lusted after Iced Latte and Midnight Blue as well. You can use these shadows on their own, with others, or even as a smokey liner.

I've seen other shades offered in different countries, including a silver gray toned one, and I'd love to see more shades come to the United States!

Overall, yes, I would recommend these shadows!!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of these shadows? What shade is your favorite? Have you tried these? If so, what do you think of the texture? Discuss in the comments below.

NOTD: Metallic Wood Grain

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Today's NOTD (Nail Of The Day) was a simple and easy look, using Color Club polishes and a MASH stamping plate. It didn't turn out as good as I wanted it to because I was rushing (mistakes are really noticeable on my ring finger), but I still liked it enough to share with you all. I plan to re-do this same NOTD in the future, using the same color combo and even different color combos (I plan to play around with using a matte and metallic finish to really make the pattern pop). The brown color combo, at least to me, makes the pattern look more like wood grain instead of zebra or tiger print; my husband insists this is tiger print, I see wood grain. What do you see?

To re-create this NOTD:

1 coat of Zoya's Anchor base coat
1 coat of Color Club polish in Antiqued
MASH stamping plate "Mash-12" with Color Club polish in Nothing But Truffle
1 coat of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

[Shown Above: Color Club polish in Antiqued (on left). Color Club polish in Nothing But Truffle (on right).]

[I used the image shown in the photo above: top row, center.]

Beauty Army - January 2012 (the very 1st shipment ever!) -- pics, swatches, review

2012-01-14T20:41:00.002-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Even though I'm still couch-bound recovering from surgery, I had to photograph and post about my very first Beauty Army kit (which arrived Saturday afternoon). Sorry if some of the photos aren't the best they could be, but my camera felt like it weighed 200 pounds so I had to be super quick photographing everything.

So far, I'm really impressed with Beauty Army! The very first kit has a value of $60.85, at least it does for me with the items I selected. It will be different for everyone, unless you selected the same samples as I did. I really hope this is how it will be every month; getting a great value while trying out products and brands I may never had tried otherwise.

In case you don't know, Beauty Army is one of the newest monthly subscription sampling programs. For just $12 a month (includes free shipping) you can choose up to 6 samples each month. That's right; YOU choose the samples! Not a bad deal, especially when you're in control of what you receive. For those that have complained about other monthly subscription services sending them products they don't like, I highly suggest you check out Beauty Army -- which may be the perfect subscription service for you! Currently, I believe Beauty Army only ships to those in the United States, but I could be wrong. To read more about Beauty Army, or to sign up for your own subscription, click here or visit www.beautyarmy.com.

Although no product info is listed on the included info card, you can log into your Beauty Army account to see details on the products, including the size of each sample you received, and even purchase the full sized versions.

Check out what my Beauty Army kit included....

Beauty Army - January 2012

Here's what the Beauty Army packaging looks like...

It arrived in my mail box in a white box with "Beauty Army" printed around the box.

The actual Beauty Army kit box is pretty; black and the top has lots of beauty related words on it.

When you open the box you'll notice the pink camo print, which lines the entire box. Navy blue tissue paper holds everything in the box nicely, with the info card on top.

When you open the blue tissue paper you'll see everything wrapped very nicely in pink tissue paper.

Included Info Card:

Shipment Quick Stats:

Value of this month's shipment: $60.85 (value is approximate)
Total # of items I received: 6
# of makeup items: 2
# of nail items: 0
# of skincare items: 4
# of body care items: 0
# of hair care items: 0
# of fragrance items: 0
# of other items: 0

Now I'll break it down, product-by-product...

CHELLA Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit

DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: The collagen in this eye mask lifts, firms, and smooths skin, hiding your tired eyes, fighting puffiness, and reducing dark circles. Wear this mask to make your skin glow like it would after a full night's sleep!
MY THOUGHTS: I haven't tried this out yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing how well this may work.
FULL SIZED: Enough for 4 eye masks @ $45.00 (plus the full sized also includes a Chella Eye Cream Sample)
SIZE I RECEIVED: Enough for 1 eye mask
SAMPLE VALUE: $11.25

STRIVECTIN-EV Get Even Brightening Serum

DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: Be among the first to try this brand new brightening. Made for all skin types, this will even out skin tone and texture and bring out your natural glow.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm actually very excited to incorporate this product into my current skincare routine.
FULL SIZED: 1.7 fl oz @ $89.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.25 fl oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $13.09

BOO BOO COVER-UP Cover-Up in Medium

DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: Keep looking your best, even while you're healing with this unique formula that doubles as a concealer and a healing treatment. Containing natural ingredients known to accelerate healing, this concealer will ensure no one will ever know about your "boo boo".
MY THOUGHTS: I was intrigued about this concealer-like product, so I knew I wanted to receive it in my January Beauty Army kit. The jar is small enough on its own, but the amount of product you receive is even smaller. You don't need to use a lot to get results, so that's a plus. The shade, Medium, is a good match for my skintone. It did a good job at covering my "boo boo", which for me right now are IV marks on my hands (both hands actually, since they missed the first time and had to try again on my other hand). In the before/after photo the cover up over my boo boo is still rather noticeable, but from normal viewing distance you can't tell I have any makeup on. Do I think this is so uniquely special that I would purchase a full sized? Eh, I don't know. I'm on the fence. I like that it contains ingredients to help with healing, but I don't really see a difference between a regular concealer and this one. I may give it a test drive on some acne overnight to see if it will help at all, or maybe test it out on one hand and leave the other hand without it to see which one heals faster. If there is no difference then I'll know this product isn't much of a healer.
FULL SIZED: 0.5 oz @ $20.85
SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.1 oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $4.17

CELLCUTICALS NeoCell

DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: This micro-resurfacing skin treatment has natural enzymes and volcanic micro-minerals that will exfoliate skin without irritation, revealing a smoother and more radiant complexion.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm looking forward to trying this out. I've always wanted to try this product out, so I was excited to receive it in my January Beauty Army kit.
FULL SIZED: 2 fl oz @ $47.50
SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.33 fl oz (although on the description they list is as 0.34 oz, but on the actual product it says 0.33 oz, which is what I'm going by)
SAMPLE VALUE: $7.84

MYFACE COSMETICS Blingtone Eyeshadow in Morococo

DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: Create a wicket wash of colour and dramatic, wet-looking shine. Blingtone eyeshadows glide on smoothly and won't drop or flake.
MY THOUGHTS: This looked a lot darker online than it actually is. In person, this is more of a lighter brown and swatches even lighter -- which may be a bit disappointing to some. Considering the description says "create a wicket wash of colour and dramatic, wet-looking shine", I was expecting intense color pay-off and even though the color is pretty on its own, others may be disappointed with the pigmentation. I hadn't ever heard of this brand before, so it's nice to try a new cosmetics line.
FULL SIZED: I don't know how many ounces the full sized is (nothing is listed on the packaging or Beauty Army website), but I do know the full sized version is $20.00.
SIZE I RECEIVED: I received a full sized eyeshadow
SAMPLE VALUE: $20.00

SHEA TERRA ORGANICS Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser

DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: Sourced from the Youruba tribe in Nigeria, this black facial wash and mask has a true cult following. Working like microdermabrasion to get rid of dead skin, this face wash is said to make you look younger in minutes.
MY THOUGHTS: The fact that "deep pore facial cleanser" was in the title made me add this to my January Beauty Army kit. It will work like microdermabrasion to get rid of dead skin, even your skin tone, firm your skin and even fight acne. The fact that it can help fight acne is great for me and my skin type. There is a weird scent to this, but I can't really describe it (for some reason it kind of reminds me of a treat or bone my dogs would eat). The color reminded me of molasses and it's a little thick, but still runny enough to use with a Clarisonic if you prefer. I haven't used this yet, but once I'm fully recovered from surgery I plan to to give this a try (for now though, I have to use my Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleansing Cloths since bending over or using the Clarisonic just is too much work on my body right now).
FULL SIZED: 4 oz @ $18.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: 1 oz
SAMPLE VALUE: $4.50

Let me know what you think...

Did you receive a Beauty Army kit this month? If so, what are your thoughts on your kit? Discuss in the comments below.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie - swatches, pics, review

2012-01-14T04:31:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

With so much positive talk about the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters, I had to give one a try. Now that I've tried one I want more shades! I like them more than the L'Oreal Colour Riche Balms because the Revlon Lip Butter provides more color to my lips while still feeling hydrating. I picked up the shade Berry Smoothie, which is a pretty pink and feels great on my lips.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

Shade: Berry Smoothie

Shade Description: A sheer berry rose; no shimmer.

[Just ignore the broken piece in the pic above; that happened from swatching the color, not from applying it.]

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: 20 pretty shades to choose from, hydrating, affordable

CON's: none

Basic Stats for Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter:

Formula: stick balm/lip color

Wear: sheer to light

Coverage: average

Shade Info: currently available in 20 shades

Cost/Availability: $6.00 to $8.00 depending where you shop (0.09 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc. Basically everywhere Revlon cosmetics are sold.

Packaging: square tube with fishnet translucent color coordinating pull-off cap; twist-up balm

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:

I believe this lip butter is named a lip "butter" because it feels like butter gliding onto your lips; not in a greasy way, but a smooth and soft way. It made my lips feel hydrated and look beautiful. I really love these!

Wear:

Average wear. It didn't last very long on me, but I don't mind re-applying as needed.

Coverage:

Sheer to light color; it's not super sheer where you won't see the color, but it's not super pigmented either where it looks like a lipstick. It's somewhere in between. A perfect way to wear a lip balm.

Shade Info:

Currently available in 20 pretty shades. I only have one, but I really want more. I like these a lot. I have my eye on these shades: Sweet Tart, Strawberry Shortcake, Cherry Tart, Lollipop, and Creamsicle.

Cost/Availability:
$6.00 to $8.00 depending where you shop (0.09 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc. Basically everywhere Revlon cosmetics are sold.

Packaging:

Square tube that has a fishnet-like pattern. The cap is color-coordinating to the balm color (which seems to be a trend or the new norm); twist-up balm.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Review:

These are fantastic! I really love how my lips feel when I wear this. The shade, Berry Smoothie, is natural looking yet still gives my lips a little something extra. It's not really sheer, but it's not richly pigmented either. it's a soft color that looks pretty.

The hydration is nice; I mean, after all this is a lip balm -- even though it looks like a lipstick. I didn't feel the hydration lasted as long as others I've tried (the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Color seems to be the best so far for hydration).

Overall a really great product that I'd love to get more of. Yes, I would recommend these!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this lip balm? Have you tried this or is this on your wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

Willow Tree Minerals Eyeshadow in Chizzle, Iced Latte, Soft Wildflower: swatches, pics, review

2012-01-12T21:39:00.001-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Lately I've been on the search for new-to-me brands of mineral shadows. I like the formulation of loose pigment shadows over pressed powder and just felt I needed to try some new options. I came across the Willow Tree Minerals website and their shadows immediately caught my attention. I have three sample baggies of their shadows to share with you in this post. I swatched each sample dry and wet.

The shade Chizzle is my favorite, and I will likely buy a full sized version in the future. I will probably order some more samples first, to try out other shades (more info on how you can order samples later in this post).

Willow Tree Minerals Eyeshadow

Shade: Chizzle

Shade Description: A beautiful "elephant skin" gray when applied dry; more metallic gray when applied wet.

Willow Tree Minerals Eyeshadow

Shade: Iced Latte

Shade Description: A warm cocoa brown with shimmer with applied dry; turns slightly lighter and more metallic when applied wet.

Willow Tree Minerals Eyeshadow

Shade: Soft Wildflower

Shade Description: A soft dusty pink.

Willow Tree Minerals Eyeshadow PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: great color range, nice pigmentation, affordable to sample

CON's: none

Basic Stats for Willow Tree Minerals Eyeshadow:

Formula: loose powder

Wear: average to above average

Coverage: good pigmentation; buildable

Shade Info: currently available in 39 beautiful shades

Cost/Availability: $7.95 (5 g jar full size). Available on the Willow Tree Minerals Website. Sample baggies are available for $0.35 each on their website with free shipping on sample orders. Also available in stackable jars, saving you a little money.

Packaging: I only have sample baggies, so I can't comment on their full sized packaging

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

These mineral eyeshadows feel velvety soft and go on smooth. You can apply these shadows wet or dry. They are crease resistant and will stay put all day, especially when applied wet or over a primer.

Wear:

Average to above average wear depending on application method and if you're using a shadow primer. For me, I had no issues with wear.

Coverage:

Good pigmentation, which is of course buildable. Applying these shadows wet will give you the best pigment payoff. Out of the three shades I samples, Chizzle and Iced Latte had best pigmentation, while Soft Wildflower wasn't that great. I don't know how other shades may be, but I plan to sample more in the future.

Shade Info:

Currently available in 39 beautiful shades. From the three shades I sampled, Chizzle is my favorite. It may be one of my top three favorite gray shades, and that's saying a lot considering gray shadows are my favorite! I plan to sample more shades; I have my eye on: Reflection, Bright Blueberry, Plum Drop, Sea Glass, Waterfall, Granite, Lively Lemon, Apple Envy, Honey Drizzle, Sugared Almond, Glamor Grape, Forbidden Fruit, and Midnight Rain.

Cost/Availability:
$7.95 (5 g jar full size). Available on the Willow Tree Minerals Website. Sample baggies are available for $0.35 each on their website with free shipping on sample orders. That means you could sample all 39 shades for just $13.65!

You an also buy the full sized shadows in stackable jars, saving you a little money. You really don't save a lot, so I would only order the stackable jars if you prefer that type of storage for your loose shadows/pigments. Just so you're aware, you can purchase a 3-jar stack for $22.95 -- saving you $0.90, which is only a $0.30 savings per jar. Or you can purchase a 5-jar stack for $36.95 -- saving you $2.80, which is slightly better savings, but still only a $0.56 savings per jar.

Packaging:

I only have sample baggies so I can't comment on their full sized packaging. From what I see online, these shadows look to come in rounded jars; not sure if there is a sifter included or not.

My Rating:

I really like these shadows! They felt soft and went on nicely, lasting all day on their own. Chizzle is absolutely beautiful; probably my favorite from all the shades they make! Iced Latte is really pretty too. Then there is Soft Wildflower, which just isn't my cup of tea. They don't have amazing pigmentation when used dry, but it's still pretty good.

I think sampling these shadows is the way to go; it's affordable and will allow you to know exactly which shadows are right for you, and which you can skip. I would suggest applying these shadows both dry and wet to get their full effect before deciding which shades you love and don't love.

Overall, yes, I would recommend these shadows!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of these shadows? Which shade is your favorite? Discuss in the comments below.

Birchbox - January 2012

2012-01-10T18:54:00.001-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

This is my January 2012 Birchbox shipment. The value of this one is pretty high compared to most, but then again there are a few products I had to guess at (3 of the 5 items had no sizes listed on the packaging). I may or may not get around to posting my husband's Birchbox contents because I'm having surgery tomorrow (Wednesday, January 11th) and it will be a little while before I can photograph items again.

For more information on Birchbox, or to sign-up and start receiving your own Birchbox every month, CLICK HERE to visit http://www.birchbox.com?raf=eops9. Just $10 each month!

*Remember to click on the images to view them larger!*

January 2012 Birchbox

My Birchbox beauty profile was set to Classic and Trendy.
Hair Color: Brown. Hair Description: Color-Treated, Fine, Frizzy. Skin Coloring: Medium. Skin Type: Combination. Skin Concerns: Acne, Aging.

The Included Info Card:

Shipment Quick Stats:

Value of this month's Birchbox shipment: $57.34 (value is approximate)
Total # of Items Received: 6
# of makeup items: 2
# of nail items: 0
# of skincare items: 2
# of body care items: 0
# of hair care items: 0
# of fragrance items: 0
# of other items: 2

Now I'll break it down, product-by-product...

STILA Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Peacock

DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: It's time to put down the black liner. This colorful pigment makes eyes stand out and stays put for hours.
MY THOUGHTS: I am loving this liner! Stila Smudge Sticks are great quality, and the shade I received (Peacock) is gorgeous! Bonus that it's full sized! Yay!
FULL SIZE: .01 oz @ $20.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: .01 oz (full sized item)
VALUE: $20.00

MIRACLE SKIN TRANSFORMER Treat & Concealer in Light/Medium

DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: Don't just hide your problem spots: treat them. This creamy concealer is packed with actives to correct, cover and protect your skin.
MY THOUGHTS: I really wanted to try this product out and was really excited to find it in my January Birchbox! I haven't tried it on my face (yet), but I'm looking forward to seeing how it covers my hyper pigmentation. It swatched a little powdery looking on my hand, so I really hope it looks better on my face.
FULL SIZE: 0.50 fl oz @ $36.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: ? no size listed on the tube, but compared to other tubes similar in size I am going to guess that this is 0.12 oz (I have another Miracle Skin Transformer sample tube that is slightly larger at 0.16 oz; so I based my guess off of that).
VALUE: $8.63

CLARK'S BOTANICALS Smoothing Marine Cream

DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: Dull skin no more, thanks to the glycolic acid in this exfoliating moisturizer. The gentle tingle means it's working.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm excited to try this out, especially considering how much the full sized version costs (something I would likely never try otherwise). It has a nice light fragrance.
FULL SIZE: 1.7 fl oz @ $115.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: ? again, no size listed on the jar; I asked Birchbox last time about the size of another Clark's Botanicals product and they were going to check on the size and get back to me, but never did. They did, however, tell me that most jars that size is 0.25 to 0.30 oz. I'm going to use the 0.25 size for the purpose of value breakdown.
VALUE: $16.91

FIX MALIBU Immaculate Complexion Smoothing Serum

DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: This clever serum is on our skincare honor roll. Antioxidant-rich vitamins A, C, and E brighten skin tone and soften wrinkles.
MY THOUGHTS: I've never heard of this brand, so it's nice to try something new. There is plenty in this little jar to give my skin a week or two's worth of testing.
FULL SIZE: 1.7 fl oz @ $125.00
SIZE I RECEIVED: ? again, no size listed on the jar. I'm going to guess this is 0.15 oz
VALUE: $11.03

LARABAR mini bar in Blueberry Muffin

DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: You won't find any artificial fillers in these natural bars: just dried fruits, nuts, and other wholesome ingredients. They're as tasty as they are healthy.
MY THOUGHTS: When I opened the package I nearly gagged. The bar looks like someone took my dog's vomit and packed it into a chewy, smooshy square; gross! It didn't smell good either. I don't like blueberry muffins to begin with, so I wasn't even going to attempt to taste this. It went in the trash.
FULL SIZE: 1 full sized bar is 1.6 oz @ $1.59 (a 16 pack is $25.45)
SIZE I RECEIVED: 1 mini bar, 0.78 oz
VALUE: $0.77

Birchbox Magnet

MY THOUGHTS: There was no mention of the Birchbox magnet on the info card, but it's a cute little extra.

Let me know what you think...

Did you receive a Birchbox shipment this month? If so, what are your thoughts on your box? If you don't receive Birchbox yet, click here to sign up! Discuss in the comments below.

The Valentine Kisses January 2012 Mega Giveaway! Win 65 Items!!!

2012-01-09T18:10:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I decided to launch my January 2012 Mega Giveaway a few days early! In 2012 I plan to bring you at least one giveaway a month; some will be small giveaways (with one or two items) while others will be mega giveaways. This giveaway happens to be a MEGA giveaway!

One winner will win my January 2012 Mega Giveaway prize pack. I paid for all the items myself and have been collecting them for awhile now just for this giveaway. It's my way of thanking all of you for the support over the past year. I hope those that have been with me continue to stick around in 2012 and I welcome new followers!

What can you win?

Here's what the whole prize looks like:

I know. Crazy, right?

You probably can't even see everything that you'll get because I had to pile it up just for that photo. I also took a pic of the items in groups. Here you may be able to see the prizes better:

In total there are 65 items!!

One item (a pair of earrings) is missing from the photos. Technically there are more than 65 items if you count the items that come in sets. If I do that then there are about 85 items! A complete list of items is at the end of this blog post.

RULES/DETAILS:

Open to everyone. If you're under 18 you must have your parents permission to enter.
Must be a follower of my blog. New followers are always welcome! However, please don't become a follower just to enter my giveaway if you plan to un-follow after the giveaway ends.
Must fill out the form below to enter the contest. Any other form of entry will not be accepted.
One entry per person, per method listed on the form.
Each person can earn two entries just from the two mandatory entry methods - because I wanted to give everyone a bonus entry from the start!
There are bonus entries, but not for Facebook and Twitter (sorry, I don't even use Facebook and Twitter so I decided it was silly for me to include those as options).
If you are selected as the winner you will have 72 hours (that's 3 days) to respond to my email or an alternate winner will be selected.
Giveaway ends on January 31, 2012. A winner will be chosen shortly after giveaway end date.

TO ENTER:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Complete list of all items in my January 2012 Mega Giveaway:

Victoria's Secret Mango Temptation Ultra Moisturizing Hand And Body Cream (6.7 fl oz)
Beyond The Zone Straight Shot Smoothing Shampoo (10 fl oz)
Beyond The Zone Straight Shot Smoothing Conditioner (8.45 fl oz)
Jonathan Finish Shine Polishing Gloss (1.7 fl oz)
Hard Candy 5 Pack Flavored Lip Gloss Rings (0.01 oz each lip gloss ring)
Hard Candy 5 Piece Eyeliner Set (0.02 oz each liner)
Quidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel -- sample (0.6 fl oz)
Sparitual Instinctual Organic Moisturizing Lotion -- mini (1.7 fl oz)
Philosophy Snow Angel 3-in-1 (Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath) -- mini (2 fl oz)
L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel -- mini (2.5 fl oz)
L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream -- mini (0.3 oz)
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser -- mini (0.7 oz)
Korres Lip Butter in Guava (0.21 oz)
Global Goddess i-Divine Eyecolor in Darjeeling (0.06 oz)
L'Oreal Wear Infinite Shadow Duo in Forest(0.08 oz)
Prestige Shadow Duo in Green Tea (0.08 oz)
Blossoms Eye Shadow in Enchanted (not sure how many ounces this is, but it is full sized)
Stila Glitz And Glam Palette
Stila Lip Glaze in Raisin (0.05 fl oz)
Stila Long Wear Liquid Lip Color in Coral (0.10 fl oz)
Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Carnation (not sure how many ounces this is, but it is full sized)
Sephora Lip Gloss in Limey (0.5 fl oz)
e.l.f. Cosmetics Lipstick in Seductive (0.12 oz)
e.l.f. Cosmetics Lipstick in Flirtatious (0.12 oz)
Revlon nail polish in Plum Night
Sinful Colors nail polish in Unicorn
Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers nail polish in Passionate Purple
Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers RIP nail polish in Black Pearl
Wet n Wild Megalast nail polish in Undercover
Love My Nails Chrome nail polish in Pomegranate
Love My Nails Chrome nail polish in Blue Angel
NYC Long Wearing nail polish in Scandalous Blue Glitter
Hard Candy nail polish mini with heart ring - no name, this is a silver glitter (holiday 2011)
Hard Candy nail polish mini with heart ring - no name, this is an orange glitter (holiday 2011)
Hard Candy nail polish mini with heart ring - no name, this is a black glitter (holiday 2011)
Xhilaration Glass Ring
Pearl hoop earrings (these are actually from QVC; no clue on brand; for pierced ears)
Purple floral earrings (these are also from QVC; no clue on brand; for pierced ears)
Rhinestone stud earrings (these are also from QVC; no clue on brand; for pierced ears)
Relativity small silver hoop earrings (for pierced ears)
Relativity small dangle earrings (for pierced ears)
No-name brand squares dangle earrings (for pierced ears)
No-name brand coin dangle earrings (for pierced ears; not shown in the photos)
Xhilaration long pink sparkle beaded necklace
I don't know the brand, but it's a pretty double strand long purple beaded necklace
Xhilaration silver necklace with round open red circle
"at" brand - silver tone floral necklace & earring set
"at" brand - silver, bronze, black tone floral necklace & earring set
"at" brand - silver, bronze, black tone textured circles necklace & earring set
No-name brand pink sparkle bangle bracelet
Xhilaration pink textured translucent bangle bracelet
No-name brand bracelet set - blue and gold bangles
No-name brand bracelet set - red and silver bangles
Steel By Design (a brand found on QVC) toggle bracelet
Xhilaration 3-pack of green beaded bracelets
Xhilaration 2-pack of blue beaded bracelets
Xhilaration 3-pack of green and purple beaded bracelets
3-pack of headbands: two are metallic braids and one is faux croc print
3-pack of thin fabric headbands - yellow, blue, red
faux snakeskin headband
colorful hearts headband with ties
black & white polka dot headband/headwrap
blue & white polka dot headband/headwrap
leopard print headband/headwrap
plaid and denim look headband

Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss in #110 Fresh Fuchsia - swatches, pics, review

2012-01-09T14:50:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

The Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss is a product I passed up on several times before finally caving in and buying one. I was intrigued by it, but wasn't crazy for it, so I think that's why I had so much hesitation purchasing this product. Without any prior research, I kind of assumed the color would be on the sheer side due to the translucent cap packaging and it being a stain/gloss combo. Because of my (very wrong) assumption I selected a brighter shade, Fresh Fuchsia. Boy was I wrong! It's not sheer at all!

The color is very pigmented and a lot darker/brighter than I was expecting. And wow does this stain! Even after I removed the swatch from my hand (which I removed right after photographing it using a makeup remover cloth) it left my skin stained and wouldn't go away until the next day in the shower, after heavy scrubbing. It stained my lips for awhile too, but more so my skin. Make sure when applying it to your lips that you are careful not to get it on your skin!

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss

Shade: #110 Fresh Fuchsia

Shade Description: A berry fuchsia; no shimmer.

Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: affordable, very pigmented, stain is long lasting

CON's: stain is longer lasting, the gloss part is not

Basic Stats for Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss:

Formula: liquid gloss

Wear: very pigmented

Coverage: long wearing (the stain more so than the gloss)

Shade Info: 10 shades to choose from

Cost/Availability: $8.00 to $10.00 depending where you shop (0.36 fl oz full size). Available at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, etc. Basically everywhere Maybelline cosmetics are sold.

Packaging: rounded white tube with translucent color coordinating twist-off cap; angled open oval doe-foot applicator

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

This formula combines the staying powder of a stain with the shine and ease of application of a gloss. Glides on super easy, feels comfortable on, and the stain will stick around for a long time.

Wear:

The stain sticks around forever. Okay, maybe not forever but it will last a very long time. It fades over the hours, but it will still be there. The gloss doesn't last as long, but you can always re-apply.

Coverage:

Very pigmented.

Shade Info:

Currently available in 10 shades. The shades are brighter, darker, and richer in tone. Not really neutrals; they are more intense than that.

Cost/Availability:
$8.00 to $10.00 depending where you shop (0.36 fl oz full size). Available at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, etc. Basically everywhere Maybelline cosmetics are sold.

Packaging:

Rounded white tube with translucent, color-coordinating twist-off cap. This stain gloss has an angled opened oval doe-foot applicator. I'm sure there is an exact name for it, but I don't know what it is and this product isn't yet on Maybelline's website for me to research much about it prior to writing this review.

Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss Review:

I was really intrigued by this product. I had passed up the opportunity to buy this a few times before finally giving in and buying one. I mean, I wanted to buy one but I didn't think I'd like it all that much. Then I thought I would end up loving it and told myself 'just get it'. I'm glad I got to try it out, because I would still be wondering about it now, but this product just isn't for me.

I still rated this product a 4 out of 5 kisses because it's actually a nice product. The unique combo of stain and gloss in one is unique and goes on really nicely. The gloss goes away before the stain does, but wow does that stain have staying power! On my skin (not my lips) the stain will last until you have to literally scrub it off. Makeup remove will not take it completely away. It will still be there; it's crazy. On my lips, however, it didn't last quite that long. It did last a long time though, with color intensity fading over time. This is surely not a color to wear if you're a person who likes to change your lip color throughout the day/night. This is an all-day commitment type of color (at least it was for me with how the color stuck to my lips).

One great thing is how this stain gloss tasted. To me it had a fruity taste... it kind of reminded me of this delicious strawberry (or cherry) licorice rope I used to eat as a kid. Then it kind of reminded me of fruit punch. Either way, it was very yummy and a pleasant surprise.

Would I recommend this product? Eh, it depends on who I'm talking to. If you love lip stains, then yes, I would absolutely recommend this because I know it will last a long time and you'll like the gloss mixed with the stain. But if you don't like stains or don't like wearing brighter/darker/richer tones, then I would not recommend this. If you're sort of in the middle, where you kind of like a stain and kind of like brighter/darker/richer tones, then I suggest you wait for a sale or coupon before purchasing one.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this product? Have you tried this or is this on your wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

Reviva Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream -- pics, swatches, review

2012-01-08T18:39:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I have hyper pigmentation from my acne. Every time I get a pimple it will leave behind a dark spot, even if I don't touch it. It's annoying to cover with concealer and foundation, but I now have a way to help those dark spots fade away quicker! I'm using Reviva Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream!

I haven't been using it on my face very long, so no results there yet. But I tested it out on a spot I had on my neck and it really did fade the spot quickly (within 3 weeks I could barely see the spot). I've been really bad about using this consistently, but I know I'll get better with it so my dark spots can fade away!

Check out my pics, stats, and review...

Reviva Labs
Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream

Reviva Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: affordable, results in as little as 3 to 4 weeks (or even sooner!)

CON's: Your skin could have a sensitivity to the ingredients - you should do a spot test before using on your face.

Basic Stats for Reviva Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream:

Formula: cream

Cost/Availability: $11.00 (1.5 oz full size). Available on the Reviva Labs website, Ulta's website, and everywhere else Reviva Labs products are sold.

Packaging: round jar; twist-off cap

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

This cream is formulated with hydroquinone, which is an antioxidant that effectively lights brown spots, freckles and hyper pigmentation. Please note your skin could have a reaction to the ingredients in this product. There is a warning on the package that tells you to test a spot. Test there for a few days and if you have no reaction then proceed to use it on your face.

Cost/Availability:

$11.00 (1.5 oz full size). Available on the Reviva Labs website, Ulta's website, and everywhere else Reviva Labs products are sold.

Packaging:

Round jar with twist-off lid.

Reviva Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream Review:

Even though I haven't used this very long on my face, I really do like it. I tested out a brown spot on my neck and it faded to nearly nothing within 3 weeks. I'm excited to see results on my face with continued use.

I'm really bad about using this on a daily basis. Some nights I am too tired to do much more than wash my face, other nights I do a million things to my face - and those are the nights I remember to use this cream.

I didn't have any reactions on my skin, but I've read that people have had skin sensitivity to this - which from what I've read has ranged from redness to hives. Of course if you're allergic to an ingredient in any product you may use you'll have a reaction to it. However, for the majority of people this will work wonders to help lighten your dark spots!

Overall, yes, I would recommend this cream but please do a test patch first!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this brown spot lightening cream? Have you tried this or is this on your wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

Garnier Fructis Style Wonder Waves -- before & after, pics, review

2012-01-08T00:15:00.001-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

My surgery is just a few days away and I'm officially nervous. I have so much to do before and limited time to get it done. Because of that, I'm not taking any blog sale orders until at least a week or two after my surgery. Also, I will be posting a HUGE giveaway at some point within the next week. I have plans to post the giveaway on the day of my surgery, but we'll see how things go. Anyhow...

I love using wave sprays to easily change up my hair style. If I don't feel like blow drying my hair that day I'll let it air dry, then use a wave spray and I'm good to go. I've used a few wave sprays over the years, the first being one from Frederick Fekkai (the original), and then the Frederick Fekkai Beach Waves spray. The original was the best, but it was the one hair styling product that would disappear from my home. I went through two bottles and both magically disappeared. I bought the Beach Waves version because I couldn't find the original in stores anymore. I didn't like it as much. Then I tried the Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray, and that really did not do the job at all. I had a coupon for Garnier Fructis styling products, so I tried their version of wave spray: Wonder Waves.

I like it, but I don't love it (nothing will be as good to me as the original Frederick Fekkai wave spray). It works pretty good and with some hair spray on top has good staying power.

Check out my pics, before & after, stats, and review...

Garnier Fructis Style Wonder Waves

Before & After:

[My hair was still a little wet in the after pic above.]

Garnier Fructis Style Wonder Waves PRO's & CON's:
PRO's: affordable, works good for the price
CON's: not the best I've tried; no staying power without hairspray on top

Basic stats for Garnier Fructis Style Wonder Waves:

Formula: liquid; comes out as spray

Wear: not much staying power on its own; good staying power with a hairspray on top

Cost/Availability: About $3.00 to $4.00 depending where you shop (8.5 fl oz full size). Available at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, etc. Basically anywhere Garnier Fructis products are sold.

Packaging: round bottle; spray-top

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

A liquid spray made with fruit micro-waxes and texturizing polymers to help shape and hold waves. Lightweight moisturizing humectants and silicone provide soft conditioning without weighing hair down.

Wear:
Not much staying power on its own; you'd have to re-apply throughout the day to refresh your look. If you set it with hair spray (once the wave spray dries completely), it will last longer. A lot will depend on the way your hair normally holds curl. My hair doesn't hold curl well, even though my natural hair (when air dried) has a natural slight wave to it. For those with wavier hair to begin with, or those whose hair holds curl well, may have amazing results with this spray.

Cost/Availability:
About $3.00 to $4.00 depending where you shop (8.5 fl oz full size). Available at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, etc. Basically anywhere Garnier Fructis products are sold.

Packaging:
Rounded green tinted translucent bottle with spray-top and pull-off cap.

Garnier Fructis Style Wonder Waves Review:
This is a nice product, especially for the price. I like using it but it's not the best I've ever used. Right now it's the only wave spray I'm using.

It has a nice smell; not too strong and fruity. It doesn't last in my hair all that long on its own, but I wait for it to completely dry, then set with hair spray and I get better, longer lasting results.

Overall, yes, I would recommend this!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this product? Do you own this already, or is this on your must-try list? Discuss in the comments below.

Glitter Gal 3D Holographic Polish in Fuchsia -- swatches, pics

2012-01-07T00:02:00.003-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Today's NOTD is another beauty from Glitter Gal. This is my second Glitter Gal polish and I have to say, they make some of the best holographic polishes out there! They go on incredibly easy, have gorgeous linear holo-goodness, and have a wide color range to choose from (there are currently 19 shades in the 3D Holographic Collection). Sure, they're smaller bottles but the quality is superior.

Glitter Gal 3D Holographic Polish

Shade Description: A light pink/purple with linear holographic glitter.
Details: All photos of polish on my nails shown with two coats over the Knockout Nails System as my base (I didn't use any other base coat under the Glitter Gal Polish); no top coat.

Glitter Gal 3D Holographic Nail Polish PRO's & CON's:

PRO's: gorgeous linear holo effect, wide range of shades to choose from, superior formula, easy application

CON's: a little pricey for the amount of polish you receive (but to me this brand is worth it)

Basic stats for Glitter Gal 3D Holographic Nail Polish:

Formula: linear holographic polish

Coverage: opaque in 2 to 3 coats

Wear: above average for a holo

Shade Info: currently available in 19 shades

Cost/Availability: $14 each (0.3 fl oz full size). Available on Glitter Gal's website, and for United States buyers, click here to purchase on llarowe's website.

Packaging: small square bottle; average polish brush

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:
Glitter Gal's 3D Holographic collection of polishes feature linear holographic finishes, which are gorgeous! Compared to other holographic polishes I own, these are much easier to work with. For example, I've been able to use any base coat with these and not have any application issues. They also have a nicer finish to them, almost glossy depending on what shade you have; of course the holo-goodness outshines everything!

Coverage:
Opaque in 2 to 3 coats.

Wear:
Above average wear for a holographic polish.

Shade Info:
Currently available in 19 shades; I want them all, lol!

Cost/Availability:
$14 each, plus shipping. Available on Glitter Gal's website. For those of us in the United States, you can purchase your Glitter Gal polishes from llarowe; click here to visit the llarowe web store.

Packaging:
Square polish bottle, black cap and average polish brush. These bottles are smaller than your average polish. They look like polish mini's. They hold 0.3 fl oz - which is still plenty of polish. To give you an idea, most polish bottles offer 0.5 fl oz.

Glitter Gal 3D Holographic Nail Polish Review:
I'm in love with Glitter Gal's 3D Holographic polishes! I really cannot say enough good things about these polishes. There is really nothing bad I can say because they're just too pretty and the formula is too perfect.

The shade I'm sharing with you in this post is Fuchsia, which I thought was going to be a brighter pink based on the online swatch from Glitter Gal's website, but it's actually a light pink/purple. I really like the color regardless of what I thought it would look like. How can you not love any of their shades from their 3D Holographic line? They're all beautiful!

I will continue to grow my Glitter Gal collection for years to come, and really hope they never stop making these beautiful linear holographic polishes!!

If you couldn't already tell, I HIGHLY recommend these polishes!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this gorgeous holographic polish? Do you own this already, or is this on your must-try list? Discuss in the comments below.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow in shades Tenacious Teal, Tough As Taupe, Audacious Asphalt -- swatches, pics, review

2012-01-06T00:02:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Maybelline has a real winner with their new Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow! These cream shadows stay put all day, and then some! The colors are GORGEOUS, they go on so easily and blend nicely. The pigmentation is outstanding. Overall, these are amazing and ~~I plan to buy a few more shades~~, I actually already went back to Wal-Mart and purchased two more shades (Too Cool and Bad To The Bronze); I'll post swatches of those two shades in the future, along with a comparison of all 5 shades next to each other. For now though...

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow

Shades: #40 Tenacious Teal, #35 Tough As Taupe, #14 Audacious Asphalt
Continue scrolling down for more photos on each individual shade.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow

Shade: #40 Tenacious Teal

Shade Description: An aqua-teal blue with shimmer.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow

Shade: #35 Tough As Taupe

Shade Description: A muddy taupe; no shimmer. This swatches darker than it looks in the pot, which I prefer. It has more gray to its undertones, which is more flattering on me.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow

Shade: #15 Audacious Asphalt

Shade Description: A smokey slate gray with shimmer.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow PRO's & CON's:
PRO's: very nicely pigmented, affordable, sleek packaging, stays put
CON's: I want them all and will drain my beauty budget this month on these, lol

Basic stats for Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow:

Formula: cream

Coverage: great pigmentation

Wear: very long wearing

Shade Info: currently available in 10 shades

Cost/Availability: $5.75 to $8.00 depending where you shop (0.14 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreen's, etc. Basically anywhere Maybelline cosmetics are sold. I haven't seen these online for sale yet (at the time I wrote this article) but I'm sure they will show up soon.

Packaging: round jar; twist-off lid

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:

These cream shadows are fabulous! They go on very smooth, richly pigmented, and even blend nicely. They're waterproof (at least when I tested them) and they stay put!

Coverage:
Very nice pigmentation; buildable if you choose.

Wear:
Very long wearing; these are called 24HR for a reason. Once I put them on they're staying put!

Shade Info:
Currently available in 10 shades. I have three shades but kind of want them all, even though I don't think I'll actually wear them all. Even the Tenacious Teal shade I have is one I would use as a liner color, or a base for darker shades to go on top. But these colors, the formula, and the price are so right that I want them all. In reality, I really only want to also purchase Painted Purple, ~~Bad To The Bronze~~ (bought this already), Bold Gold, and ~~Too Cool~~ (bought this already). What Maybelline is missing is a great shimmering champagne shade; hopefully they'll add more shades once they realize how great these are!

Cost/Availability:
$5.99 to $8.00 depending where you shop (0.14 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreen's, etc. Basically anywhere Maybelline cosmetics are sold. I haven't seen these online for sale yet (at the time I wrote this article) but I'm sure they will show up soon.

Packaging:
Rounded jar with twist-off lid. Very nice, sleek packaging. Easy to see the colors.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow Review:
I am going crazy for these! At under $6 a pop (I shop at Wal-Mart and Target for best prices), this is an amazing deal. You get a lot of product in that jar. To compare, they are just as great as the Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams, which are $22 a pop (you get more product in the MUFE version, 0.21 oz compared to 0.14 oz in Maybelline's version).

There is a nice range of shades to choose from, but I do think Maybelline needs to add some shades. Specifically a shimmering champagne, a slightly shimmer midnight blue, and maybe a dusty gray/purple shimmer. I really hope they will continue to make these cream shadows in new shades!

I started by wearing Audacious Asphalt, which is beautiful on its own. I apply it a bit more sheer than how it's swatched in the photos and it's perfect. The Tenacious Teal hasn't been used yet, but I plan to use it as an eyeliner or a base to layer darker powder shadows over top. Then there is the shade Tough As Taupe, which I passed up three times before giving in and buying the last one. I'm really glad I did. It looks rather basic/boring in the jar, but swatched out so much better. It's more of a gray-brown taupe, which is more flattering on me. I'm really happy with all three shades.

Overall, YES, I highly, highly, highly recommend these!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this product? Do you own this already, or is this on your must-try list? Discuss in the comments below.

Me and Jason Mraz

2012-01-05T20:49:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

Just a quick post to share with you a pic from the Jason Mraz concert I went to, back on December 19, 2011. The pics came in two days ago, but I've been so busy that I haven't had time to post this pic until now. I was so anxious to get the pic back and I'm so happy to have that memory in photo form.

Jason Mraz also check out my nails! He knew what each one meant and was impressed with my version of fan art. For reference, click here for a link to my Jason Mraz nails.

I was also able to get an autograph for my son! Jason Mraz signed his autograph and then wrote "Tyler Rules!" on top. My son nearly lost his mind, he was so excited! I am going to frame that paper so it doesn't get ruined, and put my concert ticket in the frame too, and probably the pic of me and Jason Mraz too. I had such a fun night, met two really awesome ladies (who I sat next to), had a delicious rum & Coke (I rarely drink, so I enjoyed it), and I can't wait for his next concert (which hopefully will be sooner rather than later).

Here's the pic....

I don't look too terrible, thank god! But I still have a face where I am totally nervous and can't believe this moment is actually happening! So amazing!!

That's all for now. I'm posting my review & swatches of the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Shadows next, and you'll have to come back to check them out; they're amazing!

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in shades Rose Elixir, Caring Coral, Heavenly Berry -- swatches, pics, review

2012-01-05T00:04:00.000-05:00

Hello, Beautiful!

I couldn't wait to try out the new L'Oreal Colour Riche Balms! Not so surprisingly, they are all very sheer in color. In fact, there is very little difference on my lips between the three shades I purchased. In person, however, the difference is slightly more noticeable but only slightly.
My Tip: Don't be afraid to buy brighter/darker tones; these balms will show up very sheer.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review...

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm

Shades: #218 Rose Elixir, #418 Caring Coral, #318 Heavenly Berry
Continue scrolling down to see more photos of each individual shade.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm

Shade: #218 Rose Elixir

Shade Description: A sheer warm pink rose; no shimmer.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm

Shade: #418 Caring Coral

Shade Description: A sheer peachy coral; no shimmer.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm

Shade: #318 Heavenly Berry

Shade Description: A sheer deep raspberry rose; no shimmer.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm PRO's & CON's:
PRO's: hydrating, pretty shades, affordable
CON's: many shades are similar on the lips

Basic stats for L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm:

Formula: stick balm

Coverage: sheer

Wear: average

Shade Info: currently available in 8 shades

Cost/Availability: $6.00 to $8.00 depending where you shop (I believe they are 0.1 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc. Basically anywhere L'Oreal cosmetic products are sold.

Packaging: square tube, translucent color-coordinated pull-off cap; twist-up balm

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

These lip balms are nicely hydrating and feel super comfortable on my lips. They glide on like butter!

Coverage:
Sheer coverage; you'll get a tint of color but how that color reads on you will depend on your lip and skin tone.

Wear:
Average wear for me. They are supposed to give your lips 8 hours of continuous hydration, but I didn't feel that was necessarily true. They do last awhile though, but not 8 hours for me.

Shade Info:
Currently available in 8 shades. Knowing how sheer they are I probably won't buy any additional shades at this time, except possibly Tender Mauve. Out of the three shades I own my favorite is Rose Elixir; it's the most natural on me. But really, all shades are very wearable. They almost adapt to your lip tone and skin tone.

Cost/Availability:
$6.00 to $8.00 depending where you shop (I believe they are 0.1 oz full size). Available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc. Basically anywhere L'Oreal cosmetic products are sold.

Packaging:
Square tube with a translucent, color-coordinated pull-off cap. Twist-up balm. The lid 'locks' in place.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm Review:
I was so excited to try these out. They are wonderful but not the best tinted lip balm out there. Even though the L'Oreal Colour Riche Balms are cheaper, I still would rather invest my money into another YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Color; which lasts longer and feels way more hydrating (especially long term). Still, at around $6 to $7 a pop they are a really affordable alternative.

I like these, but I'm not going super crazy over them. I started using Rose Elixir before I had the chance to photograph them because I was too impatient and excited. Rose Elixir has been in my purse ever since.

The only reason I'm not rating these a 5 out of 5 kisses is because with 8 shades I was hoping for more color variety. What I mean by that is not shade choices, but to see a bigger difference is color between shades. They are very sheer, so there is little different between the three I purchased. Because of how sheer they are, these balms will show up differently on everyone depending on your lip tone mostly. For those with less pigmentation in your lips you may see a bigger difference in color, but for those with more pigmentation in your lips you may not see much difference at all. For me, there is just enough difference between the three shades I purchased that I'm happy to own all three.

Regardless, I would still recommend these because they're affordable and hydrating. The packaging is really pretty/cute too, but that's not a reason to buy a product (it's just a bonus when the product itself is also great).

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of these lip balms? What shade is your favorite? Have you tried these? Discuss in the comments below.