ULTA Haul Photos

Here are some photos from my recent Ulta and Smashbox hauls!

To see the haul video, visit my YouTube: My YouTube Channel

Stila kit at Ulta $32

Blackberry lip glaze by Stila

Brush #30 from Stila kit (also sold seperately)

From Stila kit at Ulta: blackberry lip glaze (top) and black smudge crayon (both sold seperately)

From Stila kit at Ulta: eye shadows in poise (purple) and sun (golden champagne); custom color self-adjusting blush in coral (not sure if eye shadows are limited edition, but blush is available seperately)

Swatches of Stila colors: eye shadows in poise (purple) and sun (golden champagne); custom color self-adjusting blush in coral

Smashbox Kit at Ulta. $29 (plus free gift)

Bottom photo: Smashbox brushes / smudge brush # 20 and travel size fan brush

 

Julep Maven September Box

August 2012 Myglam Bag--Endless Summer

Myglam Bag August 2012 Video Yay, my first myglam bag! I also took a photo of my nails with the polish on. I like it--no streaking and it dried fast. Overall, very happy with this bag!

My latest YouTube Video--Perfume Collection!!

Hey Sailor! Haul by MAC Cosmetics (What I purchased)

Hey Sailor! is this year's beach/summer inspired collection by MAC Cosmetics.

I purchased two things...yes, just two things. Had to control myself--I really wanted to go back and get the highlighting powder, but I didn't because I thought (swatched) it looked similar to the blush I purchased. 

The first thing I got, I knew I wanted before I went to the MAC counter--the to the beach bronzing oil in Seaside. I have the Bronze color which came out with the to the beach collection (May 2010), and I love shimmery/glittery stuff. Plus, I get dry skin all year, so the body oil is really great for me. They also have another color, Man Rays, but it's similar enough to the bronze color which came out two years ago, and since I have that I didn't think it was necessary.

Seaside To The Beach Body Oil

Retails for $22 (USD)

So far, I'm loving this product and am very happy I purchased it!

Next, and last, I purchased the blush in Launch Away. It's a satin finish, though it almost looks matte. Temptalia has a great description of it here.  It's a light pink color and stays on my cheeks all day!

Launch Away Blush 

  Retails for $21 (USD)

Click this link to view products on MAC'S website.  I purchased through Macy's MAC counter.

(In case you're wondering, the first three of me are not posed.  My fiance was testing the camera on his new phone and decided to take shots of me shopping.  Then I made him send me them for my blog...everybody wins)

**All products were purchased by me.  All opinions are my own.

Too Faced Summer Eye Tutorial

Watch my latest video! :)

My March Birchbox

My March Birchbox was pretty awesome! I opted in for the Teen Vogue box and I'm really glad I did.

It came with five products--two of which were FULL SIZE!

Here's what was in my Birchbox:

• Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in the color "Lucky"
• Kerastase Elixir Ultime 
• Essie Luxeffects Nail Polish in the color "as gold as it gets"
• Kate Spade New York perfume in "Twirl"
• Twistband hair tie in orange 

Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint
I got this product in the color "Lucky."  This is one of the two FULL SIZED products.  

Birchbox Breakdown

"It took us a while to learn how to draw inside the lines, but our childhood addiction to coloring books is finally paying off. These user-friendly chubby lip pencils are a goofproof way to lasting, moisturizing color. A cross between a stain and a gloss, each gel-based tint goes on sheer yet stays true for hours. The wearable shades include peaceful, a beige-toned neutral tint; lucky, a soft pink matte tint; and joy, a juicy peach tint. Naturally, our favorite is amused, a bright fuchsia tint."

 My thoughts

I've tried a few of these lipsurgences and I love them.  This one was great because it was a matte tint and I haven't tried any of the matte ones before.  It's a pretty pink color--great for the upcoming spring and summer months.

See this product on birchbox.com

Kerastase Elixir Ultime
This product is a deluxe sample for your hair.

Birchbox Breakdown

"It took us a while to hop on the hair oil bandwagon, but boy were we missing out. This lightweight elixir is fortified with a unique combo of four essential oils to leave strands super shiny and manageable—whether your hair is curly, straight, or in between. Plus, we can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment or leave-in conditioner. What more can a girl ask for?"

My thoughts

I've used this product a few times and it's a great hair oil for softening and adding shine.

**this is a sample size

See this product on birchbox.com 

Essie Luxeffects Nail Polish
This is a glittery polish by Essie-- one of my favorite nail polish brands

Birchbox Breakdown

"Looking like a disco ball in public is a major don't, which is why we tend to tread softly when it comes to adding shimmer to our looks. After much trial and error (and a few sequin-related disasters), we've discovered that the best way to wear sparkle is on our nails. Enter essie®'s new range of Luxeffects top coats. Worn solo or layered, these multi-dimensional polishes will make you look, feel, and shine like a million bucks."

My thoughts
I like this polish.  I was glad to get the color I received because I have this product in another color.

See this product on birchbox.com

Kate Spade New York Twirl
A perfume by Kate Spade.

Birchbox Breakdown

"Kate Spade New York’s charming designs are meant to be playful, feminine, and joyful — the same goes for the brand’s signature scent. Attention-getting without being overpowering, Twirl is an incredibly versatile fragrance. The fruity floral is as suitable for the office as it is for a cocktail party. And just like everything else in the kate spade new york universe, Twirl makes you feel instantly more pulled together and ladylike."

My thoughts

This is a nice, light fruity and floral scent.  Great for the warmer weather.

**this is a sample size

See this product at birchbox.com


Twistband Hair Tie
They are sold on birchbox.com as a set, but the monthly birchbox came with one.

Birchbox Breakdown

"Back in the day, we used to rock scrunchies like they were our job. But now that we’re grown-ups (kind of), it’s time to graduate to something a bit more sophisticated. These chic hair ties keep hair secure without snagging strands or leaving ugly creases. Best of all, they look as good on our wrists as they do in our ponytail."

My thoughts

Not a bad product, but I just cut my hair so it's a little too short for hair ties right now.

**box contained one hair tie

See this product on birchbox.com

Final thoughts

I really enjoyed this month's birchbox.  The products I received were ones I will use and I'm glad to try them.

Keep it up, birchbox!

**Free shipping is available to birchbox members on products featured in each month's box.  You don't have to receive the product sample in your box to purchase it.  You just have to be a member.  Items available for free shipping vary each month.

L'Oreal EverCreme--Cleansing Conditioner

I enjoy L'Oreal hair care, and I saw the new line of EverCreme in the drugstore.  After seeing similar products everywhere (like Wen, for example), I decided to try the new EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner.

L'Oreal's website says," Discover a new revolution in hair care.  This one-step wonder product is an ulta-gentle, yet powerful combination of 1/4 cleaner and 3/4 moisture.  Its low-lather cleansing reduces friction on the hair fiber to help minimize breakage. "

To use, wet hair and massage product into hair.  Leave in for 1-3 minutes (the one time I left it in longer) and rinse.  No need to use a separate conditioner.

I've used it twice and I really like it.  I am one of those people who always has to use conditioner and am prone to frizz.  My hair looked amazing after using this!

It retails for $6.99 at most drugstores.

**This product is

• 100% Vegan
• Sulfate Free
• Paraben-free

Spring Clothing Haul

No Drought Dry Shampoo by LUSH

No Drought Dry Shampoo by LUSH

"Finally, a dry shampoo! No Drought gives your hair an extra day of not washing it. Just massage it sparingly into your scalp and through your hair, then shake it out (if you've got long hair, you might need a quick brush to make sure you're covered). Corn flour and talc absorb excess oil and leave locks soft to the touch. Lemon, grapefruit and lime oils will give your hair a fresh and fruity fragrance too. No need to wash; just go!" --Lush's website description.

I love everything about this product from the smell to how my hair feels when I use it.  It's probably my favorite dry shampoo!

I'll often use it even when I don't need it because I love the way it makes my hair feel.  It gives it body, but doesn't make it poofy --(something my hair has been prone to do in the past.)

Interested in this amazing hair product?  Visit Lush's USA Website or check out your local Lush store to try it.  It's listed as $12.95 for 4.6 oz.

:)

February Birchbox

CoverGirl Blast Flipstick Lipcolor--First Impressions

"Create your one-of-a-kind look with our expertly designed blendable lip duos. Mix and match cream and shimmer shades with the flip of a stick for a unique look with endless possibilities." --CoverGirl's Wesbite

I decided to give these a try.  It's been a while since I bought a CoverGirl lip product; I was just waiting for something to catch my attention.  Initially, I didn't know if this product would be something which would interest me, but I heard good things so I decided to see for myself.

The first one I got was in the color Whisper, which has a light mauve pink side and a mauve side (they are not specified to be light mauve pink and mauve, but this is what I see when I look at it).  I decided to try wearing the shades together, the darker on first with the lighter shade on top just in the center of my lips.  The shades are very pretty and they have nice pigmentation.  They are from CoverGirl's Blast line which claims to be more intense, and I definitely think the pigmentation is worthy of being in the Blast line.

Whisper (pictured above)

I also got one in the color Snap, a bronze color and a golden, pinkish bronze lighter side.  I'm probably not doing a great job at describing the colors, but I am posting a link to view the shades.  Click here to view shades.

The reason I got Snap is because I liked the first one I got (even though I only wore it for a day or two) and I wanted one to wear when I'm doing my makeup more pink or wearing warmer toned clothing.  I'm actually wearing Snap today.

Snap (pictured above)

The color seems to last a good amount of time as well, but it's not something that will stay on all day through eating and drinking.


In photos below I am wearing the color Snap.

Nicki minaj opi nail Polish color in save me

Revlon Color Stay Eye Creme Gel Liner and Shadows

Recently I decided to try some of the new Revlon Color Stay eye products, including the liner and eyeshadow quads.


Revlon Color Stay Creme Gel Eye Liner

I picked up the Color Stay Creme Gel Eye Liner in the color charcoal.  Not having previous expectations, I thought I would try it and just see how it worked.  I've been nothing but pleased with the product!  It really does stay on all day!  The pigmentation is great.  It's easy to apply and comes with an applicator in the top.  (See photo below).  It doesn't tug or pull and it dries nicely.  I would absolutely recommend this product.  It's a great long-wearing eye liner, especially if you're looking for a drugstore one.

Other Information:

• This product is waterproof
• Instructions: 

• Pull out brush and flip to secure into cap. Twist off cap and dip brush into crème gel eye liner. Glide brush in small strokes across lash line. Close tightly after use.

• I couldn't find my receipt, but I believe it was between $9 and $10 at Walgreens.

 Revlon Color Stay 16 Hour Eye Shadow


"All day luxurious color that doesn't crease, fade or smudge" is how Revlon describes these shadows.

There are 16 quads to choose from, most of which are neutral colors.  There are a few quads with brighter colors.  Overall, I think there's a good variety to choose from because most people tend to wear more neutral colors day-to-day.  If you're looking for more color, they do have some options.

As I mentioned above, they are quads, so they come with four shades.  The sizes of shades range.  There are two larger ones and two smaller ones.  I read that Revlon did this because they did research on colors people wore most, and that's how they decided which shades would be bigger.


The first quad I tried was one of the bright ones-- I decided to step out of my comfort zone.  It's called Inspired (See photo below).  The thing that drew me in was the lighter bright green shade (large shadow, bottom left).

Honestly, I love the colors, especially the green, but the shadow felt a little chalky.  I wouldn't say it was too chalky, but definitely noticeable.  Having said that, they wear beautifully.  It was easy to apply.  I didn't notice much fallout--only minimal amounts.  While I wouldn't say it's the best shadow I've ever tried, it's definitely a good one.  If it felt a little less chalky I would give it an 'A'.  Oh, but they do last all day.  Yes, I use a base with them, but regardless of whether a shadow is long-wearing or not, I always wear a base.  I've worn a base with other shadows and they didn't last all day, so I believe I can conclude the shadows still live up to their claim.  The pigmentation strength varies color to color.  From my experience, there is a decent level of pigmentation, but with Inspired, the green and greenish-blue color weren't as pigmented as they look in the pan.

I've also tried three more quads: Brazen, Bombshell and either Attitude or Addictive (if you look at photos you'll see they're so similar and I don't have it in front of me so it's hard to remember).  I love them!  Bombshell is so unique because of the yellow mixed with grays...but it's such a popular combination for spring.  I decided to try it out because I've never seen a quad like it before.  I really like it, so I'm glad I did.

The colors look velvety on the lids.  It looked like the shadow was airbrushed on.  I'm happy with these quads.

• These retail for around $7.50 per quad

Visit Revlon 's website for more information and shades.

**I usually either have a coupon and/or there's a buy one, get one half sale going on, so I didn't pay full price for these.

Review: L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Balm

I'm going to be reviewing a semi-new product from L'Oreal, the Color Riche Balms.

There are 8 different shades.  They are meant to be a sheer balm, not intensely pigmented.

Here's my review:

1- First Impressions:

• I heard these balms were just that, balms...with a hint of color.  Honestly, that's one of the reasons I tried this product before Revlon's Lip Butters.
• I thought there was a good color selection.  The color I chose, Caramel Comfort, is one of the 2 nude shades available.  I was hoping for a sheer wash of color, mainly something to wear with a nude lipliner.
• I was happy when I tried on the color after purchasing (there's no way to see the color before hand in the store).  It was exactly what I was looking for.
• This product is SO moisturizing!
• Grade: A
 

 Swatches 

From left to right: Caring Coral and Caramel Comfort

2- Does it live up to its claim?

• For me, this product definitely lives up to its claim.  It moisturizes and gives a hint of sheer color.  
• I was very happy I decided to purchase.
• Grade: A

3- Color selection/Pigmentation:

• I thought they had a good variety of colors.  I'm sure they're waiting to see how the product does before bringing out more colors, but I think for an initial launch there was a good selection.
• There isn't much pigmentation to these, but they don't claim to be pigmented.  They are described as a tinted SPF lip balm.  Since they aren't supposed to be too pigmented I'm not holding it against L'Oreal.  If someone wants a more pigmented product, they should probably avoid this one.  Since I bought it mainly because it was sheer, I love it.
• Grade: B +

4- Overall Thoughts:

• Love this product!  I'm glad I didn't listen to reviews which urged to pass this product because of it's lack of pigmentation.  It does exactly what it says--it's a tinted balm with SPF which moisturizes lips.  Had I been in the market for a more pigmented product I might've been disappointed, but since I purchased it because I wanted a sheer color I'm very happy.  
• This product is SPF which is great.
• I later went on to purchase Caring Coral and absolutely love that, too.

Overall Grade: A


For more information: Visit L'Oreal's Website

From left to right: Caring Coral and Caramel Comfort

Review: Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

For my review, I'll be looking at a few things:

• First Impressions
• How closely (I feel) it did what it claimed/how well it met the description
• Color range/selection and pigmentation (if applicable) 
• How well this product met my expectations
• Overall thoughts on the product

I'll be grading the product using A, B, C, D, F--A being amazing and F being fail.

Let's get started!

So I'm reviewing the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush.  I have one color--Orchid Hush.  I believe it's the lightest color; it's a pale lavendar/pink. 

• First Impressions:
• I didn't know what to expect because I was wondering how the blush was going to feel.  It felt almost creamy, but not quite.  Definitely unlike any product I've used before.  I was excited to see it bounce--which it didn't.  Basically, when you press your finger into it, it just stays pressed down.  This concerned me because I wonder how long the product will last.  
• When I first applied the color, I was expecting a little more pigmentation than I got, which was disappointing.
• Having said that, when I used it again and again and got the hang of it, I liked the finish I got.
• Also, you do have to use quite a bit of the product to get the desired pigmentation.  
• Grade: C-

• How closely (I feel) it did what it claimed/how well it met the description:
• Maybelline describes this product as a "Revolutionary gel formula provides a new bouncy texture."  It didn't seem to bouce for me, and I've heard other people say the same thing.
• They also describe it as a "Lightweight like a powder, yet melts seamlessly into skin like a cream" and a "Natural sheer wash of color that is buildable for greater color intensity."  I agree with these two claims.  It  is sheer and buildable.  It definitely is lightweight and melts into your skin, leaving a powdery finish.
• Grade: B

• Color range/selection and pigmentation (if applicable):
• They have a good color selection.  There are lighter colors, like the one I purchased, and deeper colors.  Their website says there are 10 shades. Click to View Shades.  I don't think the shades on the Maybelline site look true to the way they look in person, but it still gives you an idea.  Here are the names of the shades: Rose Petal, Pink Plum, Plum Wine, Peach Satin, Pink Frosting, Fresh Pink, Coffee Cake, Candy Coral, Orchid Hush and Hot Tamale.
• The pigmentation isn't great, but it does say this product is a "natural sheer wash of color," so I dunno what to say.  Since this grade is based on pigmentation and color range only I will have to say it doesn't have great pigmentation.  
• Grade: C

• How well this product met my expectations:
• I expected things I didn't get and I got things I didn't expect from this product.  I was expecting it to bounce and that didn't happen.  But, it is true to it's claim that it provides a sheer wash of color with a powdery finish.  
• Grade: C+
• Overall thoughts on the product:
• Overall, I like this product.  I like the colors and the finish it leaves on my skin.  And, even though I've heard people complain it doesn't last all day, I find that mine does stay on all day.  My only concern, based on the size of this product and how much product you have to use to achieve a noticable color is how long will this product last before it's gone?  Plus, I wish it really bounced.  
• Grade: B-

My final grade for this product is a B- because I like this product and I am intersted in trying another color.  I like the way it wears on my skin, and hopefully it won't get used up too quickly.  I just feel the name might be a little misleading.  I almost wish they called it something else just so users wouldn't assume it bounces back up after used because, not being aware of this, you use more of the product until you get the hang of it.

:)

Maybelline Line Express Eye Liner

So, I've had this eyeliner for about a year and I've used it before, but I never noticed how great it was until now.

It's the Maybelline Line Express Eye Liner.  The color I have is Ebony Black. 

Click to visit Maybelline's website!

So why am I so blown away by this product?  It stayed on all day!

It's not listed as being a long-wearing eye liner, but it definitely showed me staying power.  I will also note that, as always, I was wearing eye primer with this product.  One way I know it wasn't just the primer working its magic is because I went to "freshen up" my eye liner (even though it wasn't worn off--I just wanted to boost it a little as it gently faded) and I had a different pencil with me so used that.  Well, by the time I got home from work there were eye liner smudges around my eyes.  The pencil I freshened up with was gray and the Maybelline one is black, so since the smudges were gray and not black, I know the Maybelline one was not smudged on my face.  Also, I've worn it since and have expereinced no smudging!

This product is not self-sharpening, but does come with a smudge-tip to blend out your liner. 

I will soon be posting on other drugstore products including more Maybelline.