Tuesday, February 26, 2013
February Starbox
This month was my first month of subscribing to the Starbox service. As a reviewer for the past few months, I'm going to continue to review a seperate product for you guys, sent to me from Starlooks each month. I will include it at the end of these posts so you will know which one is which! This month's box was a special edition Lauren Clark box. It's pink and has purple lettering/detail.
Inside we have the information card for the February box, along with a little pamphlet about Lauren.
Pretty purple tissue paper, and 4 products!
First is a lip pencil in Tipsy, a bright coral-pink. It is a smooth formula that glides on nicely. It has good staying power, lasting hours on my lips. This is the PERFECT liner to use with MAC's Viva Glam Nicki lipstick (the first one, not the lavender one that just came out!)
Here is a close up of the pencil with a swatch.
Next is an eye liner in Princess Diaries. It is a shimmery light pink cream liner in a glass pot. While this color is really pretty, I don't think it shows up well as an eye liner (I like my black liner!) It does, however, make a perfect shadow base for light, shimmery looks. It is quite pigmented, just a very light color! It glides on smooth and blends out nicely. Retails for $15.
Without flash
With flash
Next is a Lip Gloss in Pink Oasis. It's not a pigmented purply shade like it looks to be, but is very pretty on the lips. I would say these are comparable to MAC Dazzleglasses in terms of glitter, but they are not sticky at all like the MAC ones are. They last a few hours before needing to re-apply. Has only a slight pleasant scent, you can't really tell once it's on your lips that it even has a scent. Retails for $15.
It also has a doe-foot applicator.
Last, we have a really exciting product. This is called their HD Fluid Blush in the color Barbie. I wouldn't call it a fluid, it's more of a squeezable cream blush. It's a very thick formula and CRAZY pigmented. It is so pigmented that you only need the tiniest bit - as awesome as that is, it can also be a downfall because you have to be very very careful in your application so that you don't look like a clown. I keep calling this the "lip tar for your face!" And it is such a pretty bubblegum pink. It blends out nicely and looks like a matte powder when it sets. You can set it with a powder blush to keep it from transferring, as I noticed when I touched my face a bit would come off on my finger. You can dust a highlighter over it if you prefer a shimmery blush, or dust your face powder over it to tone it down a little bit if you find you've used too much. It is a very versatile product! Retails for $15.
Now, the product I received for free to review was another one of their brushes, which I was super excited about because I love the last one I got so much.
It is the Small Precision Brush #813. Just like the last brush I reviewed, the bristles are super soft. This is the perfect size to put shadow in your crease/detail a cut crease/put shadow in your outer corner. It is a small rounded tip with densely packed bristles and I love it!
I hope you guys enjoyed the review! As always, you can sign up for your Starbox at starlooks.com and tell them you heard about it from my blog! :)
You can check out my video about the February Starbox here:
You can check out my video about the February Starbox here:
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Hard Candy Spring 2013!
I've been stalking my Walmart once a week, even though I hate going there because they're turning it into a Super Walmart and it's a disaster inside, hoping that they'll have the new Hard Candy stuff out for spring but no luck yet. Hard Candy recently posted pics of every single new product on their Facebook. I definitely am most excited for the Lip Defs because I LOVE the Eye Defs, but want to check out a few other things too. I'm definitely going to pick up one of their chubby lip pencils, a few of the crazy glitter polishes, maybe a cream shadow, the list goes on! Once I find the new stuff I will be sure to review it on here but until then, go check out their new products and see for yourselves! Click Here!!
Monday, February 18, 2013
NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo
I am first going to say my wonderful fiance is the culprit behind this purchase. We went to the mall to exchange a pair of sneakers for him and when we walked by Sephora he told me "there has to be something you want, go look" and I couldn't think of anything in particular that I wanted, so we wandered around and when I saw the NARS spring collection and this duo sitting there, I was like "ooh!" and he just said "get it." lol
Now, the only other thing I own from NARS is their Tropic eyeshadow single, and I think a sample size of their primer or something. It's not a brand I buy normally because I think it is way overpriced. It is very good quality, but I have stuff just as good for cheaper, you know/ So this was definitely a splurge! The colors are a really bright matte blue, and a bright spring green color that has a very very slight shimmer to it.
They are nice and smooth, and quite pigmented but need a good base to avoid being patchy when applying them. They are going to be such fun colors for spring looks, so bring on springtime!!
Here they are swatched with no base. Good pigmentation, but they will be even more amazing with a good eye primer!!
I talk about the shadow duo in this video:
I talk about the shadow duo in this video:
Maybelline Rocket Volum Express Mascara
This mascara had me at the tube. Lol I love the colors of it. But is it a decent mascara? Let's find out!
It's got a rubber wand with tiny rubber nubs. Similar to a lot of other mascaras, but it all comes down to the product working with the wand to see what type of results you get. Maybelline is my favorite drugstore mascara brand, with the exception of the Mega Plush one. Pretty much every other one I've tried has been really nice and made my lashes look great.
These are my naked lashes with nothing on them.
And these two pictures are with just one coat of the mascara. It's pretty good stuff. You can tell it definitely adds more length than volume, which is weird that it's called Volum Express, but whatever. This is how it works on my lashes which are a pretty good length to begin with, so this makes them super long. It works pretty similar to the Maybelline Define-A-Lash, which is one of my favorites! Definitely a mascara that's worth giving a try :)
I talk about the mascara in this video:
I talk about the mascara in this video:
Nivea Lip Butters
I picked up 2 of the new Nivea Lip Butters to try out. I'm always up for trying a new lip product especially in the winter time when my lips tend to get dry. I got the Caramel Cream Kiss and Raspberry Rose Kiss ones. There is also Smooth Kiss and Vanilla Macadamia Kiss.
I wasn't thinking and used the raspberry one before I took pictures for the blog, so excuse the dent in that one! I have to say, these are going to be a new fave of mine. I think they are the creamiest lip product I've ever tried, and they smell soooooo good! The raspberry isn't a fake raspberry smell like a lot of raspberry scented stuff can be, and the caramel one smells like caramel and vanilla. Almost like the chewy Werther's candies lol. Neither of them give any color to your lips, which is pretty obvious, but if you over-do it with product it will make your lips look kind of milky, so watch out for that. Other than that, it is an excellent product and has been making my lips feel great!
I talk about the lip butters in this video:
I talk about the lip butters in this video:
The Beauty Blender: My First Experience
I have always liked how blending sponges apply foundations more than brushes. I used the knockoff one that they sell at Ulta for a long time, kept repurchasing those because they're only around 6 bucks. But I kept hearing that nothing compares to the original Beauty Blender. And let me tell you, I don't know why I didn't splurge on this sooner!
I got this set of the BB and full-size bottle of cleaner from Payless Beauty for $28, free shipping. I did a lot of research beforehand to find the best deal and this was it. I believe the cleaner itself is around $13 at most places, and the blender is usually $20, so to get it with free shipping and everything is great!
I was dumb and didn't take a picture before I drenched it with water, but it definitely gets a lot biger! It starts off about the size of a normal egg when dry, and then gets to this:
The feel of it right off the bat is so much softer than the generic. It even bounces onto the skin better! It applied my foundation perfect and even, with a flawless finish. I absolutely love how soft it is and now that I've used it I don't think I will go back to the one I was using before! It even gets the job done faster, because it applies so evenly. The shape of it lets you get into every little crevice and makes it that much easier.
Me after applying my foundation, blush and highlight!
The cleaner has a neat little pump at the top that pushes down and dispenses product that you can just dip the Beauty Blender into. It smells exactly like green soap, the stuff they use in tattoo shops while you are getting a tattoo. I will say, I don't know how important it is that you absolutely NEED this cleaner, because it didn't get all the stains off my sponge even after washing it twice, but to each her own I guess! It does make a nice brush cleaner though, you just have to dilute it with a little water first because it is a very gel-like consistency.
So my final thoughts: The Beauty Blender is a new must-have for me, but the cleaner I could probably have done without. I'm sure my normal brush cleaner would do just as well!
You can see the Beauty Blender in action in my demo video here:
You can see the Beauty Blender in action in my demo video here:
The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer and Tapered Foundation Brush
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foundation
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highlight
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highlighter
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makeup
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review
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the balm
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I recently placed my first-ever order with Hautelook when I noticed that The Balm products were on there for 50% off the normal price. I had been wanting to try the Mary Lou-Manizer for the longest time, and jumped at the chance to get it on sale.
The compact itself is a very good size and has a great mirror. The powder is a very smooth consistency, blends out nicely, and gives a gorgeous glow to your skin. It is VERY pigmented so a little goes a long way!
This has easily become my every day go-to highlighter. Though I have been loving the one in the Urban Decay Flushed palette, this one is right up there with it in quality and the effect it gives on yoru skin, so it is definitely a new favorite of mine!!
I spotted their brushes on Hautelook as well, and was curious to try one, as I've never heard much about them in the beauty community. I will admit they have a rather weird style - it has "Lend A Hand" written on it, with a picture of a bunch of hands holding brushes. I can't remember if they all have the same design, I think they were all different. But the one I decided to try was the tapered foundation brush, as I did not have one of those.
The bristles almost have a plastic look to them, when I first saw it I didn't think it would be very soft, but it does feel really nice. Now, I have been trying to get used to using brushes for foundation, as every time I use them I really dislike the finish it gives me compared to applying with a blending sponge. But this one is the closest I've gotten so far to getting a nice finish like I do with the sponges. It's still not QUITE an airbrush look like the Beauty Blender gives, but it is very close and because of that this brush definitely gets a thumbs up from me and is the best foundation brush I have used so far! The tapered tip lets you get right in the small areas under your eyes and around your nose. And it smooths out the product very nicely so that it applies evenly. Love this brush!
Check out my video about these products here:
Check out my video about these products here:
Monday, February 11, 2013
Favorite Money Savers
I'm going to do something a little different than the usual makeup reviews today - I've been meaning to do this post for a while but a review always came up and made me forget about it! So everyone has their favorite websites and I have quite a few as I love to shop online - but there are some that you can get GREAT deals on, as well as even get cash back. Those are the few I am going to talk about.Hautelook. Most of you have probably heard of this one. I joined when I first heard of it a while back, since it is free to join and all they ask for is your email address and a password. Easy enough to sign up. I kind of forgot about it until I realized they often have high-end makeup brands on there. Urban Decay is featured on there a LOT. You can get great deals on eyeshadows (I'm talking as low at $6!) because they tend to sell the stuff from their old packaging really cheap. I recently jumped at the sale from The Balm and ordered the Mary Lou-Manizer (normally $24, on sale for $12) and a foundation brush which was also half price. The deals are amazing and definitely something to look out for if you enjoy makeup sales (which I'm sure anyone who is reading this does!!)
Zulily. This is on the same idea as Hautelook, but is aimed at Moms. They have tons of great sales and deals on bay and kids' clothing, shoes, etc. And it's always the cutest stuff!! But everything tends to sell out of certain sizes fast, so you have to be on top of it and know what is going on sale and when so that you can snatch up the things you want!
eBates. This is another one I'm sure a lot of you have heard of. And I wish I would remember to use it more because it works with SO MANY online stores. Basically, you go onto this site before you order from a store online, say Sephora. You click on the stores' link on the eBates site, do your shopping, and you get cash back depending on how much of a percentage the stores' cash back is at that day. At Christmas time and Black Friday, the stores all up their cash back percentages to give you even more back. But every store is different and they always change the amounts so it's always going to be different! You can link your PayPal account so that you get the cash back deposited right into it. I believe they pay out 4 times a year so you do have to wait a while to get your money but it definitely adds up and is worth it!
So those are my 3 main favorites when it comes to saving a few bucks. When you catch the sales just right, you can get some AWESOME stuff for not a lot of money!
Friday, February 8, 2013
Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette
blush
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bronzer
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highlighter
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makeup
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I kept telling myself I am so sick of the whole Urban Decay "Naked" craze that I wasn't going to even look twice at this palette. But I'm telling you guys, it is SO pretty in person. And, being that I have been on a highlight kick lately, it sold me when I swatched it.
It has a bronzer, highlighter, and blush all in one which I think is ideal that those 3 products are all in one little palette together. Great for travel! I believe this is about the same size as the Naked Basics palette, so it is nice and compact.
The colors are beautiful - the bronzer is very light, which people with darker skintones won't find to be that great. But I am super pale and have trouble finding bronzers that work well for me, and this one is PERFECT.
The highlighter is the highlight of this palette (haha). It is such a gorgeous champagne color, it's definitely my new favorite. Kind of reminds me of Urban Decay's "Sin" eyeshadow. It is shimmery but not overpowering, and gives you a nice glow wherever you need it.
The blush is a medium pink, pretty much one of those pink colors that looks great on just about anyone. I find the bronzer and blush both to be pretty matte and the highlighter of course is nice and shimmery, so it is a good balance.
Here is the bronzer, highlighter and blush swatched with and without flash:
Gorgeous, right? I definitely took back my words about being done with the Naked line lol!
I talk about the palette in this video:
MAC's Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick
If there's one word I can use to describe this color: ridiculous. lol! I for some reason thought it was more pink, and it just looks silly on me. Although when I first got Viva Glam Gaga 2, I hated it because i thought it was too brown for me. But I soon figured out ways to wear it with other products and ended up loving it, so I'm sure I can do the same with this.
I wasn't even aware this was out yet until I checked out the Archie's Girls collection and saw this on the sidebar of the MAC site. I own Pink Friday and the first Viva Glam Nicki, so I wanted to keep the collection going! While I love Pink Friday (a bright bubblegum pink) and Viva Glam Nicki (a bright corally pink), this one is just not right for me. It is pretty much straight up lilac. It is their Amplified formula which is my favorite, because it is super pigmented and creamy, but this is a color that needs to be toned down if I (personally) am going to wear it a lot.
The pictures make it look more pink than it really is. It even looks more pink on the MAC site. But trust me, it is very lilac! You can tell the true color better if you watch my video where I was wearing it:
Real Techniques Stippling Brush
I had been wanting to try out Real Techniques brushes for a while, but didn't want to buy a whole set of them until I tried a single one out. I've been needing a stippling brush, so I figured I would get theirs when I saw it!
I am not a fan of using brushes for putting on foundation. I always end up seeing brush strokes when I do it that way, no matter what technique I try. Case in point: I have a really nice ecoTools foundation brush and even that one does it to me! So I decided a stippling brush might change my mind.
This one is really nice, it is a duo fiber brush and really soft. It applies product evenly but I'm still not sold on it for my foundation routine. I think I will forever be a beauty blender-type sponge person when it comes to foundation. However, it is GREAT for cream highlighters and cream blushes. I hate using my fingers to apply those two products, and this makes it so much easier. I've been on a huge highlight kick lately and this is the perfect tool for that.
A cool thing about this brush is it stands up, so you can stand it on your vanity instead of sticking it in a brush holder. I definitely like its design. And it's a plus that it's my favorite color, pink! They also have other brushes that are gold and some are purple, so if you get all their brushes it's a pretty colorful setup.
I talk about the brush in this video:
Thursday, February 7, 2013
MAC Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder: Veronica's Blush
I only grabbed one thing from the Archie's Girls collection, and since the lipsticks I wanted were already sold out I picked one of the Pearlmatte Face Powders. This is the first MAC face product I've ever had and I am pleased with it!
The compact itself is white and has the comic characters on the front.
The products itself has adorable hearts on it - the 3 larger hearts are a darker pink than the rest of the product, which is a very light shimmery pink. I am not sure if the dark pink goes all the way through, but I have rubbed at it a bit and it's still there.
The product is very smooth and silky and blends out beautifully. It is, however, very light and as hard as I tried I couldn't get decent pictures! The first is with flash, the second without. The top swatch is the darker pink color, the middle is the light colors, and the bottom is the 2 blended together.
As you can tell, you can barely see the light color but it is so much prettier in person. These pictures do not do it justice!
I talk about the face powder in this video:
I talk about the face powder in this video:
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