Month: December 2016

L’Oreal Miss Manga Rock Mascara-Review

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I first heard of this mascara from one of my all time favorite beauty Youtuber’s/bloggers Livloveshermakeup (You can also find her blog here). She is so bright, positive, delightful and I honestly just want to be her best friend. She’s a professional flutist (a quite talented one at that) and a fellow makeup enthusiast, and I always feel I am able to trust her opinions.

A few weeks ago she was wearing this mascara in a few of her videos and her snapchat (and oh my gosh did her lashes look incredible) and mentioned that it was discontinued. However, I happened to find a surplus of this mascara at my local TJ Maxx (for only $3.00 to $3.99 a tube). If you can’t find it there, you can also buy it here.

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When you apply this mascara the formula is on the dry side and it dries very, very quickly. However, this mascara does wonders at lengthening and volumizing your lashes. I really like the way my lashes turn out when using this. However, be warned that when I say it dries quickly, I mean it. This mascara is good for layering if it’s the top layer but does not perform well while layering if it’s the bottom layer due to this.

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I find this mascara holds up rather well through the day and doesn’t move around or make me look like I have raccoon eyes but after 8+ hours of wear it does begin to flake off. This mascara is easy to remove with micellar water and never leaves my lashes feeling brittle. If you see this in your local TJ Maxx I’d recommend picking yourself up a tube.

Trader Joes Micellar Cleansing Wipes-Review

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This is a post I made a while ago in my previous blog. I moved my ramblings here because I wanted a more free format to talk about all things fashion and beauty. I thought I would share with all my friends here on WordPress.

I’m gonna be honest-I was so excited for these! I hadn’t yet jumped on the micellar water trend and I’ve been really interested in skin care lately so I thought this was the perfect opportunity.

These are good sized cloths, but they’re not very damp-which is something I’ve come to prefer in a makeup wipe.

These were so tough on my skin, I really had to rub. These barely took off my eyeshadow, forget about my waterproof mascara, even when saturated in water.

I’ve had a bottle of the Garnier waterproof micellar sitting in my closet unopened, so I cracked it open and put a little on the cloths, now that stuff was magical-especially for my waterproof mascara!

All in all I’d say these are a pass. They just don’t perform the job they’re designed to do adequately. Save the your skin and money and look elsewhere!

-XO-

A

365 Days of Samples-1

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Last year I discovered Elle S. aka shadowsmoked on youtube and I was immediately hooked on her Project 365 Days of Samples, where she would use and review the samples in her sample box. As a beauty junkie, over time I too have accumulated a lot of samples that I have barely touched. I am now going to take on the year, as Elle did, and work through my sample box. Once I have used the products I will tell you what worked for me, what didn’t and what I can’t wait to purchase.

I drew ten samples out of my box to start with so here are the products I am beginning this project with:dscf1343

1.) The Professional Matte Rescue Foundation Primer-Benefit

2.) Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Perfume

I started using this a bit. It’s a nice, light fragrance. It, however, does not last very long on me unlike the original Daisy.

3.) Origins Night-A-Mins  renewal cream

4.) Belif Aquabomb moisturizer

I started using this a bit and it is extremely hydrating and lovely. It has a light fragrance and so far does good things for my skin.

5.) Nexxus hair treatment

6.) Wish body butter (lavender scented)

I also began to use this. I can not stand the smell of this stuff. However, it does moisturize my skin.

7.) Philosphy Take a Deep Breath oxygenating gel

8.) Tatcha moisture rich silk cream

9.) Shea Moisture facial wash/scrub and mask(s). (It’s a 3 pack).

10.) Josie Maran Argan Oil

 

Until next time!

-XO-

A

Becca Rose Quartz Highlighter-Review

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I purchased this highlighter for $38 on the Sephora website. This pan has .25 ounces of product. The shade is a mix of pear and rose gold, leaning on the cool-toned side.

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There is some triangular/geometric embossing on the top of the powder. The box the highlighter comes in is holographic.

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Unfortunately, it appears that it is no longer available on the Sephora website. That’ll teach me to wait so long to review things. However, you can still find the highlighter on Ebay and Amazon (if you’re willing to pay those outrageous prices). The outer packaging is a lovely pink metallic and silver round compact that looks like a traditional Becca compact outside of the coloring.

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The swatches below on my fist show what the highlighter looks like on your skin. On my fair, cool-toned skin this highlighter appears as a very pale white/pink color. When applied on my face there is a bit of shimmer but is the kind of highlighter that just makes the skin look a bit dewey. It is a nice, subtle highlight. This is one that is perfect for every day use.

If you’re not willing to spend the $70+ online to pick up this limited edition product. Lorac Moonlight and Laura Mercier Devotion are similar picks that are currently available. A slightly lighter but still close alternative would be the rosy pink side of the Too Faced candlelight glow highlighter. All in all I think it’s a lovely product and worth picking up at the $38 price tag but not worth picking up for the inflated price (if you’ve had your eye on it).

Top 16 Beauty Picks of 2016

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1.) Lorac Pro Eyeshadow (Eyeshadow). $44
Smoother than a baby’s bottom. 

I could gush about this eyeshadow formula for ages! These do kick up quite a bit of powder, but the way they blend like butter is well worth a little kick-up. I love the Lorac Pro original the most, as I find it the most versatile for every day. If you’ve been debating picking this palette up for a while, go ahead and take the plunge!

2.) Regis Hydrating Balm (Hair Mask). $15
A real tall drink of water. 

I don’t even have words for how incredible this makes my hair look. I have really thick, dry hair. It gets knotted and dry and damaged looking rather quickly from heat styling or hair coloring. I had been having serious split ends and a huge problem with my ahir looking dry and straw like. This was recommended to me by a stylist at a Regis salon and oh my gosh does it work. The stylist told me I could use it as a daily conditioner or as a mask I leave on for about 15 minutes at a time. I choose to use it a few times a week as a mask and the day after I use this (since I shower in the evening) my hair always, without a doubt, looks healthy, hydrated and just plain phenomenal!

3.) Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub (Body Scrub). $16
Seriously smooth skin. 

Not only does this smell lovely but it has the perfect size scrub exfoliants and is just the right balance of abrasive and gentle. The only thing I would change is I would put it in a squeeze tube, rather than a tub. A tub is hard to get in and out of while showering.

4.) Juliette Has A Gun-Not A Perfume (Fragrance). $28 for travel size
Simply scent-sational.

I got this fragrance as a deluxe sample in I believe a Birchbox earlier this year. I have never gotten so many compliments when wearing a fragrance before, I always feel so lovely and flattered when I spray this on. It is made of only one element Ambroxan/Cetalox. Supposedly this means the fragrance smells different on everyone, on me it is light and fresh with a slight musk and I love it!

Read more about Ambroxan/Cetalox 

5.) Glamglow Super Mud (Face Mask) $69
Clear as day. 

I know this stuff has quite the hefty price tag ( but you can find it for less than $69 if you do a little digging) but trust me when I tell you it’s worth it! I’ve used this both as a face mask and as a spot treatment.

6.) Maybeline Age Rewind Concealer-Brightener Version (Concealer) $8.99
The bright of your eye. 

Wow! This concealer has made all the difference for me. I have huge blue-black dark circles under my eyes (because I’m a vampire, duh) and this beautiful pink-toned concealer color corrects and makes me look awake and alive! This stuff is budget friendly and incredible.

7.) Estee Lauder Double Wear (Foundation) $39.50
Poreless perfection. 

This is a beautiful coverage that never looks heavy or ages the skin. I have rather dry skin myself and this foundation makes my face look airbrushed.

8.) Conair Infiniti hair straightener (Hair Tool) $33.99
From groove to smooth. 

I got this as a gift from my fiancé at the beginning of the year and wow is this incredible! It gets really hot and straightens every little bit of hair. My hair has never been straighter or smoother. I’ve had many high-end straighteners (Chi’s) that didn’t last nearly as long or perform nearly as well as this!

9.) Goody Tanglefix (Hair brush) $5.98
No more knots. 

I don’t know what to say other than I love this! It takes all the knots right out of my hair with ease. I find this best to use on my wet hair (blasphemous, I know) an it leaves my hair tangle free the next day when I go to style it! An excellent little brush that lives up to it’s name.

10.) Makeup Monsters Liquid Lipsticks (liquid lipstick) $15
Scary long-lasting. 

Eat, drink, laugh, this liquid lipstick is not going anywhere. Not only is the liquid lipstick long-lasting and opaque. It’s also reasonably priced and has the cutest packaging! You can grab two of these for the cost of many high end liquid lipsticks!

11.) Kat Von D Tattoo liner (Eyeliner) $19
Ink that stays. 

This liner is all in the name! It really doesn’t budge and has full opacity at first swipe. It stays all day without smudging, living up to it’s “tattoo liner” name.

12.) Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders (Highlighter) $46
Stunning sheen. 

I swear these powders can do no wrong. My sweet fiancé bought me the palette trio of these powders for our anniversary and holy cannoli are they gorgeous! They add just the right amount of luminosity to your face without being glittery or shiny. If you’re like me and have texture on your skin, these powders are for you!

13.) Maybeline Lasting Draw (Colored Eyeliner) $7.99
Courageous color. 

Most of the time I like simple black liner, usually with a wing but when I want to change things up these colored liners are so much fun! They stay beautifully on your waterline and are creamy enough to glide on with ease. The perfect liners to transform a look!

14.) Biore Deep Pore Charcol Cleanser (Skincare) $5.99
A real cool clean. 

This cleanser has a cooling effect on your face that really leaves it feeling clean and refreshed. Even when I was changing diets and medications that usually effect my skin this cleanser kept everything clear and beautiful. You can’t beat it for the price!

15.) Maybeline Better Skin Pressed Powder (Powder) $8.99
Fearlessly flawless. 

Wow! I can’t even believe this is a drugstore powder. It’s very finely milled and glides onto the skin with ease, leaving such a beautiful finish. It’s also not heavy and does not leave the skin looking cakey. Definitely invest in this powder if you’re in the market for one.

16.) Covergirl Supersizer Mascara $6.99
Supersize your lashes. 

Even if you already have long, voluminous lashes like I have been blessed with, this mascara will enchant your lashes. This mascara is magical. I was skeptical because I’m usually a fan of a larger brush and this one is really slim but it really just performs so beautifully.

Too Faced Sweet Peach Lip Oil Review

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I picked up the shades “Tickle-Me Peach” which is described as being a watermelon shade and “Peach, Please!” which is described as a coral pink. I picked these up on release day for $19 each on the Too Faced website.

There were no charges for shipping at this time. Shipping was super fast! Two days later everything was at my doorstep. The packaging was so cute too! The box was pink with a bow and the inside was filled with pink paper “worms.”

I slapped the Peach, Please! shade on my lips around 2:30 p.m. on the day I got it and headed to campus to study for my last final (ever, of my master’s…yay). Anyway, I took my final at 3:30 and left the building (after a grueling quality management final) and headed back to my car and drove back home.

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When I got home I was pleasantly surprised to see even though a bit of the shine had worn off, the color pigment was still in tact and rather visible. I reapplied at this time (around 5:45 p.m.).

This lip oil lip gloss smells like sugary-candied peaches. Almost like candy peach rings, but even sweeter. I find the smell pleasant but if you are sensitive to scent please keep this in mind!

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The actual gloss is a thin consistency with rather nice coverage. The pigment of the glosses is rather visible and pleasant, by no means are they clear glosses, the colors you see in the tubes are the color they apply to your lips. Best of all, this gloss isn’t sticky and leaves your lips feeling hydrated!

I took my makeup off around 8:45 p.m. with my gloss still shiny and in tact at this point.

I wore these glosses for the next two days after that and still find them hydrating and pretty on the lips. You will have to reapply these throughout the day every 3-4 hours but all in all I think these are an awesome lip oil/gloss!