Haul: L'Oreal

Hi! It's been a while :) Haven't gotten the chance to use many Birch Box items from December, but the near year is coming in and maybe I'll have more of a use for it. But this is my small, but exciting (at least for me haha) L'Oreal haul!

The pictures on the left shows the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush, and "The Balm" lipsticks
(or lipbalms) in 819 Caramel Comfort

and 518 Tender Mauve (from left to right). I got all of this at Target for less than 7 dollars each, if I remember correctly. Anyway, the eyeshadow is supposed to be comparable to the Armani's Eyes to Kill, and I don't have anything from that line so I can't really speak on behalf of that, but this eyeshadow is gorgeous based on the swatch below. I kinda wish I got more. I mean, that's from one solid swipe, no primer.

As for the lippies, I imagine that they are L'Oreal's response to Maybelline's Baby Lips and Revlon's Lip Butters (which, by the way, I ended up liking for the darker shades like Brown Sugar... still am not impressed with the lighter shades like Sugar Frosting though).

Unlike other L'Oreal lipsticks, these have a pleasant smell... NOT like cardboard! But don't worry, the scent is so subtle that you really can't tell unless you put your nose right up to it. It applied smoothly onto my arm and came out as pigmented as you'd expect a moisturizing lipstick to come out. In fact, this is extremely similar to the Revlon Lip Butters in terms of pigmentation. I can't say if this is moisturizing because I haven't had the chance to wear them yet, but please do let me know if you're interested in a full review!

The packaging of the eyeshadow is thin and feels like acrylic, not threatening to break. With the exception of the cheap and plastic cap, it looks really nice and is easily portable. The lipsticks have absolutely gorgeous packaging! It has very nice weight and looks so sleek--I just can't wait to use! I really wish I grabbed more shades of each of these items!

Birch Box: December 2011, Benefit POREfessional

$29 by itself, but Sephora sells it in value sets that you may want to look at.

So if you're not aware, I got this in my December Birch Box. If you watched my open box video, you'll know that I'm not typically a face primer person because I have dry skin anyway, so my makeup doesn't usually have a problem staying on my face. I've tried this primer since then, and I can tell you a little bit about it from a dry-skinned person's point of view.

It is definitely smoothing, as most primers are. It's a bit thicker than some other primers I've tried before (like the Smashbox Photo Finish) and I have to say, it has a weird smell. I almost want to say it's grape scented, but my nose could be all out of whack; still, it has a smell to it that. Its thickness made it slightly more difficult than the Smashbox primer to apply but that's not saying much because it still applied well (Smashbox's primer is just really light and easy, and has even been awarded so it's almost unfair to compare). I wouldn't purchase the full size because a) I really have no need and b) the smell bothers me a little. And like I've been saying, the Smashbox Photo Finish is just nicer. I've also been meaning to try the Veil Hourglass primer, mainly for the SPF. 

Also I almost forgot to add... this is intended for people with more obvious pores, I guess, and I have pretty small pores so I can't say how that works out. Birch Box definitely missed the mark for this month. 

Have you gotten the chance to try this? 

Drug Store Haul: Revlon Lip Butters, Maybelline Popsticks, and Essie winter collection!

First haul!

• Essie winter polishes
• Maybelline Popsticks
• Revlon Lip Butters

Birch Box: December 2011 (Frolic and Fancy)

Items mentioned:

• Benefit Cosmetics: The POREfessional
• Jouer - Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Birchbox Pink
• kate spade new york - Twirl
• Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse / Multi-Usage Dry Oil Shimmer
• Prep - ShowStoppers
• Recharge - EBOOST

Hope you enjoy!

Received: Naked 2 Palette!

Any questions? :)

Did you miss the Naked Palette 2?

Don't fret. They should have more shipments next week. Be sure to sign up for the UD newsletters to one among the first to hear about it! If you don't want to order online though, I just got a confirmation from Sephora for when they will be selling the Naked Palette 2:

I've ordered mine, so stay tuned for swatches and a review. I'm so excited!

Naked Palette... 2!

Look here

Are you as excited as I am? Stock up. I don't want either of us to wait 6-8 months for another Naked palette!!

My only gripe is that I was hoping for more matte shades. There should be a Naked Matte Edition, don't you agree? Maybe next year:)

Sephora Stippling Brush

Sephora #44, $35

Hi. Have you seen this stippling brush before? It's at your local Sephora, probably. It's got sturdy bristles when you touch it as you pass by, right? And you want a cheaper alternative to the MAC coveted stippling brush, right? Well, don't get this one.

I have had it for over a year now and I haven't had any better luck with it than in the beginning. It's not soft at all; it's like flimsy plastic rods poking at my face. If you use it to buff your makeup in rather than to stipple, you can probably get away with it. The brushes are indeed stiff enough so that they stay upright, and I haven't lost any hairs yet.

That all being said, my biggest gripe about it is that I wash this brush all the time, at least twice a week, and the dye is so darn cheap that it still bleeds! That's right, the black hairs' dye will bleed into the white part of the bristles, and even after a year it continues to do so. You can definitely wash it out, but what's the point if you want to use this brush dry? This dye doesn't stay on the brush. Oh no, no, no. It gets on your face when you apply your products. You WILL have a blue-tinted face. People have compared this to the MAC stippling brush, and even though I don't own that brush, I can bet that there's no real comparison.

Another stippling brush to avoid while we're at it is the Ulta stippling brush. I can't find it on the Ulta website so you may find it at your Ulta stores, but don't go out of your way because it's not worth it. I've had that one for a year too and it keeps on shedding; it's never stopped. It sheds when I wash it (wet), and it sheds when I use it (dry). The hairs get on my face and it's so annoying. Not only that, the shedding makes the bristles so uneven--you'd expect that though, wouldn't you? The only good news is that it's definitely softer than the Sephora brush... but that's not saying much.

Anastasia Hydrafull Gloss - Sugar Pink

See my Birch Box post for my open box in November 2011.

I got this sample and if you watched my video, you'll know why I was surprised at the applicator--it's a paddle, not a doe's foot or whatever you'd expect. First impression: thick and sticky. I was right, very thick and sticky. It was hard to apply because it was so thick, but it was pigmented thanks to the thickness. I had to use my finger to spread it out evenly; the paddle was good for scraping off excess gloss though... scraping. Very shiny, very glossy. Tastes and smells pleasant and sweet.

As the day goes on, it becomes less thick because the warmth of your lips will almost melt it, but that's a good thing in my opinion. It becomes very hydrating on your lips, but because it's (in a sense) melted onto your lips and thinned out because of that, the color becomes more sheer. It's very flattering though, and retains its shine.

Full size is $21, a little pricier than some other high end glosses. The brand Anastasia is known for its brow care/enhancing cosmetics, so this little introduction to its lip products is pleasant. All in all, not a bad gloss, especially as the day wears on. If you're willing to pay the price, I don't see why not :)

Birch Box: November 2011, Supersmile Professional Whitening Toothpaste

So a few days ago, I opened my November Birch Box (see previous post) and I've gotten the chance to try out this toothpaste. First, here are a few items of information:

• The full size is 4.2 oz.
• The full size is $21.
• Does have fluoride (to prevent cavities)
• Is supposed to be whitening

First off, how pricey is that? No matter how good it is, I doubt I'll pay this much for a toothpaste. My dentist told me that toothpastes with whitening properties make very little difference and that if I want to get a whitening job done to make an appointment at the office or buy a drugstore whitening tray, at the very least. 

I've been using this for 2-3 days now and it's alright I guess. Packaging is simple and clean, which I tend to appreciate. It's a dry toothpaste; you'll understand if I tell you that it's nothing like a gel toothpaste in that it's not gooey, and it's not like most other toothpastes which are creamy. You're also supposed to use this on a dry toothbrush. The flavor is supposed to be "icy mint" and it smells and tastes minty and leaves a cooling sensation. 

Biggest question: does it work? A big YES. But keep in mind that all toothpaste whiteners only work so much (or so little is more like it). For what it is, it's as effective as it can be. I would never go out and get the full-sized tube though, unless it costs less, and quite honestly if you went on to Ebay, it does. Still, if you're willing to pay ten dollars or so more, Aquafresh makes a very effective teeth-whitening kit with mouth trays. You do have to leave the trays in for 30 minutes, but I see a difference after three uses. With this toothpaste, it took about a week for me to notice a difference, but I think I'll be purchasing this at the lower price on Ebay.

Birch Box: November 2011

By the way, the chocolate is terrible.

Products mentioned:

• Essie: School of Hard Rock
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydra-ful Gloss in Sugar Pink
• Harvey Prince Eau Flirt
• Super Smile Professional Whitening Toothpaste
• Zoya nail polish in Holly
• Chuao Chocolatier Choco Pod in Firecracker

Want to join Birch Box? I'd love to know what you got in your Birch Box. Let me know in the comments!

Pink Contacts

See my previous post for what these contacts are :)

Freshkon - Blooming Pink

As natural as pink eyes could possibly be.

Try something eye-catching :)

So I wanted to try something new... very new.

Pink and purple contacts, sent to me by my dear aunt and uncle from Hong Kong (he's an optician there). According to the pictures, these look very natural--well, as natural as pink and purple eyes can be. I can't wait to try!

A break from cosmetics; the lesson: if you have an argument, back it up well.

I was curious as to whether or not iQQU is still owned by Michelle Phan (which it no longer is) and came across this site, particularly this post. You know, I'm not a Michelle Fan by any means, but articles like this have extreme dis-credibility. Don't be this person, who throws out big names just to prove a point. Particularly, she or he believes that by simply quoting a scientific article and throwing out PETA's name that s/he has a point. Um, no. This was my reply:

This article completely throws your credibility away, in my opinion. Just by quoting a scientific article, you attempt to renounce a chemical based on studies imposed upon animals; but don't you realize that most products in the market, even organic products, contain many of the same individual chemicals or substances derived from organic matter containing such chemicals? I don't see the difference if, say, you apply sunflower oil from a freshly picked sunflower to your skin versus sunflower oil from the jar if any sunflower oil itself has been tested on a rabbit at any given point in time and adverse effects were observed. Look, dimethicone is found in fast food, and don't tell me you don't swallow a hamburger once in a while from McDonalds. If you studied any chemistry you'd find that it's processed from sand and is in your glass; does that mean you will tear down all your windows? Also, PETA euthanizes 98% of all animals they take in; this organization's opinions are the absolute least trustworthy and most unethical. Another thing, PETA collects money to create billboards with Pamela Anderson displayed on Times Square--not once, but twice--which is a rather expensive task, rather than to take care of these animals they choose to kill. Maybe you should look into your sources a little bit more.

Because YES, Peta does kill animals. I don't trust their lists or opinions for a second. For all I know, they tortured animals themselves to create an effective video.

And YES, dimethicone is found in various products. Not just makeup. Look in your food, and also find out what glass is made from and therefore where dimethicone was derived from. Maybe it's because I'm a biology major, but I come from the understanding that everything from products to animal/human behavior to the vaccines you and I take are possible through animal testing. If you really want to renounce everything that comes with animal testing, then enjoy TB, Whooping Cough, Polio, and--of course--no cosmetics :)

Hautelook Sale! Laura Geller

There is a sale starting tomorrow, November 1st at 11AM EST, for Laura Geller cosmetics! If you know, Laura Geller has great baked blushes. They are marvelous and are featured on HSN all the time. Don't miss out!

Don't have a Hautelook account? Here's your invite.

Maybe this will convince you?

Maybelline's Baby Lips

 Introducting Maybelline's newest product: Baby Lips! It's a sweet-smelling tinted lip balm for about 4 dollars. It's a bit of a gel consistency but I'm IN LOVE. Here from left to right, I have Cherry Me, Grape Vine, Pink Punch, and Peach Kiss. They have SPF 20 and have amazing color payoff... so similar to a sheer lipstick, honestly. Did I mention that these actually do hydrate? Amazing.

You might be a little disappointed with the Peach Kiss though, because it's supposed to be a nude color. If you have pigmented lips, all you'll get is a

Swatches Top to Bottom: Cherry, Grape, Pink, Peach

subtle shimmer. It's fine if that's what you're looking for though. These also come in peppermint and one non-flavor, I believe, but I didn't see the point in getting those because there's no color to look forward to.

PS: My boyfriend actually like the small. Doesn't taste bad either. So basically, kissable :) But since it's not a lip tint by any means, it'll go away after a kiss, haha. Good thing there's easy application.

I hope these aren't limited edition because I almost want a back-up.

OPI - I'd Like to Thank...

 This polish is my favorite Fall polish. I don't know if you can see it, but it reminds me of maple leaves in the autumn when it changes to that golden red color. This is a multi-dimensional polish that shines from rose to gold in the light--beautiful! I also LOVE the brush that it comes with... nice and wide for even coverage in a single stroke.

OPI never fails.

Essie's Power Clutch

Essie's "Power Clutch"

I guess I've really been into nail polish lately, haha. This is part of Essie's newest collection with is... luggage themed? I don't know! This one is called "Power clutch", another is called "Carry on", and one other is called "Lady-like" (which I'd posted on a couple days ago; no picture though, unfortunately). Like all Essie polishes, it's thin... but this one takes only two coats to get full coverage on the nails. I'm pretty happy with this one; if you check out my other Essie posts (see the tags), you'll know it usually takes me about three coats to get good coverage, so I definitely recommend it.

It's a really dark gray color but it's got more depth than a simple charcoal. The best way for me to describe it is that it almost has a greenish-purple hint. Very small, virtually unnoticeable and not noticeable at all in the bottle. Definitely a Fall color.

PS: Thanks for your patience with me! School's been going on and I'm trying to keep up with new posts :)

Lady-Like - Essie

My camera's being a jerk, but you should definitely get Lady-Like by Essie from their recent collection. This new collection is pretty much travel/luggage themed (they also have a polish called Carry-On, for instance). Lady-Like is a muted mauve, wearable for all ages--that's what surprised me the most because often times, mauve nails strike me as much more mature than my age. Definitely check it out!

PS: Sorry for the late post; like I said, my camera isn't cooperating.

Urban Decay Sale on Hautelook 09/12!

Sale on UD products tomorrow on Hautelook! Don't have an invitation? Here you go: You're invited!

Starts at 11am EST. Don't be late--this is a popular sale.

Shu Uemura Depsea Water and Travalo

 

On the left is the Shu Uemura Depsea Water and to the right, the little pink atomizer is the Travalo. You can get the Shu Uemura water from Sasa.com, for approximately $22. The Travalo, I got from CVS for $10.

So what is "Depsea Water"? I'm pretty sure they mean "deep sea water". It comes in a variety of fragrances (rosemary, mint, etc) but I got the non-fragranced for fear of a bad reaction. I mean, this is sprayed directly on my face, after all. I got it for the Summer because you can easily spritz some of the solution on yourself to get instant hydration and refreshment, hence the travel-sized Travalo. You also have the option of spritzing some on your face prior to applying foundation, just to give yourself the extra skin-quenching umph.

Have to tell you, I was a little disappointed. I didn't experience any hydration, no matter how many spritzes I used. It was pretty much water on my face, nothing special. Definitely refreshing though; I was thinking about putting it on my fridge and spraying it here and there on those hot days. Haven't done it yet because Fall's already rolling in!

I think the price is pretty high for what it is... maybe it's more worth it if I'd purchased a fragranced one, but for now, I could've put some tap water in my travalo and achieved the same effect that this $22+shipping thing does. For instance, rosemary is supposedly good for the hair, so if I spritzed some Rosemary-Depsea Water onto my hair (which is also sold on Sasa.com), maybe it'll be worth it. I do however have the stinking feeling that I could just put some rosemary in some tap water in a spray bottle and get the same thing....

Love the Travalo though; easy fill, fine mist, and very convenient. Might go back for seconds! They also have a variety of colors.

Milk Bath DIY

Did you know milk can be used for your skin? Yep! It's a natural toner which can keep your skin supple and soft. Its natural lactic acids are responsible for this!

So imagine if we could submerse ourselves in a whole milk bath. The skin would come out so moisturized and soft; unfortunately, a whole tub of milk is expensive, so here's a DIY recipe with other ingredients involved to give additional skin-quenching goodness.

1. 1 cup (or more) of milk. Whole milk is the best recommended; skim milk is too watered down for the task.
2. 1-2 tablespoonfuls of honey. Honey has natural antibacterial properties and retains your skin's moisture, also trapping the new-found moisture of the milk.
3. 1/4 cup of oatmeal. Oatmeal calms the skin and relieves it of redness, itchiness, and dryness. You can use regular oatmeal for this, but I use colloidal oatmeal from the drugstore (Aveeno makes a great oatmeal bath).
4. 3-5 green tea packets. This is probably the most unheard of out of the ingredients, but green tea fights inflammation, radicals, and soothes acne. 

As you fill your tub of water, slowly pour this in and mix it into the bath well. Be sure to squeeze out the last of the juices before you take out the green tea packets and enjoy your bath. This bath is also great for those with eczema or psoriasis. Please keep in mind of your allergies, because the last thing we want is for you to jump into a histamine bath!

Let me know what you think!

Aruba Blue - Fall 2011 Trend

The Fall 2011 trend calls for dark, midnight blue--I've found the perfect polish for this! It's Essie's "Aruba Blue". It's so dark, darker than the picture, with an oh-so-subtle shine. I'm actually more impressed with this polish than the other Essie polishes because it had higher pigmentation; if I did it right, I might be able to get away with just one coat.

Let me know what you think!

Urban Decay Sale

Don't miss it! UD is having a huge sale on their cream shadows, loose pigments, and even some palettes/sets! Free shipping for $50 or more. I got one of each cream shadow, loose pigment, two eyeshadow transforming potions, and their blush in Quickie. UD always does a great job getting my stuff to me in no time, and I'm sitting here depotting my makeup as I write.

Good luck!

L'Oreal: Color of Hope collection

This collection seems really hard to find... I'd been to many Walgreens, a Target, and a few CVS's (even an Ulta) and this was only in one Walgreens. So this collection was created to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.

Top to bottom: Faithful, Color of Hope,
Courageous. No flash.

Images: 1. Lipsticks.
Images: 2. Swatches top to bottom:    Faithful, Color of Hope, Courageous. With flash.



I have to be honest; despite the cause, I really don't like this collection. The colors were pretty and I admit that the simplicity of the packaging got me... but the lipstick formula is just not creamy at all. They're long-lasting, I will admit, but they neither taste nor smell pleasing.

The eyeshadows are much too powdery with little to no color payoff. Especially the matte shadows. The shimmery shadows were much too frosty. Still, I will keep them for the cause that the collection represents, but if L'Oreal is reading this... I don't really respect the product that you're putting out for a cause as important as this, but kudos for the efforts.

415 - Nostalgic Beauty

215 - Sentimental Splendor

Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliners

Left to right: Milani Liquif'eye, UD 24/7, Lancome Le Stylo

I'm a huge fan of tightlining my upper lashline and also the outer third of my lower lashline; it makes the eyes look so much more feminine and flattering. Your eyelashes look fuller, too. Naturally, a long-lasting, waterproof and creamy eyeliner is essential.

Top to bottom: Lancome Le Stylo, UD 24/7, Milani Liquif'eye.
One stroke only.

Lancome, "Le Stylo Waterproof" 
in Noir 
0.28g/0.01 oz ($25.50 at Sephora)
Retractable; I'm not really a fan of that... I don't know why.

Urban Decay, "24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil" 
in Zero
0.8 g/0.03 oz ($18 at Sephora)
I know it looks small here, but that's just because I've used that much of it! Love this pencil.

Milani, "Liquif'Eye Eye Pencil" 
in 01 Black
1.2 g/0.04 oz ($6.49 at Walgreens)


All of these pencils are pigmented, long lasting, and creamy. Waterproof, too. I'd actually go as far as to say that the Milani pencil is the most pigmented, but note that UD came out with an even blacker pencil ("Perversion") which I don't have at this time. The Milani Liquif'eye pencil's price is less than a third of the Lancome pencil and does the exact same thing; it's also found in so many drug stores, so it's accessible. Oh, and just look at the amount of product in each pencil.... I go through black eyeliner like you wouldn't believe, so paying one-fourth of a Benjamin just doesn't make sense, especially since something is just as good at a fraction of the price (with even more product).

If you haven't yet, give it a shot and tell me your thoughts!

PS: I've also got the other colors of Milani's Liquif'eye Pencils... I feel a growing obsession coming on soon haha. Let me know if you would like swatches.

What skin type are you?

We don't all have the same skin, and consequently the products which work for your friend (or even family member) may not suit you! Nowadays, most skin products will label whose skin type the item is created for, so how do you know which is best for you?

As you work with your skin, you will figure out what seems to work best and what doesn't, so you are able to adjust your skincare routine accordingly and understand what to avoid (for me, I need to avoid the sun not just because of its aging detriments but also because I'm so sensitive that I break out!) Here are some general guidelines to get your footing on what skin type you could be.

• Do you feel that your skin is stiff after a hot shower? 
• You could have dry skin if you said yes! Chances are, you must also need to reapply moisturizer throughout the day (if you don't, maybe consider doing so).
• If not, you may have normal or oily skin. You know if you have oily skin because after a couple hours, your face might seem a little greasy; sometimes bothersome-ly so. Water-based moisturizers (such as gel consistencies) might be your preference.
• Normal skin will usually feel comfortable after a wash and even after a couple hours after that. Lucky you! Chances are you only have occasional outbreaks.

• Do many products break out your skin? Or even environmental factors?
• If you answered yes, your skin may be sensitive. Yes, you can be both oily/dry/normal skinned and still be sensitive! Watch out for hypoallergenic/non-comedogenic products that will not irritate your skin nor block your pores!
• Also note that sensitive skin persons tend to experience redness often.

• Do you find that your skin is particularly oily/dry in certain areas? Such as your T zone (forehead, nose, chin).
• If you said yes, you probably have combination skin. Although there are products out there targeted at this skin type so accommodate the different areas, some people like to pay special attention to each area depending on its needs; it's really up to you. 

Stress

We live in a world where stress is almost inevitable; it's a guaranteed price of life. It costs us our bodies, our money, (heaven forbid) our relationships, and sometimes our sanity. Beauty spawns from what's inside--never mind the "beautiful personalities" conversation, let's talk about relieving ourselves of some stress. Pamper ourselves.

I don't know about you, but when I'm stressed, it shows on my body. My skin is less soft, my eye sockets are darker, and I feel so much more bloated. Stress spawns even more from these events, and it becomes an endless cycle.

First, forgive your body's responses to stress; don't get stressed over that as well! It's hard, I know, because we see the world face first and we don't want the presentation tarnished, but stress will spawn from stress.

Secondly, treat yourself. You don't have to explain to anyone in the world why you need a bubble bath, a massage, or an extra hour of sleep (of course, that's not to say you should neglect your responsibilities).

I hope this helps!

Spot a fake Shu Uemura eyelash curler

The Shu Uemura eyelash curler is a cult favorite, praised by beauty junkies and makeup artists alike. It grabs each lash with precision and curls even the most stubborn hairs. Of course, with good things comes knock-offs, right?

I made the mistake of ordering mine on Ebay one day, knowing that it is no longer sold in the United States (I know, I know...). I don't have the real thing anymore to compare the differences with you, but there are a few notable features I would like to share.

First, notice the metal front. Shu Uemura should be engraved, however, that "w" at the end should not be there. It should be a small "s" instead.

Secondly, Shu Uemura should be engraved into the rubber. This is not the case on the fake.

Along with these two signs, the fake should be bigger than the real deal. There are a few differences on the box, like the real one has illustrated directions on how to use.

I hope this helps!

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is good for several health aspects when ingested (respiratory health, heart health...), but what about when applied topically?

You may recognize this better under it's other name: tocopherol. It might be under the ingredient list of some of your skincare products. It can prevent and treat sunburns, have anti-aging benefits, prevent skin cancer (because of its antioxidant properties), and reduce the appearance of dark skin marks.

Before using, consult with your physician.

EOS for the lip's SOS

At first glance, do these look like lip balms to you? They didn't to me, and that must be why I got them. They're so cute! These are the EOS (Evolution of Smooth) "Lip Balm Smooth Spheres". They come in a variety of flavors, but I was only able to snatch four of them: Sweet Mint, Summer Fruit, Lemon Drop, and Honeydew.

I love what these do for my lips. They hydrate so well without that greasy feeling. The half-sphere-like shape of the balm itself is great too; that design gets both lips with one swipe. These were about 4 dollars each at Walgreens.They claim to be all-natural though, so the higher price is to be expected.

I do have one complaint though... I don't like the way the Summer Fruit tastes. It smells great, as does the Honeydew (Sweet Mint and Lemondrop smell a bit strong) but I can barely describe the taste. It doesn't taste fruity, but it does taste sweet... maybe too sweet for my taste? 

Still on the lookout for a balm that hydrates, but still tastes and smells great! Just think of all the boyfriends/girlfriends out there that have to put up with it, right? 

Covergirl needs more coverage...

From left to right: Extreme Green, Beige Blaze, Forever Pink, Brown Bling

So I was in CVS the other day and I came across a huge display that screamed NEW!! (seriously). Standing upright were six new Covergirl eye products. I only got four shades because the other two were blue and platinum, though honestly, swatched they don't look that different from each other...

From left to right: Extreme Green, Beige Blaze, Forever Pink, Brown Bling

I wish I could tell you what the prices of these were, but I threw out the receipt thinking that I'd hit the jackpot (it was a buy one, get one half off sale on all CG makeup that day). What I can tell you though is that I won't ever understand why this got four out of 5 stars on Covergirl.com .

Swatched, this looks so pretty doesn't it? Especially the Brown Bling on the far right. Now, this product says it's a long lasting eyeshadow and primer in one. As an eyeshadow, the product sucks! It's so streaky on the eyes, even if it doesn't look that way on the hand. It doesn't last long at all--by the end of the hour it's only shimmer--and takes so long to dry. I tried using it as a primer and it didn't work... I guess it was a hint when the primer creases, the shadow would crease along with it.

I would rather spend an extra couple dollars for my UDPP.

So I thought it would be great for the girl on the go, but I was wrong. Wish I could return this!

Edit: After this blog post, I wiped it off clean with a paper towel. Sigh. Good news is that you don't need a strong makeup remover, right?

Turquioise and Caicos

Okay, so it may be towards the end of summer... but so what? This nail polish is gorgeous! I just had to share it. The name of the item couldn't be bullseye enough--turquoise. 

I got this at Ulta for about 8 dollars. Keep a look out though! Sometimes Ulta will do a buy two, get one free sale (or was it a buy two, get one half off? Cheaper is cheaper either way!)

Now, I have to admit that I don't typically like Essie polishes as much as, let's say, OPI. Essie tends to be more liquidy, which means you need more coats to achieve full coverage (I used about 2-3 coats). The upside to that though is that runnier coats provide for more even coverage, since it isn't so thick that it dries as an uneven lump on your nail. Plus, Essie has an amazing range of colors! They must have over fifty shades of pink alone!

Pop on a layer of Seche-vite's quick dying top coat and you're good to go.