Keeping it Real… And Some Beauty Chit Chat

Hi Pretties!  Well, I’m just going to say it.  I’m the WORST blogger known to man!  Seriously!  I was on a pretty good roll around Christmas, and then I just fizzled out…complete and total radio silence.  *facepalm*  Without going into everything, life once again took a turn, and I had to make some changes.  Fortunately, they were all good changes!  Oh how I’ve missed my little blog!  I’ve been dreaming up blog posts in my head for months now, so its time I actually put pen to paper (figuratively) and get back in the swing of things.

I’ll be honest, I’m a bit unprepared for this post; I have not planned out my subject matter or taken any photos.  I just wanted to post – to put some thoughts out into the void if you will.  There are some exciting things on the makeup horizon!  Let’s discuss.  Firstly, if you have even a vague interest in makeup (which I’m assuming you do if you’ve stumbled upon my wee blog), you’ve probably gotten wind of the Jaclyn Hill (YouTube Beauty Guru Extraordinaire) collaboration with Becca Cosmetics.  She has cultivated a new Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop, and it is gorg!  I actually got to see it in person – Baby Sephora (i.e. Sephora in JC Penny) has already gotten in a shipment, and one of the employees pulled one out of the back to show me.  I was really hoping I could talk them into selling me one early, but alas, I was denied.  To my dismay, there were no rule breakers in that bunch.  They did take my name and number and told me they would call me when they put them out on the floor; somehow I don’t hold out much hope that they will actually call me.  I signed up for an email notification on Sephora’s website, and there was a DISCLAIMER:  “Product will be available for sale on July 2, 2015.  Due to the special nature of this collaboration, quantities are very limited.”  What. The. Heck.  Why do they do this to us?  They know this is gonna be a highly sought after item – why not stock enough to meet the demand????  MAC does this too and it’s supremely frustrating.  So if I happen to miss the email notification and Baby Sephora doesn’t call me, my only option will be to check ebay where people are hocking these things for three times the retail price??? So not cool.  This brings me to another point – you know those vultures that stalk the internet and buy up all the available stock so they can make a buck on ebay?  Yeah, they suck.  A lot.  But I digress.  Suffice to say that I really hope I can snag one!  In other pretty news, MAC’s Giambattista Valli collection is suppose to hit online on July 2nd (sidenote: why is that such a big release day???) and counters on July 9th.  I believe Nordstrom will also have this collection for sale online on the 6th.  The only images I’ve seen are of the five lipsticks in the collection (maybe it’s all lip products?).  The packaging is SO pretty!  I’m such a sucker for limited edition packaging!  Lastly, Beauty Blender has a new product fresh on the market – it’s called Blotterazzi, and it’s a reusable alternative to blotting papers.  As an oily skinned gal, I am all about that blotting life.  You get two blotting sponges in a cute little mirrored compact.  The sponge sucks up the oil and smooths out any funky spots!  AND it’s washable!  So much better than having used blotting papers all stuck in the bottom of my purse!

That’s all I’ve got right now!  Hope all my Pretties had a happy Monday!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas…

Hi Pretties!  Are you enjoying the holiday season?  I am!  I’m especially enjoying all of the baked goodies that go along with Christmas!  I’m sure I’ll regret that in a few weeks when my pants are uncomfortably tight!  But enough about me… on to the good stuff!  Sing it with me!  On the ELEVENTH day of Christmas, Sephora gave to me… Stila Eyes are the Window Shadow Palette – Mind!  Such a great palette, and one I haven’t really heard much about.  This palette has all matte shadows, which is super duper exciting.  We can’t look shiny and shimmery all the time, can we?  This palette of goodness is full of gorgeous neutrals that are ideal for day-to-day wear – working women of the world, this one’s for you!  Now, I know what you’re thinking, “just what I need, more neutrals!”  Well, ‘A’ of all, there is no such thing as too many neutrals, and ‘B’ of all, there are some colorful surprises to be found in this palette.  I’m obsessed with the rusty orange shade called Perception – so different from anything else in my arsenal, and the deep plummy purple shade called Thinker is my jam! Love smudging it along my lash line. As far as texture, some shades are a bit powdery, but most have a nice texture and blend easily.  Keep in mind that the pigmentation, while good, is not the BAM-in-your-face pigmentation that you find with brands like Urban Decay.  Rather these shadows are perfect for giving you a wash of color but can be built up for more oomph.  As for the longevity, I think its fairly good – I would recommend a primer, especially if you have oily lids like me.  All in all, a solid addition to my embarrassingly large palette collection (Woe to me for my makeup addiction! I’m one sick cookie!)  This palette retails for $49.00 and can be purchased from Sephora, Ulta, or the Stila website.  I didn’t swatch all of the shades – just a select few – but if that’s something you’d like to see, let me know in the comments!  Hope you’ve got all of your shopping done!

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas…

Pretties!  I’ve missed you!  Where in the world did November go????  Sorry for the radio silence… my day job has been demanding of late, and the only thing I’ve wanted to do when I got home was face-plant into my bed!  I didn’t even have time to share my VIB Rouge haul with you guys!!!  Rather than do a belated haul post, I thought I would just give you a glimpse of some of the new things I’ve purchased this holiday season that I’m LOVING!  As it is nearing Christmas, let’s be cliché and have a 12 days of Christmas theme!  With that said, (all together now!) on the TWELFTH day of Christmas, Sephora gave to me… Laura Mercier’s Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Quartet!  Disclaimer:  this 4-piece Sephora exclusive set is unfortunately sold out online (although the similar 6 stick set is still available here and here as of this posting).  However, I love these things so much, I am willing to incur the wrath of my Pretties to tell you about these sticks of goodness!  I’m  usually not one for cream eye shadows, but these could convert me.  They’re just easy, you know what I mean?  Creamy, pigmented, and blendable… a few swipes and some blending with my finger or a brush and I’m set.  I love products that simplify my mornings!  Very versatile as well – you can pick one for a wash of color or put multiple ones together to create a full look.  I’d say they’re relatively long-wearing – even with my oily eyelids!  All in all, I’m super-duper pleased with this purchase and will be adding other colors to my wish list!  If you’ve never tried these before, get thee to a Sephora or Nordstrom, ASAP!  The individual caviar sticks are $28 apiece, which sounds a bit steep, but you get a good amount of product and a little goes a long way!  If you’ve tried these, let me know what you think and what colors I need to add to my collection!  Also, let me know if you’d like to see some pictures of how I’ve been wearing these.  Hope everyone is having an enjoyable December!

Dear Santa… Holiday 2014 Collections

Hi Pretties!  Fall is officially here, and we’re gearing up for the holidays!  As is the custom of all North American retail establishments, holiday items are being stocked right alongside Halloween items.  Which, of course, begs the question, what’s on your wish list?  As I am a makeup junkie, the list is long, my friends!  Here’s just a sampling of some of the goodies I’ve got my eye on!

Limited Edition Cremesheen Glasses in (L to R) Ceremonial, Seeking Adoration, Social Season, Romantic Overture, and Courting Chic ($22.00 each) MAC Heirloom Mix Collection – Holiday 2014 Available Online October 19th and In-Stores October 23rd

Clockwise from top left: Gold Lip + Eye Bag ($59.50); Viva Glamorous Lip Palette ($40.00); Nude Lip Bag ($39.50); Viva Glamorous ($30.00)
MAC Keepsakes Collection for Holiday 2014
Available Online October 19th and In-Stores October 23rd

 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights in pearl, champagne gold, and opal ($25.00 for the set)
Available now at Sephora.com, Sephora Stores, and Becca.com

Too Faced Everything Nice Set ($56.00) Available at Sephora and Sephora.com

Make Up For Ever Studio Case ($59.50)
Available now at Sephora and Sephora.com

No Buy Challenge! Can it be done????

Hi Pretties!  So, I’ve gone a bit nuts with the makeup shopping lately.  Seriously nuts.  I’m like a junkie that has to get a fix.  I tell myself, “it’s been a rough day, I just go *look around* at Ulta (or Target or Sephora or ONLINE)”, but it never fails.  I always buy something.  As the holidays approach, I know I need to be building up my cash reserves for travel and gifts and the like (and for all those holiday gift sets that will be coming out!).  I was trolling around on the ol’ interwebs this morning, and I came across a blog post by a fellow beauty blogger, XO Luba.  In said blog, Luba mentioned that she was on a 30-day No Buy Challenge, which is exactly what it sounds like:  30 days without buying a single beauty product.  Now, I’ve been telling Mom I’m going on a No Buy for weeks.  In fact, I told her yesterday that October was going to be the month of the No Buy… of course this was after a trip to Sephora.  Luba seems to be coping by making a Post-No Buy Wish List.  What a good idea!  So, with that said, I’m officially embarking on my own 30-day No Buy Challenge.  I would say that I’m going to try my best, but as Yoda would say, “Try Not.  Do or do not… there is no try!”  Hopefully this will not be an exercise in futility!

Here’s my Post-No Buy Wish List…

1.  Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, $58.00

So pretty!  I have two of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes and I LOVE them.  This palette includes the shades Luminous Flush (which has been on my list for a while), Incandescent Electra (a shade exclusive to the palette), and Mood Exposure (which is one of the two I have, but never hurts to have a back up!).

2.  Dior Star Fluid Foundation SPF 30, $50.00

This is Dior’s newest foundation offering that’s designed to brighten, even skin tone, and reduce the appearance of dark spots.  The marketing says it’s “infused with hollow silica beads that capture and diffuse light in a correcting halo that doesn’t leave skin looking shiny, the color-filter pigments neutralize skin tone imbalances, and the anti-“light-trap” skincare ingredients help reduce the appearance of dark areas, pigment spots, and redness.”  That’s probably a bunch of baloney, but I’ve seen several positive reviews of this foundation, and I REALLY want to give it a try.  I’m always looking for something that will give me “flawless” skin!

3.  Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation, $48.00

Yes, I realize I have two foundations on my list, but I can’t help it.  I love foundations, and I’m still looking for that can’t-live-without-it, HOLY GRAIL, desert island foundation that keeps my oily skin in check and blurs out all my imperfections.  This is supposed to be a long-wearing foundation that looks like real skin.  Let’s face it, we all want to look like we have NATURALLY flawless skin, and I’m no exception!

4.  Tony Moly Bbo Bbo Lip Balm in Blueberry, $9.00

Look how cute this is!  This is a lip balm from Korean brand, Tony Moly.  One of the reviews on Sephora said it stopped her lips from peeling, and  I’m all about anything that keeps my lizard lips from shriveling up and falling off!

That’s the list for now!  Comment below and let me know what’s on YOUR wish list!

Product Shout-Out… Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette

Hi Pretties!  So I wanted to share a product that I’ve been loving lately.  It’s the Urban Decay Pulp Fiction palette.  Now, let’s get real for a moment.  I have never seen Pulp Fiction… nor do I really have an inclination to do so.  So the Pulp Fiction connection definitely didn’t lure me in.  And at first glance, the palette didn’t really interest me either.  It just looked so… basic.  And boring.  Creams and Browns.  Can’t I get that anywhere?!?  But then one of my favorite YouTube Beauty Gurus (MakeupByTiffanyD) posted a haul video that featured this palette, and it piqued my interest… and then I was roaming around Sephora, and I swatched the colors… and it was all over from there.  These are some of the silkiest, most buttery shadows I’ve ever felt in my life!  Very pigmented and very blendable.  There’s something to be said about the simplicity of this palette too.  It’s just easy… Great for work days when I wake up tired and just need something that I don’t have to think about.  Forgive the demo pics below – bad lighting kinda washed the colors out, but this is generally how I wear it.  MakeupByTiffanyD has a great tutorial using this palette here.  If you’re interested, this palette is limited edition and retails for $34.00 and is available from Sephora, Urban Decay.com, and Ulta.

SHOPPING ALERT! New Item on My Wish List

It’s no secret that I have a bit of a mascara fetish, so you can imagine my glee when I discovered this new set on Sephora’s website.

Here’s what you get for $45.00:

– 0.10 oz Benefit They’re Real Mascara
– 0.141 oz Blinc Mascara
– 0.2 oz BUXOM Lash Mascara
– 0.14 oz Clinique High Impact Mascara
– 0.135 oz Lancôme Hypnôse Drama
– 0.13 oz Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant
– 1 x Sephora Collection False Eye Lashes in Celebrity
– 0.5 oz Sephora Collection Outrageous Mascara
– 0.31 oz Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes™ Statement Mascara
– 0.17 oz Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
– 0.06 oz Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils Baby Doll

What a fun little sampler!  I may need to pick this up next payday…

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara… Was It Good For You?

Call me immature, but I giggle like a 12 year old every time I tell someone what mascara I’m currently using.  Too Faced is no stranger to cheeky product names, and “Better Than Sex” is no exception!  I must admit, I was hesitant to try this product when the lady at Sephora recommended it to me.  I had played with the tester, and the wand seemed really gloopy (that’s a technical term), so I assumed that my lashes would turn out gloopy.  I’ve been using it for about a week or two now, and I must say that I’m pleasantly surprised.  Here’s how Better Than Sex measures up:

 

First of all, the curb appeal on this mascara is spot-on.  The pink box with the product name emblazoned upon it in gold gives this mascara a very luxe feel; it stood out among the other mascaras and caught my attention right away.  The tube itself is a pink brushed-metallic with the name embossed on it – very sleek and pretty!  It also has a bit of weight to it, which contributes to that feeling of luxury.  Overall, very impressed – good job, Too Faced!

 

Of course, all the fancy packaging in the world can’t make a bad mascara good, so how’s the performance?  Well, I’m getting to that.  The hourglass-shaped wand has stiff, traditional bristles instead of those rubbery ones that are all the rage.  As I mentioned, the brush does look a bit gloopy when you pull it out of the tube – you may need to wipe off the tip – but your lashes won’t be gloopy.  The longer bristles on the ends do a good job of reaching those lashes on the outer corners while the shorter bristles coat the lashes in the middle; this makes for a more even application and better definition.  I’ve had pretty good results with this wand, but I usually have to run a lash comb through my lashes – they’re naturally curly and like to get a little cray.  Too Faced’s website says that the wand has “the perfect brush silhouette that separates, coats and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection;” all in all, I think this wand performs as described… though I’m not exactly sure what “voluptuous perfection” looks like.  Don’t you love marketing?

Now, let’s discuss this formula!  It’s a pretty wet mascara, which gives me time to apply multiple coats without giving myself scary spider lashes!  (I do have to refrain from blinking until it drys though – otherwise, HUGE mess!)  Too Faced recommends three coats – I find that one or two suffice for daytime.  Too Faced’s website says that “Better Than Sex mascara includes a film-forming polymer for smudge-proof, all day wear, Acacia Senegal Tree Extract to nourish, thicken and lock curl in place, and unique peptides for the deepest, intense black possible.”  I don’t have any idea what Acacia Senegal Tree Extract or film-forming polymers actually are, so I’ll just discuss my observations and experiences.  This is not a waterproof formula, but it’s extremely tenacious and long-wearing.  I’ve worn it for more than 12 hours with no smudges or flakes (the no-flaking is huge as I’m a contact lens wearer), and I usually need to use an eye makeup remover to remove it all at night.   My favorite thing about this mascara is how soft it keeps your lashes – I HATE stiff, crunchy lashes!  As you might have guessed, Better Than Sex only comes in one color – REALLY, REALLY BLACK.  Most people will have no problem wearing such a black mascara, but those with very fair hair and eyebrows may find it looks a little harsh.

Naked Lashes (see what I did there?)

Lashes with Two Coats of Better Than Sex – No Primer, No Eyeliner

Overall, I’d give this mascara a strong B+ to an A-.  I personally would prefer a bit more definition, but I can’t argue with the insane amount of volume this gives.  If you’re in the market for a new mascara, I’d definitely take this one for a test drive!  It retails for $23.00, which is a little on the high side, but I personally don’t mind investing in a great mascara.  You can buy it from Sephora, Ulta, or directly from Too Faced.  Stay tuned for my review of the Lorac Pro mascara… Can it best Better Than Sex in the Mascara Madness match-up?!?  Happy shopping!

The Last Lip Crusade

I. am. exhausted.  I know I sound like a broken record, but work is totally cray-cray.  It seems like any time not spent at work is spent in the bed!  I’ve been dying to get back to my blog though; I’ve missed the mental diversion.  Whenever I need a break from crunching numbers, I mentally draft blog posts.  I think of titles and witty remarks to pepper my posts with; I plan out my photos and make mental wish lists of products I want to try and review.  I wish I’d written some of that stuff down, because now my head is completely empty of all of the brilliant ideas I had!  That always happens to me – I’m always thinking of things that need to be done or solutions to problems that I promptly forget five seconds later.  I sound like an old lady, but I really have got to start writing things down!  Anywho, I’m rambling.  Believe it or not, this post has purpose!

Confession time:  I have the driest lizard lips in the entire world.  They’re always chapped and sore, and they peel regularly.  GROSS.  I spend way too much time obsessing over them, and I’m constantly on the search for THE lip balm that will turn my shriveled little lips into a Victoria Secret model’s pretty pout.

Needless to say, I’ve tried a lot of lip balms, glosses, treatments, and scrubs.  I’d about given up hope until I picked up AmorePacific’s  Moisture Bound Lip Treatment.  Now, this lip treatment (.34 oz)  retails for THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS!  I was completely skeptical of this product – how could a lip balm cost THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS?!?  I’d picked it up and put it back dozens of times before I finally bit the bullet.  It was a particularly bad lip day, and I was feeling desperate.  I asked the lady at Sephora if she had tried it, and she told me that she too had lips that peeled and that this product made a huge difference.  I was still skeptical – after all, she could have just wanted to sell me a THIRTY-FIVE DOLLAR lip balm.  However, I figured it was worth a shot, and into the bag the balm went.

I’ve been using Moisture Bound for a while now, and I must say that I’ve seen a huge improvement in the condition of my lips.  My kisser has never been as supple or un-lizard-like as it has been these last few weeks.  The balm has a gel-like texture that’s more akin to a thin, non-sticky lip gloss than your standard issue lip balm in a twist-up tube.  It’s thinner in consistency than Aquaphor or the Vaseline lip products that come in squeeze tubes, and has a lot of slip.  It’s colorless, fragrance-free, and taste-free.  This balm claims to provide moisture over an eight hour period; I haven’t really timed it, but eight hours might be stretching things.  I do have to apply it less often than other lip balms though, which saves product.  I’m hoping to get some mileage out of that tube!

Supposedly, this product has amino acids and antioxidants that guard against free-radical damage and aging.  In all honesty, I’m not even sure what a free-radical is, so I can’t say for sure whether or not this product really lives up to those claims.  What I can attest to is it’s ability to moisturize exceptionally dry lips – for me, it’s the holy grail of lip balms.    I would recommend this product to anyone with severely chapped lips.  However, given the price point, I really would consider this product a last resort – most people will be able to find a lip product that’s both inexpensive and effective.

My kisser with AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment

If you also belong to the Godzilla lip club, you can purchase AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment at Sephora or via the AmorePacific website.  Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus also carry this product.  For me, this product was well worth the money, and I will definitely repurchase.

If you have any questions or comments about this product, I’d love to hear from ya.  More good stuff to come!  Happy shopping!

Holy Haul, Batman!

As any accountant will tell you, the first week or two of the month is always a beast.  I’ve been working really hard closing the books for October, and I thought I deserved a little treat… several little treats in fact.  Thus, I bring you my first ever haul post.  I definitely spent all of my fun money for the month, but I had a blast doing it!  Here are the goodies I got:

Charlotte Ronson for Sephora – All Eye Need “Nicole” Palette

One of the ladies at Sephora was wearing this gorgeous copper color on her eyes. I loved it so much, I had to have it for myself, so she directed me to this little palette. It’s part of the Charlotte Ronson for Sephoracollection, and I’m so excited to try it! It usually retails for $22.00, but I had a 20% V.I.B. coupon, which made it an excellent deal! I couldn’t pass up 4 eyeshadows (2.4 grams apiece) for $18.00!

Real Techniques Brushes by Samantha Chapman

I’m a huge fan of the Pixiwoo sisters – I love watching their video tutorials! I also have a bizarre fascination with their accents and British slang, but that’s another story. I’ve been dying to try their Real Techniques brush line, so I picked up these at my local Ulta. The brushes I bought retail for around $8.00 or $9.00, and have gotten great reviews. I hope they meet my expectations!

Stila Seeing Stars Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner Set

This is one of the fabulous holiday sets that are available at Sephora right now. I’ve never tried Stila’s eyeliner before, but I absolutely LOVE these colors! I’m especially excited about the olive color – I think it’s called Moray – and the beige color, which is Angelfish.  Assuming the quality is up to par, this is a GREAT value: five full-size eyeliners for $32.00 (one Smudge Stick retails for $20.00).

Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara, Anastasia Brow Wiz, and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

Now, these three products have a lot of hype, and I’m excited about trying them. The Pixiwoos have used Eyeko mascara and Anastasia Brow Wiz in a lot of their videos; hopefully, they live up to their reputations! One of the Sephora sales ladies recommended the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – it’s suppose to be great for oily skin. The Battle of the Shine is a continuous one for me, so I hope it works!

Well, those are the high points from my epic haul! I got a few other goodies, and I’ll be posting reviews soon! If you have any opinions about these products, hit me up in the comments – I’d love to get someone else’s take. Happy shopping!