Updates
Posted on: August 28, 2012
This is the type of blog post I hate writing. The “sorry I’ve been neglecting this blog for so long, but…” posts, where it just sounds like a bunch of excuses that don’t really mean anything. So I’m not going to make any excuses. I am just going to say that I’ve been planning on taking this blog in a little bit of a different direction – more reviews, more photos, swatches, etc. This will take a little bit of time so bear with me as I work on getting the first batch of new content up.
I hope all of you are doing well, and I look forward to continuing to bring you my experiences with the world of beauty. Stay lovely!
Today, OPI announced a collaboration with superstar Mariah Carey. The multi-platinum recording artist will be the inspiration behind a new collection of nail polish set to debut in January 2013.
Says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director:
OPI is thrilled to work with Mariah, an industry icon who loves nails and considers lacquer one of her favorite accessories. With her magnetic personality both on and off the stage, Mariah serves as a great inspiration for beautiful, bold colors.
August’s Most Wanted
Posted on: August 7, 2012
- In: Most Wanted
- 1 Comment
Good morning ladies! After lusting over some of the latest beauty products to hit the market, I’ve narrowed my (admittedly huge) list to include a few of my most-wanted products this month. Check them out and let me know if these are on your wish list, too!
Shade: Opal Lights
1. Maybelline Luminous Lights Eyeshadow Quad
I’ve seen mixed reviews on these around the beauty blogosphere, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to try them for myself – they look too darn pretty to resist!
2. Bliss High Intensity 24-“Heaven” Healing Body Balm
Yes, please! At $35, this ain’t cheap – but I’ll admit I’m intrigued by its claims of 24-hour hydration that will heal dry and damaged skin. My skin could definitely use this level of TLC!
3. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil
I’m a little obsessed with hair oil after trying Sundari’s Neem & Coconut Oil, and this one from Bumble and Bumble looks kind of awesome. Six oils + two extracts supposedly work together to tame flyaways, soften and add shine – sign me up!
Have you tried any of these? What did you think?
Bloom Ambassador Review: Stila “In the Know” Palette & Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel
Posted on: August 6, 2012
This week, I have a review and photos to share with you from my experiences using the Stila In The Know Palette and Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel. First up, the palette!
Stila’s latest palette comes with 10 matte shadows that are perfect for fall. Bonus: You also get a smudge stick eyeliner in a really pretty gray hue. For the look shown in the (bad) photos below, I used the shades Wind, Clay and Earth along with the smudge stick on my top lid. (Wind as a base; Clay as an accent shade and Earth in the crease to give more definition.)
Yes, I just got out of the shower… and I am wearing NO makeup except eyes & lip gloss.
I don’t use matte shadows very often, so these were a nice way to play around with them because they’re all so neutral and wearable. I didn’t experience too many issues with fallout, and the shades lasted for a good 8 hours with primer. They’re also extremely easy to blend, so you can create a variety of eye looks with one palette. For $39, this is truly a budget-friendly purchase if you plan on using them frequently – the bonus smudge stick is nice too!
Overall:
LOVE the versatility of these shades and the staying power. It seems pricey up front, but for 10 shadows + a liner, you really are getting quite a bit for your buck. These are great work appropriate shades, too. DEFINITELY rating this a 5/5 stars… now I want more Stila palettes!
Despite my happiness with the Stila palette, I cannot say the same for the next product I was tasked to review: Dr. Dennis Gross Xtra Strength Alpha Beta Peel.
Now, I’ve used peels in the past before and never experienced any adverse reactions. Unfortunately, when I used this peel my face DID NOT LIKE IT. Seriously, I had to deal with major redness, irritation and breakouts – after one use. I was supposed to use this for 5 days, but I had such a horrible reaction the first day that I was afraid to continue using the product. My skin is just now back to normal!
Granted, I should have done a patch test first – but given my skin’s tolerance for peels I’ve used previously, I didn’t think that was going to be a problem. Unfortunately, this product didn’t work for me. Maybe on the right type of skin, this peel would be effective. Unfortunately, I am going to have to give this 1/5 stars.
Both of these products can be purchased at Bloom.com. Have you tried either of these before? What were your thoughts?
Disclaimer: These products were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of testing and review. All opinions expressed herein are my own, and are not influenced by compensation, monetary or otherwise.
As far as drugstore brands go, I never used to care much about L’Oreal. However, that all changed when they came out with my #1 favorite product, which you’ll find below – along with four other L’Oreal products I can’t live without, now that I’ve given them a chance.
Shade: Endless Sea
1. L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow
It’s no secret I’m in love with this shadow. Since its debut, I haven’t stopped talking about it – and even got my sister hooked on the unbelievably budge-proof shades. I have several of these and they are always in my makeup bag! At some point, I know I’ll have all of these shades – or at least a good portion of them!
2. L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner
My sister turned me onto this eyeliner – I needed a replacement for my Maybelline, which wasn’t impressing me anymore. This is seriously one of the best budget-friendly liners I’ve tried, and it lasts for a long time. Plus, I like how I don’t have to mess with a sharpener. While I don’t know if it wears 16+ hours, it definitely wore 8 hours straight with no fading, smudging or creasing.
Shade: Riotous
3. L’Oreal H.I.P Studio Secrets Metallic Eyeshadow Duo
These highly pigmented shadow duos aren’t for the faint of heart, but they definitely deliver an impact. I have one of these and am super impressed by how blendable and bold these shades are. Plus, the metallic finish adds just enough shimmer without being too over the top.
4. L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base
I had a sample packet of this, and I don’t know why I haven’t run out to buy the full size – it’s pretty awesome. It made my skin look super smooth and helped provide a good canvas for foundation. While it isn’t the best primer I’ve ever used, I do like how it feels on my skin. It helped even out my skin tone, as well!
5. L’Oreal Everstrong Deep Replenishing Mask
I really like how this hair mask is sulfate-free, but that’s not even the best part about it. The best part? How may hair looks afterwards! Not only did this mask help tame my massive frizz problem, but it left my locks feeling super soft and healthy. Plus it has a really pleasant coconut scent that isn’t overwhelming.
What are your favorite L’Oreal products?
Bloom Ambassador Review: T’eez Bounce Me Styling Cream, Build Me Volume Spray & Sundari Hair Treatment Oil
Posted on: July 30, 2012
WARNING: Please excuse my non-makeup face; I just wanted to get these done and out of the way!!
My latest Bloom Ambassador Box featured a variety of fun products, several of which were hair care items. I’ll be reviewing the following items:
- T’eez Bounce Me Styling Cream
- T’eez Build Me Volume Spray
- Sundari Hair Treatment Oil
I apologize in advance for the photo quality, but I will be as descriptive as possible in order to give you the best idea of how these products worked for my hair. First up, the styling cream & volume spray!
I received a full size Bounce Me Styling Cream ($22.99) and a sample size of Build Me Volume Spray ($19.99). These products can be worn alone or in conjunction, which is how I chose to use them for the purpose of this review.
I rarely blow dry my hair, but we all know that air drying can often cause frizz and other weird hair issues. My hair is already pretty frizzy and fine, so I was hoping these products would remedy that situation. After showering, I towel dried my hair and applied the styling cream from mid-shaft to the ends of my hair, scrunching gently with my fingers to help bring out my hair’s natural texture. Then, I sprayed the volume spray on my roots to help lift and volumize. I used a comb to help tame flyaways and frizz on the top of my head, then waited for my hair to dry and these products to work their magic.
As you can see from the photos below, my results were pretty impressive – at least to me! The styling cream helped bring out the natural wave in my hair and held it there all day without making my hair feel sticky or crunchy. The spray also made my hair appear fuller – my hair has never looked this way with any product before, and I have tried a LOT of volumizing products.
As you can see (Especially in the first and third photos,) my hair has little flips and curls that, I assure you, were NOT there before I used these products. Also, ignore the dates – I am using a super old camera and have no idea how to change the date, haha! I’m not much of a hairstylist, but with these products I don’t have to be. I can have soft, full hair with a natural-looking wave without touching a styling tool. If it weren’t for the price, these would be definite must-have’s in my book.
Pros:
- Light scent, not overpowering at all
- Non-tacky or sticky
- Great volume at roots
- All-day hold
- Helps bring out hair’s natural texture
Cons:
- Price – it’s definitely more of a splurge product for me, rather than a necessity
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Next, I reviewed the sample sachets I received of Sundari Neem and Coconut Hair Treatment Oil ($34). I was really tentative about using this. Hair oils on my fine hair tend to leave me with greasy roots, but because this is rinsed out I was hopeful I wouldn’t have any issues. The directions state to apply to hair 30 minutes before showering, or to leave on overnight for the best results. I decided to leave it on overnight to avoid sitting around for half an hour with oil on my head.
The scent was super strong, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant and faded quite a bit by the time I woke up in the morning ( it’s a bit medicinal smelling). As soon as I hopped in the shower and felt the water hit my hair and scalp, I was amazed – my hair literally felt like silk. I shampooed and conditioned as normal, and when I went to style my hair I found that it was incredibly manageable and didn’t require any styling cream or other hair potion like usual. Plus, it even seemed to cut down on frizz (which as you know, I have a huge problem with.)
Pros:
- Leaves hair feeling SUPER soft
- Cuts down on frizz
- Makes hair more manageable for styling
Cons:
- Price – it’s way too expensive for every day use
- Messy application – since it’s a thin oil, it can be a bit of a pain to apply
- Smell – While the smell didn’t bother me, I can definitely see how it can be overpowering to some people.
Overall: 4/5 Stars
I really love the condition of my hair after using this oil treatment, and wish I could afford to regularly keep this in my medicine cabinet when I want soft, shiny and manageable hair. If you feel like splurging, I totally recommend it.
All of the products featured in this post can be purchased at Bloom.com. Have you tried any of these before? Do you agree or disagree with my reviews?
Disclaimer: All products mentioned here were provided to me free of charge for testing and review purposes. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by compensation, monetary or otherwise. Post contains an affiliate link, which rewards me when you make your first $50+ order on Bloom.com.
My July Beauty Favorites
Posted on: July 18, 2012
This month, I’ve picked a few favorites from my beauty cabinet that continue to impress me. In no particular order, here they are!
1. Color Club Nail Polish in Love ‘Em Leave ‘Em
Despite the fact that I’m drawn to brights and neon colors during this time of the year, the pretty light golden brown of this polish is seriously gorgeous. Plus, it’s holographic and shimmery in sunlight! Seriously, look up a swatch of this shade – you’ll fall in love. Normally I’m ADD when it comes to polish and have to change it every few days, but this puppy has been on my nails for a week now and holding up nicely.
($3.10, Head2ToeBeauty.com)
2. NYX Ultra Pearl Mania
These are a lot smaller than I realized initially, but a little goes a long way. This loose shimmer eyeshadow is really pretty and can be used to create a variety of looks (I have Orange Zest, and it’s a very nice, bright orange – not clownish, though.) The shimmer is very visible, but it’s flattering and not over the top. Plus, it’s super easy to blend.
($3, CherryCulture.com)
3. Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter
You can read my review of this body butter here – if you do, you’ll know why it’s made the list of favorites this month! Not only does it smell absolutely divine (especially when you layer it with the matching perfume,) but it’s very moisturizing and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth almost all day long. It’s also fast absorbing and non-greasy, so you don’t have to worry about having an icky, heavy film on your skin after applying.
($18, Bloom.com)
What beauty products are you currently loving this month?
Exude Lipstick – named as the top lipstick of 2012 by InStyle Magazine – has made its storefront debut at Beauty Bar! Previously, this lipstick was only available at the company’s website.
Says Diane Breidenbach, Founder of Exude Lipstick:
We are excited to bring Exude into a retail store and Beauty Bar is such a great fit for the brand. We look forward to enhancing the customer experience by allowing them to see our technology and amazing color palette first-hand.
This week, I’d like to highlight a few of my favorite Maybelline products for this Brand Spotlight. I know that a lot of women seem to have a love/hate (sometimes just hate) relationship with the brand, and while I have definitely encountered some duds there are a few products that continue to impress me every time I use them.
Shade Pictured: Bad to the Bronze
1. Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadow
I was hooked on these shadows the moment I tried them, so I’m glad I bought into all the hype and decided to give these a go. I have a few shades, and all of them are not only gorgeously pigmented but seriously long lasting, too. Do they last 24 hours? Heck if I know since I’m long past my “partying all night” days (mostly…), but I can tell you they last a good 8+ hours with very little to no fading or creasing.
Shade Pictured: Candy Coral
2. Dream Bouncy Blush
There were a lot of mixed reviews on these when they first came out, but I’m glad I decided to give them a try. I love how light and airy they are – there’s something so fun about the sponge-like texture. Plus, the color is buildable – you can opt for a sheer flush of color or build it up for a more eye popping shade. Plus, it lasts a decent amount of time on my finicky skin.
3. Shine Sensational Lip Gloss
If it were up to me, I’d have ALL of the flavors available from this line – the few I do have are simply delectable. They add a gorgeous color and a high-gloss shine, but they’re not as sticky as you’d think. Yes, there is definitely SOME stickiness, but that kind of thing has never bothered me. My favorite? Crazy for Caramel – it tastes and smells so heavenly, you have to try it to believe it!
Shade Pictured: Disco Pink
4. Color Sensational High Shine Lipstick
These are soooo pigmented and make my lips look super shiny, like I have gloss on – but I don’t. Since I normally like to apply gloss over my lipstick, these are great to have on hand when I just want to swipe and go. Honestly, if you haven’t tried these yet, do so – it doesn’t feel drying like other lipsticks can and it really does what it claims to do.
Shade Pictured: Pink Punch
5. Baby Lips Lip Balm
You can see the review I wrote on these here, and all these months later I still like to have a couple of these balms on hand. I prefer the minty varieties (like Peppermint) more than the colored ones, because I feel they’re more moisturizing. Plus, the colored ones make chapped lips REALLY noticeable, I’ve discovered – I keep those for when my lips are in good condition. Overall, though, these are great balms for the price and I love the fun, colorful packaging.
There you have it – my homage to Maybelline. What are your favorite Maybelline products? Any that stand out to you over all others?
My Must-Have Pedicure Products
Posted on: July 11, 2012
- In: Nails
- Leave a Comment
I’ll admit, I’m pretty lax when it comes to my pedicures… a little trimming/filing if needed, a coat of polish and then I’m over it. However, it’s sandal season and I’d like to take more time with my pedicures than a quick paint and go. For that reason, I’ve found several must-have pedicure products that (hopefully) help whip my feet into shape!
1. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Foot Creme
This may be a little TMI, but my feet are seriously gross. I have calluses and they’re just overly rough and dry. I’ve only used this foot cream a couple of times, but I really have high hopes for it. My feet feel much softer the moment I smooth it on and with continued use I should see a dramatic improvement in the overall condition of my feet. I would definitely recommend it!
($4.39, Drugstore.com)
2. Foot File
I use a cheapo one I purchased at Ulta for $2 because I don’t feel the need to spend a lot on these types of tools. However, you can look around to find one that works for you. Any type of foot file, pumice stone, or something like the Ped-Egg will work. Just make sure to read the directions for whichever tool you buy – some require you to wet your feet, while others (like the Ped-Egg) are used on dry skin only.
3. Nail Clippers/File
This sounds self explanatory, but it’s absolutely essential to a good pedicure. Whether you prefer glass files or standard emery boards, find one you like and stick with it. A good pair of toenail clippers will come in handy as well. I prefer to use a separate clipper for my fingernails and my toenails, because regular fingernail clippers just don’t seem to work as well when I’m giving myself a pedicure. When clipping, just make sure to clip straight across and file to the desired shape.
4. Base Coat & Top Coat
I’ll admit, I tend to be lazy with this step when I’m doing my toenails. However, after an annoying staining incident I realize that I need to be using a base coat every time I paint my toes. You should also use a top coat as well to help protect the polish and give it a finished, glossy look. You can also reapply top coat every couple of days or so to help extend the life of your polish as well as perk it up when the polish has dulled but you don’t feel like a complete polish change.
The base/top coats I use: Zoya Anchor (base) and CND Super Shiny Top Coat.
These are my recommended pedicure essentials. I am sure a lot of people have a different list than I do (like a cuticle remover, cuticle oil, orange stick, etc,) but I just don’t see the reason for some of those tools when I am doing an at-home pedicure. What products do you find absolutely essential when doing an at-home pedi?
A Lovely You - Makeup Tips for Every Woman 