Hey everybody,
I know I really do fail at keeping this thing up to date. I tend to go through little updating spurts and then dont update for awhile, and I apologize! It's just things have been so busy!
Big news - I recently moved out on my own (to my first apartment) in June and I couldn't be happier! So I've been busy with work and school, trying to find a balance so I can do well and still be able to pay my bills. I'll be starting school full time in September so it will be my first month being in school full time and working part time. I hope I don't get TOO stressed.
Anyways, I'm going to attempt to post some more updates sometime soon. I seem to have a lot of down time lately, so it would be a perfect opportunity to do so. Lets see what I can come up with!
Stay tuned!
July 27, 2011
April 2, 2011
Revlon Scented Nailpolish - Gum Drop
Stopped by Walmart the other day with a friend of mine to see if I could find any nailpolish colors that reminded me of spring. I just need to say that I personally loved the Nicole by OPI Justin Bieber collection. The colors are actually pretty! I thought they were a little costly though, at almost $10 a bottle..
Anyways, I ended up buying two Revlon polishes.
These pictures are much better in terms of color accuracy; it's a lot harder to capture true color when a polish is metallic/shimmery.
Scented? Yeah, weird I know. I thought it was strange, but that's not the reason I bought it. I really liked the pastel purple color. It's kind of like a lilac purple. The finish of this polish is more like a creme, there is no shimmer what so ever and it dries to a glossy finish.
However, I had a problem with how sheer this stuff was. Again, I needed at least 3-4 coats of color! Maybe I'm doing it wrong or something...but I'm not completely giving up on this polish because of that. I thought the color was very pretty and unique, and after a couple coats it looks very nice! I don't mind putting the extra time and effort into my nails, but this could be a problem for others.
As for the scented thing? IT ACTUALLY SMELLS GOOD when it dries! My nails smell like marshmallows. Or some form of candy. So, I definitely think this is a good pick when it comes to spring colors.
I paid about $4 or $5 CAD at Walmart for these. You can also find Revlon polishes at your local drugstore.
Anyways, I ended up buying two Revlon polishes.
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| Revlon Scented Nailpolish - Gum Drop |
These pictures are much better in terms of color accuracy; it's a lot harder to capture true color when a polish is metallic/shimmery.
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| Revlon Scented Nailpolish - Gum Drop |
Scented? Yeah, weird I know. I thought it was strange, but that's not the reason I bought it. I really liked the pastel purple color. It's kind of like a lilac purple. The finish of this polish is more like a creme, there is no shimmer what so ever and it dries to a glossy finish.
However, I had a problem with how sheer this stuff was. Again, I needed at least 3-4 coats of color! Maybe I'm doing it wrong or something...but I'm not completely giving up on this polish because of that. I thought the color was very pretty and unique, and after a couple coats it looks very nice! I don't mind putting the extra time and effort into my nails, but this could be a problem for others.
As for the scented thing? IT ACTUALLY SMELLS GOOD when it dries! My nails smell like marshmallows. Or some form of candy. So, I definitely think this is a good pick when it comes to spring colors.
I paid about $4 or $5 CAD at Walmart for these. You can also find Revlon polishes at your local drugstore.
March 30, 2011
ORLY Nail Lacquer - It's Up to Blue
Spring is finally here! The weather is starting to warm up in this chilly little city of mine, and the snow is finally starting to melt :) I thought I would celebrate by taking a break from all the deep and dark nail polishes I've been wearing all winter, and do something a little more bright and cheerful.
I would have really loved to do a spring inspired pastel color, but unfortunately I didn't have many on hand. This was suitable enough to ring in the spring season, because it reminded me of an Easter egg.
Eventually I may need to take a trip down to my local Sally's/Shoppers and see if China Glaze, Essie or any other brands have released any pretty new spring colors yet!
The pictures don't really do it justice. I tried all kinds of lighting to try and get the color as accurate as possible, but it was showing up a little more on the blue side in photos when it's really a beautiful turquoise. I had to edit the pictures to get the coloring as close as possible! This had a metallic finish, I'd say. It was difficult to pick up the really gorgeous shimmer this color has when you put it on. You can see a little bit in the pictures if you look closely. It also reflects really pretty in the light but I couldn't get that, either.
Just a little disclaimer here: I don't have the most wonderfully maintained hands/nails ever, nor am I very good at painting them LOL. I'm sure I will get better as I post more of these. I'm also going to attempt to grow out my nails. But the line of work I'm in right now makes it difficult to have pretty hands and nails. So please, don't judge my for my poorly painted nails or chapped hands and ugly cuticles!
The only thing I didn't like about this nail polish was that it was really watery and thin. I had to apply 3-4 coats of color in order to get it to actually show up nicely. Add that in with a base coat and top coat, and wow that's a lot of coats of nail polish!
ORLY nail polishes are about $7.50, and are sold at Sally Beauty Supply (which is where I got mine), or you can order them online via their website http://www.orlybeauty.com/.
I would have really loved to do a spring inspired pastel color, but unfortunately I didn't have many on hand. This was suitable enough to ring in the spring season, because it reminded me of an Easter egg.
Eventually I may need to take a trip down to my local Sally's/Shoppers and see if China Glaze, Essie or any other brands have released any pretty new spring colors yet!
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| ORLY - It's Up to Blue |
The pictures don't really do it justice. I tried all kinds of lighting to try and get the color as accurate as possible, but it was showing up a little more on the blue side in photos when it's really a beautiful turquoise. I had to edit the pictures to get the coloring as close as possible! This had a metallic finish, I'd say. It was difficult to pick up the really gorgeous shimmer this color has when you put it on. You can see a little bit in the pictures if you look closely. It also reflects really pretty in the light but I couldn't get that, either.
 |
| This is probably the most color accurate picture |
The only thing I didn't like about this nail polish was that it was really watery and thin. I had to apply 3-4 coats of color in order to get it to actually show up nicely. Add that in with a base coat and top coat, and wow that's a lot of coats of nail polish!
ORLY nail polishes are about $7.50, and are sold at Sally Beauty Supply (which is where I got mine), or you can order them online via their website http://www.orlybeauty.com/.
March 29, 2011
E.L.F Swatches - Eyeshadow quad, Studio Blush and Shimmer palette
Here are a few swatches of the items I received in my E.L.F order a few days ago. All photos are taken in natural light, with no flash. As always, click the image to see the larger version.
All items can be bought from E.L.F's website http://www.eyeslipsface.com. Studio items shown sell for $3.00 USD and the eyeshadow is $1.00 USD.
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| Studio Blush - Candid Coral (left) and Peachy Keen (right) |
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| Swatches of Studio blush |
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| Studio Shimmer Palette |
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| Shimmer palette wwatches, colors are in the same order as they are in the palette |
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| Brightening Eye Color in Butternut |
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| Swatches appear in the same order as they are in the quad |
All items can be bought from E.L.F's website http://www.eyeslipsface.com. Studio items shown sell for $3.00 USD and the eyeshadow is $1.00 USD.
March 28, 2011
E.L.F Review & Swatches - Luscious Liquid Lipsticks
Where to buy: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/
Description [from website]: e.l.f Essentials Luscious Liquid Lipstick therapy is here. Intensive hydrating agents along with natural pigments leave lips with long-lasting color and moisture. This luscious liquid lipstick creates wearable color that flatters a multitude of skin tones and looks.
Price: $1.00 USD (approx. $.99 CAD)
I would like to start off by saying that I did not have very high expectations for these at all. I had read many reviews online before purchasing, some of them good but a lot of them bad! However, I figured if I ordered them and they didn't work well as lipsticks, I would at least have some new lip glosses I could use.
Quality: 4/5
The reason I gave these a 4 out of 5 is because they really don't perform that well as lipsticks. They tend to go on pretty sheer, which I kind of figured would happen. I found that with the deeper colors though, they gave a lot more of a color pay off. The formula of it was pretty good too, it went on a little on the thick side (which I really like), and felt great on the lips. It wasn't too sticky, but it made your lips feel really nice and smooth! It also had a kind of...pepperminty feel when I put it on. It didn't taste or smell like peppermint, but it made the lips tingle. It was very very slight, nothing like a lip plumper at all. It was kind of refreshing! The smell of the product is also pretty nice, too. The website's describe of the product claims that it is long lasting. I would have to disagree with this, as it wears more like a gloss and is not like a lipstick or stain at all.
Price/Value: 5/5
For $1.00, I honestly have nothing to complain about. Although the color pay off was a bit of a let down, it can still function as a really nice gloss. I doubt I would be able to find a gloss of similar quality for the same price tag, so that's why this gets a 5 out of 5 on this one.
Packaging: 3/5
The only thing I don't really like about these is the packaging. I'm not a fan of the twist bottoms to get the product out. I had to twist it at least 20 times the first time I used them, and I was freaked out that I would twist too much and it would waste a bunch of product. Also, not really liking the white fuzzy applicator...I find that it absorbs a lot of product and ends up wasting quite a bit of it.
Final Thoughts:
I would more then likely buy these again, just because they are so inexpensive and work great as glosses. The color pay off is very sheer, but I think this can be a good thing! You can wear them alone (for a little hint of color) or on top of a lipstick for a unique color combination. My favorite out of the three I bought would have to be perfect pink, as it gave me just the right amount of pink.
Overall Score: 12/15
All pictures taken in natural daylight with no flash, and swatched on bare lips.
The reason I gave these a 4 out of 5 is because they really don't perform that well as lipsticks. They tend to go on pretty sheer, which I kind of figured would happen. I found that with the deeper colors though, they gave a lot more of a color pay off. The formula of it was pretty good too, it went on a little on the thick side (which I really like), and felt great on the lips. It wasn't too sticky, but it made your lips feel really nice and smooth! It also had a kind of...pepperminty feel when I put it on. It didn't taste or smell like peppermint, but it made the lips tingle. It was very very slight, nothing like a lip plumper at all. It was kind of refreshing! The smell of the product is also pretty nice, too. The website's describe of the product claims that it is long lasting. I would have to disagree with this, as it wears more like a gloss and is not like a lipstick or stain at all.
Price/Value: 5/5
For $1.00, I honestly have nothing to complain about. Although the color pay off was a bit of a let down, it can still function as a really nice gloss. I doubt I would be able to find a gloss of similar quality for the same price tag, so that's why this gets a 5 out of 5 on this one.
Packaging: 3/5
The only thing I don't really like about these is the packaging. I'm not a fan of the twist bottoms to get the product out. I had to twist it at least 20 times the first time I used them, and I was freaked out that I would twist too much and it would waste a bunch of product. Also, not really liking the white fuzzy applicator...I find that it absorbs a lot of product and ends up wasting quite a bit of it.
Final Thoughts:
I would more then likely buy these again, just because they are so inexpensive and work great as glosses. The color pay off is very sheer, but I think this can be a good thing! You can wear them alone (for a little hint of color) or on top of a lipstick for a unique color combination. My favorite out of the three I bought would have to be perfect pink, as it gave me just the right amount of pink.
Overall Score: 12/15
All pictures taken in natural daylight with no flash, and swatched on bare lips.
March 26, 2011
FINALLY got my E.L.F haul!
After waiting nearly a month, I finally received my E.L.F haul on Friday! It was kind of exciting though, because I didn't remember everything I had ordered until I received it. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but when I get my packages it's kind of like Christmas :)
I managed to get swatches and pictures of most of the things I ordered, so expect an entry with those soon.
Anyways, here are some pictures of what I got to hold you over until then.
Click the 'read more' link for more pictures, and a list of what I bought!
I managed to get swatches and pictures of most of the things I ordered, so expect an entry with those soon.
Anyways, here are some pictures of what I got to hold you over until then.
Click the 'read more' link for more pictures, and a list of what I bought!
March 7, 2011
Review - Coastal Scents Prism Palette
Coastal Scents: Prism Palette
Where to buy: Coastal Scents Online - Prism Palette
Description [from website]: This palette truly is a Prism of Colors. Ranging from warm neutral tones, rich blues and greens, vibrant yellows and reds, flirty pinks and cool tones too. The colors in this case are perfect for everyday wear because the majority of them are matte. There are a few shades that are a true Satin finish, with only a hint of Shimmer. Highly pigmented shades, all shadows can also be applied wet for a deeper longer lasting effect.
Price: $19.95USD (approx. $19.42 CAD)
I ordered this palette because of the really awesome spectrum of colors. I own a lot of metallic/shimmery shades and was looking for some vibrant colors that were matte/non shimmery/sparkly finishes. Since I already owned the shimmer version of their original 88 palette, I was really happy when they came out with this! I did a comparison via the website using pictures of both palettes, and the prism palette seemed to be very different with brighter colors.
When I first received this, I was very impressed by the array of colors. Beautiful browns, yellows, greens, blues, purples, pinks and grays. The eyeshadows are roughly the size of a dime [see below for a picture], but for $20 it's totally worth it, considering that's close to what you would pay for one eyeshadow from any higher end line.
I swatched every single color on my arm (for swatch purposes, will be up in a later entry), so I think I can say I have a good grasp on how all of the colors in the palette are in terms of quality.
Like the above description said, there are definitely several different finishes included in the palette. This is both good, and bad. Why? Because some of the finishes are much better then others. I found that some of the colors swatched on very...chalky. However, there weren't very many that did this (thankfully!). Even so, I found that with a good base they went on a lot smoother. In terms of quality, I definitely wouldn't recommend wearing these eyeshadows without a base. I'm not knocking these eyeshadows because of that; I find that a lot of shadows just work better with a base. Some of the shadows did go one pretty pigmented without a base, though.
I ended up trying out a look with a few of the brown shades in the palette, and I must say I was impressed with the staying power as well! I used them on top of a base, of course. The colors pretty much looked the same at the end of the night as they did when I first put them on - there was very minimal fading. No smudging or anything at all, either.
Overall Thoughts:
I would definitely recommend this product. I think this is a really great palette, for beginners and for people who are looking to stock up their kits. The value is really amazing as well, as you are getting 88 eyeshadows for $20! You're paying roughly .23 cents for each eyeshadow - It's a steal!
The quality is also surprisingly great, the colors are very vibrant and beautiful with a great selection. The packaging is also very nice and sleek and great for storage; it fits into my traincase perfectly. Just a really great buy, in my opinion.
Description [from website]: This palette truly is a Prism of Colors. Ranging from warm neutral tones, rich blues and greens, vibrant yellows and reds, flirty pinks and cool tones too. The colors in this case are perfect for everyday wear because the majority of them are matte. There are a few shades that are a true Satin finish, with only a hint of Shimmer. Highly pigmented shades, all shadows can also be applied wet for a deeper longer lasting effect.
Price: $19.95USD (approx. $19.42 CAD)
I ordered this palette because of the really awesome spectrum of colors. I own a lot of metallic/shimmery shades and was looking for some vibrant colors that were matte/non shimmery/sparkly finishes. Since I already owned the shimmer version of their original 88 palette, I was really happy when they came out with this! I did a comparison via the website using pictures of both palettes, and the prism palette seemed to be very different with brighter colors.
When I first received this, I was very impressed by the array of colors. Beautiful browns, yellows, greens, blues, purples, pinks and grays. The eyeshadows are roughly the size of a dime [see below for a picture], but for $20 it's totally worth it, considering that's close to what you would pay for one eyeshadow from any higher end line.
I swatched every single color on my arm (for swatch purposes, will be up in a later entry), so I think I can say I have a good grasp on how all of the colors in the palette are in terms of quality.
Like the above description said, there are definitely several different finishes included in the palette. This is both good, and bad. Why? Because some of the finishes are much better then others. I found that some of the colors swatched on very...chalky. However, there weren't very many that did this (thankfully!). Even so, I found that with a good base they went on a lot smoother. In terms of quality, I definitely wouldn't recommend wearing these eyeshadows without a base. I'm not knocking these eyeshadows because of that; I find that a lot of shadows just work better with a base. Some of the shadows did go one pretty pigmented without a base, though.
I ended up trying out a look with a few of the brown shades in the palette, and I must say I was impressed with the staying power as well! I used them on top of a base, of course. The colors pretty much looked the same at the end of the night as they did when I first put them on - there was very minimal fading. No smudging or anything at all, either.
Overall Thoughts:
I would definitely recommend this product. I think this is a really great palette, for beginners and for people who are looking to stock up their kits. The value is really amazing as well, as you are getting 88 eyeshadows for $20! You're paying roughly .23 cents for each eyeshadow - It's a steal!
The quality is also surprisingly great, the colors are very vibrant and beautiful with a great selection. The packaging is also very nice and sleek and great for storage; it fits into my traincase perfectly. Just a really great buy, in my opinion.
Quality: 4/5
Price/Value: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5
Overall Score: 14/15
Price/Value: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5
Overall Score: 14/15
February 25, 2011
Coastal Scents order came in!
Hello bloggers!
Yesterday was exciting, I received one of my makeup packages in the mail! I also placed an order with La Senza and I received that package too :) I love getting packages, opening them up is like Christmas (even though I ordered it myself and know what's in them!).
My coastal scents order actually came pretty quickly, I was surprised! It arrived just before two weeks.
I received:
I was also really impressed because of the freebies they sent me. I love ordering with CS because they usually send little pigment samples along with your order. This time they sent me a cute little set of pink handled mini brushes! As well as a sample of one of their glitters. The brushes aren't anything special, they're not good quality or anything. But honestly I cannot complain about something they gave me for free. I'll find uses for them, I'm sure.
I'll be reviewing/swatching the products I have received so far in a future entry, and will probably post a video about it aswell. Keep checking back!
For now, here are some pictures in case you were curious about the palettes or brushes.
Click the 'read more' link for the rest of my haul, including more pictures and descriptions.
February 18, 2011
Skincare 101 - How to Take Care of Your Skin
Everybody knows that a flawless foundation application always starts with a well prepped canvas, which would be your skin. Taking good care of your skin will definitely benefit your appearance now, as well as in the future. In this entry, I'll take you through a step by step guide of my tips and tricks in order to take proper care of your skin. I discuss the proper techniques to use when cleansing the skin and how to choose a cleanser, whether or not toners are necessary, as well as other options you have to maintaining a beautiful complexion.
February 11, 2011
New Look + Huge haul on the Way!
Hi everyone!
I finally managed to finish the new layout after a LOT of frustration and googling. Surprisingly, I did everything without photoshop, yay! I definitely need to get on top of installing it on my laptop, though. Anyways, what does everyone think of the new layout? Does anybody have any suggestions for some more pages I can add onto the tabs up there? I've been trying to brainstorm but I'm coming up blank.
EDIT: Due to a problem with Paypal, my ELF order ended up not going through. So unfortunately, I won't be reordering until they have another really good promotion going on :( I'm very upset about this, because I really needed all those extra brushes.
I ordered a lot of 50 eyelashes (5 different styles) from eBay.From Camera Ready Cosmetics, I ordered some OOC lip tars. I am beyond excited to receive these! I got 5, primary colors and white and black so that I can mix colors instead of spending a million dollars on several tubes of the stuff. If I need to, I can always order more colors down the road. For now I got: Harlot, RX, Traffic, Feathered and Tarred.
I also placed an order at Coastal Scents for the Prism Palette, Smokey Palette, Destiny Detail Mini Brush, and Pro Blending Fluff Brush
It's nice to finally be stocking up my kit...buuut I think I'm going to need to hide my credit card for awhile!
Expect reviews on a lot of these products once I receive my order(s)! Stay tuned!
I finally managed to finish the new layout after a LOT of frustration and googling. Surprisingly, I did everything without photoshop, yay! I definitely need to get on top of installing it on my laptop, though. Anyways, what does everyone think of the new layout? Does anybody have any suggestions for some more pages I can add onto the tabs up there? I've been trying to brainstorm but I'm coming up blank.
EDIT: Due to a problem with Paypal, my ELF order ended up not going through. So unfortunately, I won't be reordering until they have another really good promotion going on :( I'm very upset about this, because I really needed all those extra brushes.
I ordered a lot of 50 eyelashes (5 different styles) from eBay.From Camera Ready Cosmetics, I ordered some OOC lip tars. I am beyond excited to receive these! I got 5, primary colors and white and black so that I can mix colors instead of spending a million dollars on several tubes of the stuff. If I need to, I can always order more colors down the road. For now I got: Harlot, RX, Traffic, Feathered and Tarred.
I also placed an order at Coastal Scents for the Prism Palette, Smokey Palette, Destiny Detail Mini Brush, and Pro Blending Fluff Brush
It's nice to finally be stocking up my kit...buuut I think I'm going to need to hide my credit card for awhile!
Expect reviews on a lot of these products once I receive my order(s)! Stay tuned!
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