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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Electro Baby Lips Review!

Electro Baby Lips
I've always been a fan of the Baby Lips collection so when I saw that Walmart had a new display of them, I picked up the shades Strike a Rose and Pink Shock because I thought would look really nice on the lips. Baby Lips are a great option for someone who wants a pop of color in lip balm form. The formula isn't the most moisturizing in the world, but I feel that it lives up to the claims and leaves my lips feeling soft and supple. They smell yummy, the packaging is adorable, cheap price, and last a decent amount of time. Pink Shock is a more wearable shade of pink that you can wear anywhere whereas Strike a Rose has a more bold, hot pink sheen to the lips that would be perfect for going out. The pictures that I took don't do them justice, especially when it comes to Strike a Rose... you just have to see them yourself! so if you're looking for a cheap tinted lip balm, I'd recommend these :)
Left: Bare Lips
Middle: Strike a Rose
Right: Pink Shock

Monday, September 16, 2013

Sleek Blush by 3 in Flame Review!

Blush by 3 in Flame (12.49)

The texture of this blush is super soft (almost powdery) and too much pressure from the brush can kick up excess product. Each of these blushes have amazing pigmentation (hence one needs use a light hand using these or else its very easy to end up with clown cheeks.) They blend really easily with barely any effort and that's what I love about these blushes! Since they are intensely pigmented, each of these lasts a good 6+ hours on my cheeks, the more pigmented shade (Bonfire – middle) lasts the longest of about 9-10 hours on me. The intense pigmentation may make it slightly difficult for beginners to use but its easy to get the hang of how less product is required once you use it a couple of times.

Molten

Molten
: Dusty peach/coral shade w/ fine gold shimmer that gives a nice sheen on the cheeks. It is the most subtle and natural shade of this trio.







Bonfire


Bonfire
: Matte red shade w/ very intense pigmentation that gives a nice warm glow on the cheeks.









Furnace


Furnace
: Orange/Coral shade w/ very fine gold shimmer
(fav shade of the 3!)








Flame appears pretty intimidating in the pan but once I swatched them, I realized that for me they aren't the unforgiving type at all. The blushes allow you to layer them and achieve your desired boldness. However, because the colors in this palette lean more burnt, I do think that this palette would flatter medium to dark skin tones more.


Pros:
  • Compact packaging & comes with a big mirror
  • Soft texture
  • Intense pigmentation
  • Blends very easily with light application
  • Excellent staying power (6+ hours for the lightest shade, 9+ hours for the darkest)
  • Great quality and quantity for the price
  • Ships to the U.S
  • Reasonable shipping charges
  • Available in 5 shade combinations
Cons:
  • Only available to buy in stores in the UK
  • Bonfire can be difficult to blend with heavy application
  • No tracking number

Saturday, July 20, 2013

L'oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Review

L'oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder in Sun Beige

Since I'm such a make-up junkie, I couldn't resist on trying out this new foundation. The concept of transforming a liquid foundation to a powder finish just seemed too interesting to pass up. Since it's summer, I tend to stay away from thick, full coverage foundations because heat + oily skin = bad news. I wanted a lightweight foundation with natural coverage so this foundation was perfect :) I personally love this foundation, it seriously doesn't even feel like I'm even wearing any foundation. I read a lot of reviews prior to buying this foundation and a lot of people were complaining that it wasn't full coverage but that wasn't what the product claimed to have. This foundation is meant to be lightweight & look natural, as if it were your bare skin (hence the name.) If you're looking for a full coverage foundation, this definitely isn't for you. If you want smooth, airbrushed looking skin, I'd definitely recommend trying this out!

P.S: Keep in mind that I set my foundation with a little powder to prevent my face from getting shiny since I have extremely oily skin.

Pros:
  • VERY lightweight
  • Evened out skin tone
  • Beautiful matte finish
  • Easy to blend
  • Contains SPF18 & didn't oxidize
  • Leaves skin super smooth
  • Lasted for about 8 hours
Cons: 
  • Packaging - glass bottle + no pump = laaaaame
    Since the product is so liquidy, application can be pretty messy
  • A little pricey for the amount of product you're getting (~$11 at Walmart)

Monday, July 8, 2013

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin Review

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin in Med/Deep ($12)
Claims:
  • Immediately mattifies
  • Minimizes pores
  • Conceals imperfections to give skin a naturally smooth, flawless finish
  • Instantly makes skin look naturally healthy, even-toned, and smooth
  • Won’t clog pores/breakouts
  • Oil-free & non-greasy
I saw a ton of negative reviews for the regular Garnier skin renew BB cream, which really put me off to trying this product since many people said it wasn’t good for people with oily skin. But when they came out with the combination to oily formula I had to try it! This product comes in 3 shades: Light/Medium, Medium/Deep (My shade), and Deep.

 Pros:
  • Very smooth
  • Easy to blend
  • Natural finish
  • Evened out my skin tone
  • Covered most of my blemishes
  • Stayed matte for quite a while throughout the day
  • Contains SPF & didn't oxidize 
  • Doesn't look cakey

Cons:
  • Can’t store it with the cap side down =/ You lose a bunch of product in the cap and it gives it a messy unclean look. But If you can find a way to store it cap side up then you’ll be fine! I store mine on its side, I still get product in the cap but not as much as when its cap side down.
  • A little pricey (I had a $4 coupon so if you do decide to buy it, try to find coupons first!)
  • Very liquidy

Overall, I really like this BB cream & would definitely re-purchase :)

Monday, June 3, 2013

Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox Review!

As a part of the beauty blog community, I had the opportunity to try out a few products that were sent to me from Influenster :) Since they were so gracious enough to send me these items with no charge, I was asked to review these products for you guys & let you know how if I liked them or not! Most of these products are super affordable & easy to find in many drugstores :)


             
           
Reeses Kandy Bar Cake

The first thing that caught my eye once I opened the box was this Reeses Kandy Bar Cake LOL. If you knew me well enough, you'd know how much I loooooooooove sweets :D Once I took my first bite, I could not stop eating it guys, that's how delicious it is. I'm not really going to go into detail about this treat, but it's definitely something I would repurchase! Unfortunately I don't know what grocery stores sell these so I'm not sure how much they cost :(











Secret Outlast Completely Clean Gel Deodorant ($4)
The second product in my box was a product I've tried before and have repurchased many, many times. Ever since I tried gel deodorants, I will never go back to a solid ever again!

Pros:
  • Lasts all day
  • Smells clean & refreshing 
  • Doesn't leave stains on skin/clothes
  • Doesn't clump up  
  • Affordable & easy to find in stores
Cons:
  • Takes a few minutes to dry  

 Osis+ Texturizing/Mattifying Powder ($20)

I had a love/hate relationship with this product... I'm pretty bummed because this was the product I was most looking forward to using but it was just an "okay" hair product for me. I don't think I would re-purchase this product just because I didn't really like the way it made my hair feel after I applied it. Although it provided tons of volume, I don't think it lasted 24 hours. I will continue to use this on days where I don't want to wash my hair or want to do up-do look.
Pros: 
  • Gives a lot of volume to the roots
  • Doesn't leave a white cast 
  • Leaves a matte finish
  • Nice Packaging
Cons: 
  • Hard to wash out
  • Leaves a weird texture/feeling after applying, sort of like hairspray
  • Smells a little weird



NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm ($3)

          
 I actually really enjoyed this lip balm which is weird because I didn't think I was going to like or even use this product. I received "Big Apple Red" and the amount of color that this lip balm gives to my lips is perfect: it's soft but colorful. I personally enjoy lip balms that are very glossy & feel like butter, so this one was perfect for me :)

Pros: 
  • Very moisturizing
  • Smells good
  • Leaves a nice tint to the lips
  • Affordable & easy to find in stores
Cons: None! 
Without Lip Balm
With Balm


Broadway imPRESS Press-on Nails ($5) 
I have tried these nails in the past & unfortunately they didn't work out for me because the nail sizes are way too big and curved for my fingers :( I'm hoping to give these away to friend so I could see if she likes them, so once I get that figured out I will update asap :)

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Milani Corallina & Flamingo Pose Review!



Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose ($5.49)
The Milani Color Statement Lipsticks have incredible lasting power. These lipsticks stay on your lips for about 5-6 hours. I have eaten entire meals wearing this lipstick and there has still been color on my lips. After wearing this lipstick for a few hours, Flamingo Pose does stain the lips. If you do not like lipsticks that stain, these are not for you. The lipstick didn't dry out my lips during the wear time & remained comfortable :) The Milani Color Statement lipsticks are VERY pigmented! The colors are vibrant and really make a statement, just as the name suggests. Plus, it smells like watermelon :)

WITH FLASH
WITHOUT FLASH
(Lipstick on the left, Blush on the right)

Milani Baked Blush in Corallina (6.49)

Coralina caught my eye because it's a rather unique shade for a drugstore blush - you find a lot of pinks and peaches, but not a bright coral like this. The color is a pigmented true coral, with silver and orange swirls in the pan. It's very flattering for my skin tone & I would assume it would be flattering on every other skin tone as well :) Initially, upon first close look, I could see chunks of silver glitter that didn't seem very pleasant but I'm so happy I decided to take the risk and buy it. The glitter does show up pretty heavy when swatched on the hand but once I applied it to my face, the glitter is not obvious at all. I end up with just a subtle glow/sheen. As soon as I got the product on my brush & tapped off excess, most of the glitter just kinda falls off and leaves the true color of the blush on your brush. This is a rather pigmented shade so use caution when applying! The brush that comes with it I do not recommend you use, it's too stiff and it'll just leave an awkward streak of red on your cheeks.




Saturday, May 18, 2013

Clarisonic Mia 2 Review :)


Clarisonic Mia 2 in Sea Breeze
Sensitive Brush Head (i really need to get a new brush head soon LOL)

Claims:
  • Cleanses 6x better than with your hands alone in just 60 seconds
  • Works with skin, not against it, to gently massage away impurities trapped within pores
  • Prepares skin for better absorption of creams, serums and moisturizers
  • Gentle enough to use 2X a day

Includes:
-1 Sensitive Brush Head
-Universal Voltage Charger
-Protective Travel Case

Features:
-Two speeds (low and normal)
-A one-minute pulsing T-Timer

Price: $120 (I got mine from the navy exchange, so it was a little cheaper & tax-free!)
Retail Price: $150



After using my Clarisonic for almost a month now, here's a list of all the things that I've noticed about my skin ever since I added the Mia2 to my skin regimen!

-Leaves skin feeling and looking healthier
-Removed tons of excess make-up
-Helps skin care products absorb better
-Pores appear smaller
-Reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
-Soft, non-abrasive brush head

I honestly can't believe I waited so long to buy this. I know it's a lot of money to cough up for a skincare product, but for me it was worth every penny! If you are on the fence about buying this because of the price, do not hesitate! It's definitely a HG product for myself & many others. I have oily skin and large pores in the t-zone, and nothing has EVER helped my skin look and feel this good. I've used the Olay Pro-X advanced cleaning system in the past but it isn't nearly as good as the Clarisonic. What I love the most about the Clarisonic is the feeling you get after cleansing. After wearing make-up all day, it just feels so nice to let your skin breathe :)







I use the Clarisonic in a slow circular movement all around the face to make sure I get all the excess dirt and make up deep down in the skin. I typically always use the low speed, but whenever I wear more make-up than usual, I'll use the normal speed.
  • 20 seconds on nose
  • 10 seconds on each cheek
  • 10 seconds on forehead
  • 10 seconds on chin/neck







The Clarisonic was great for traveling as well! The case kept it protected from getting dirty & didn't take up that much space in my bag. The brush cap was very helpful as well because of the ventilation holes. If it didn't have the holes, moisture can get trapped in the space from the water and cause mold to grow on the brush. 

If you couldn't tell already... I would definitely recommend this product! LOL As always, if you have any questions or have tried this product before, don't hesitate to leave me a comment below letting me know what you think :)

Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash & Toner Review!

I recently got some new skincare products that I added to my skincare routine that I absolutely fell in love with! It's been over a month since I've purchased these items but I wanted to wait until I tested these products long enough before I wrote a review on these products just to make sure they really worked for me. As always, feel free to leave me comments with any questions, suggestions, or your opinions on these products and how they worked for you :)

I've heard so many beauty guru's rave about The Body Shop's Tea Tree skincare line for such a long time that I finally caved in and bought them.  But before I tell you about the products, I first wanted to let you guys know what my skin imperfections are so you have an idea of what I look for in a product. Fortunately, I never had a problem with cystic acne or any of that sort. I got a few pimples here and there but my biggest issues with my skin are blackheads, whiteheads, blemishes, and oily skin. Everybody has different skin problems so the products that I may love might not always work for you because everyone's skin has different needs. So don't be discouraged if these products don't work for you! 



Body Shop Tea Tree Face Wash ($11.50):

Claims: This daily-use facial wash for blemished skin gives clearer-looking skin when used as part of a regular regime.
  • Removes excess oil without over-drying skin
  • Helps remove impurities
  • Gentle enough for daily use
I was super excited to use this face wash because I have oily skin & blemishes so this seemed like the perfect face wash for me. I'm not too sure how well this face wash removes make-up because I use a make-up remover wipe before washing my face so I couldn't tell you how well this removes make-up. I honestly really do like this product and would definitely re-purchase!
So here are my opinions on this product :)

Pros:
  • Very gentle on skin
  • Doesn't leave my skin feeling tight/dry
  • Leaves face feeling clean & refreshed
  • Controls acne 
  • Minimizes blemishes & acne scars
Cons:
  • Smells a little weird
    It's not a horrible smell! I don't mind it, I just don't love it.


Body Shop Tea Tree Toner ($11.50):

Claims: This refreshing toner for blemished skin gives a beautifully matte, shine-free finish.
  • Removes traces of make-up, cleanser and impurities
  • Mattifying powders leave skin shine-free
  • Clinically proven to give clearer-looking skin
Words cannot describe how much I LOVE this toner. This is definitely one of my new HG products! I honestly get so excited in the morning/night just to use this, that's how much I'm obsessed with it lol. It leaves this cool and refreshing feeling afterwards that I just love! I definitely would re-purchase this product no doubt!

Pros:
  • Very gentle on skin
  • SUPER REFRESHING
  • Doesn't leave the skin feeling tight/dry
  • Leaves skin feeling clean
  • Controls acne
  • Matte finish to the skin
  • Removes leftover make-up
Cons:
  • Having to shake the bottle thoroughly before using

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

First NYX Haul & Review!

                 I've been wanting to try NYX makeup for a very long time so when I saw that ULTA was having a BOGO 1/2 NYX products, I ordered these products right away! I don't live near a store that carries NYX products so I made sure I did a lot of researching before picking the products because I knew I wasn't going to be able to return them. Luckily, I was satisfied with everything that I bought and I plan to buy more NYX products in the future :) If you've never tried NYX products, I highly recommend them :) especially the lipsticks!         
Extra Creamy Round Lipsicks (reg. $4, after BOGO 1/2 they were $2)

PROS: 
  •  super creamy 
  •  very pigmented 
  •  doesn't feel dry on the lips
  •  wide range of colors
  •  inexpensive
  •  cute packaging <3

CONS:
  • melts easily :(
Spellbound
Fig
Snow White
Doll

Mega Shine Lip gloss in Beige ($2.50 after BOGO 1/2)
I find it strange to me that the name of this lip gloss is called Beige because the color does not represent the name lol. Beige is a warm, medium pink color. It looks amazing over nude lipsticks! it's definitely my favorite everyday go-to lip gloss. The formula isn't sticky & it smells yummy too :)
P.S: ISN'T THE PACKAGING JUST SO CUTE ?! :D

Powder Blush Swatches
Pinched (top):  peachy pink w/ gold shimmer ($5)
Bourgeois Pig (bottom): classic pink w/ a satin finish ($2.50 after BOGO 1/2)

I really liked the formula of these blushes; it's blendable and doesn't look harsh against the skin. Both shades were very pigmented and I think they would look good on any skin tone!

Collection Noir Liquid Black Liner ($6)

If you couldn't already tell from the picture above, this liquid liner is AMAZING. I've worn it everyday since I've bought it. It's super pigmented, easy to use, and is perfect to make a winged look. What I love most about it is that you only need to use one swipe because it's that pigmented. Another amazing thing about this eyeliner is that you have the choice of making a thick or thin line. Last but not least, it stays on all day for me :)