Saturday, January 29, 2011

Can you buy happiness?

I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for Physicians Formula Happy Booster to make it's way into my CVS and what luck!  It made its way in today, right after I got my paycheck. =) 

The compact, features a cute heart-shaped design, and is available in four shades: translucent, beige, light bronzer and bronzer... I grabbed the light bronzer. (It's cold up north!  I need a little sunshine in my life) Roughly $11.99-$13.99 at most drugstores.

Physicians Formula claims that these products are “Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.”  ...and who couldn't use a little more "happy" in their life.  AND even if the "happy" formula doesn't work, the packaging will definitely cheer you up.  Just too friggin' cute for words.

Not only is it adorable, the product itself is really nice.  I was stoked to finally find a pressed bronzer that doesn't just sit on my skin and look dirty.  The formula is super soft, blends nicely, and has just the tiniest bit of shimmer to it...super flattering!  I couldn't believe that 8 hours after I had applied it it still looked great.  Usually I'm not too wild about fragrance cosmetics, but the scent of this is just barely noticeable and kind of nice, so I won't complain.


The only thing I will say is the brush it comes with is kinda bogus... but you'll find that with most cosmetics.  Use a soft kabuki brush and you'll have fantastic results. =)

As far as a mood boosting formula goes... I couldn't tell you.  But the cuteness factor is off the charts and the product is pretty damn good, and I dunno about you, but that always puts me in a good mood.  I actually went out today and bought the pressed powder.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

This mascara was a bit of a under achiever.

This tube is really ugly.
I'll be honest.  I like L'oreal, but I usually don't go for their mascaras.  For some reason, I impulse bought L'oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator 440 Black Quartz for Brown Eyes the other day...I think I was lured in by the illuminating topcoat.

  This mascara is a double ended wand...1/2 lengthening mascara and 1/2 illuminating topcoat.  Step 1 is your standard issue mascara wand, Step 2 is a small, round bulb of a wand, similar to their telescopic explosion.  The tiny round shape is meant for easy application on all your eyelashes.  L’Oreal created a few of these in various colors to coordinate with your eye shade.

Step 2

Step 1













Here's the thing... I didn't find the mascara itself to be that great.  It did an ok job or giving me some length and a tiny but of volume, but really... it was kind of like the under achiever of the mascara world.  I've heard that the original double extend did a much better job... but then again it had a primer of sorts to make awesome lashes.  The illuminating top coat was alright too.  Just a little bit of sparkle, but nothing crazy.  The first coat is just barely noticeable.  Adding a few layers makes the illuminator... illuminate [better]. 

To be honest... it didn't rock my mascara world.  Mediocre at best.  I'll probably continue to use the illuminator, but I'll experiment with mascaras I actually do like.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

10 Hour Color without drying, fading, or flaking!

First thing's first... Gwen Stefani is the face of L'oreal Paris Infallible Le Rouge!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TE_TCYhdT0
Love, love, love... I found out after watching this that Gwen's shade is Blazing Sangria.
Anyways.  I purchased L'oreal Paris Infallible Le Rouge shade 812 Opulent Organza.  L'oreal promises fresh color for a whole 10 hours, without the drying, flaking, or fading of your typical long wear formula.  The formula introduces "Color Fix Technology"... a formula with "flexible new polymers" that are supposed to give you longer lasting truer color and formulated with vitamin E and ceramide 5 for healthy shine.

The line is available in a wide variety of colors... 30 shades of reds, pinks, plums, corals, and browns.  All for around $9.99
My take:  The initial application of the lipstick is super smooth.  It goes on creamy and my lips felt moist.  I loved the lack of noticeable smell or taste, and as promised, it was super comfortable and lightweight.  It's like... you don't even know it's there.  The color was perfectly matched too... not sheer, matched the tube perfectly, which is always a nice surprise.

HOWEVER!  On its own, it does tend to get a bit sticky and I noticed that every-little-line shows through the formula.  I was pleasantly surprised that all it takes is a little bit of chappy to correct this problem.  Long lasting and beautiful.  I used Berts Bees Tinted Lip Balm Tiger Lilly.

I also went out and purchased Blazing Sangria, the shade Gwen is supposedly wearing in the commercial. 



A professional look with one sweep of an applicator... too good to be true?

I grabbed myself a compact of L'oreal Paris The One Sweep Eye Shadow Studio Secrets Professional 809 Natural for Brown Eyes.  This product totes the professional look made easy claim... introducing their first ever eye shadow trio that gives you a multi-shade shadow with one sweep.

How does it do this? you ask.  Well, here's the skinny, ladies

This shadow trio features and innovative "eyelid" shaped palette and a contoured brush in the same shape.  It is designed to pick up enough shadow to give you that, multi-tonal define and color look... in one easy motion.  This compact features a soft, creamy, Vitamin E enriched powder, meant for all day wear without creasing or fading.  It's available in four natural and four "playful" palette, all correspond with your eyes to maximize color, except for the universal shade meant for all colors.

It's a funny little applicator...
The light shade blends towards the top of your crease to highlight the area, the middle shade is applies color your lid, and the darkest shade is supposed to act as a liner to define.
A complete, professional look with a sweep of the applicator from the inner crease of your eye, out from lash line to brow bone.
Forget the trouble of your typical trio, right?

Hm.  In theory, it's a pretty cool idea... if not a little gimmicky.  L'oreal is definitely trying to appeal to a market that is a little overwhelmed by the whole... multi-eyeshadow thing.  I was a little less than impressed with my results, however...  My trio had a golden brown beige, a chocolate brown, a darker brown, it all just came out BROWN.  I've practiced a couple times now thinking it was just my approach but I can't seem to create the beautiful multi-tonal look I expected.  The applicator is a bit... awkward at best, and frankly I don't like using the same applicator over and over again.  (The whole... bacteria build up gives me the heebie-jeebies.)  Anyways, I would imagine that over time the build up of the product would compromise the distinct 3 shades.
I'll admit I was a bit disappointed.  I had purchased a whole bunch of new STUFF in anticipation of the warmer months and had this vision that this would pull together my "bronzed-beauty" look.  FAIL.  I mean, it didn't look horrendous... but it wasn't worth the 10 bucks I paid for it.

Also... I simply don't have the time, or patience, for this.  This simple concept is just too much work for this girl.

BUT!!  The shadow itself is nice.  Silky and smooth with just a hint of shimmer.  I'm probably going to hold onto the quad and use my own applicator to mix and match the shades.  At least it wasn't a complete loss.







  • Friday, January 21, 2011

    Oh Maybelline... you always deliver length and volume in that signature tube.

    Maybelline New York Volum'Express Mascara One by One

    "Lash by lash brush captures , coats and cleans every single lash  for the most refined volume from root to tip
    Instant clump free volume"

    Maybelline always seems to be a great choice for mascara.  Length and volume and always for a great price.  Definitely my go-to brand for beautiful lashes.  When I saw Maybelline New York Volum'Express Mascara One by One had been released, I HAD to grab it.  I've been using it for about a week now, and it has not disappointed.
    The applicator is amazing... if not a little odd looking.  Shaped kind of like a football, this rubber applicator is covered with finely tapered, dense bristles.  The formula coats the bristles and does not well up.  I really like the updated brush.  It contains Vitamin C and fruit AHAs to condition the lash cuticle.  It does have kind of a flowery scent to it, which I could definitely do without.  It is tolerable, however, and after application you don't even smell it any more.

    The results are phenomenal.  My lashes are lengthened and defined and perfectly separated.  They look naturally flawless.  NO CLUMPING!  Haven't even had to use a comb.  I'm hooked.

    Everyday wearable and like all Maybelline mascaras, it's super afforable.  Roughly $8.

    Thursday, January 20, 2011

    Realistic expectations from plumpers... and this still sucked.

    Sally Hansen PM Lip Plumper - No.  It will not plump your lips.  (But not much will)

    As far as moisturizing goes, it does a pretty ok job.
    Here's the claim:
    "Wake up to fuller, plumper, shapelier lips
    Collagen enhancing Peptide complex delivers full plumping benefits as you sleep.
    Micro sponges help trap moisture in lips, making lips look plumper, fuller and more volumptuous.
    24hr Time Released Retinol boosts moisture and smoothes the lip's surface night & day"
    (1st of all... micro sponges?  wtf)

    Those are some pretty big claims to make Sally Hansen.

    I bought this 75% off at CVS... they were trying to get the old tubes out to move in the new tubes that have an applicator that you can apply directly to your lips.  Typically, this product runs about $11.50 a tube.  Don't waste your money. 

    It's a peculiar little product... 1st of all, it's a white cream that looks and feels like a lotion... and you put it on your lips. : /

    Anyways, you squeeze the product onto your finger and massage it into your lips before bed.  It has no particular smell or taste to it.  Presumabily, you will wake up to plumper, shapelier lips.  It feels okay on your lips, not too terribly heavy.  It sinks in fairly quickly too, which is a plus.  No sticky goo on the pillow.  Anyways, the next morning my lips are soft and comfy, and definitely healthy looking, but I don't know if it's really worth the 11 bucks they're asking.

    Overall... smooth healthy lips in the AM, but don't expect miracles; it doesn't even tingle or stimulate your lips like a typical plumper.  I will definitely use it until the tubes gone, it wasn't terrible and like I said, the next day my lips did feel nice.  HOWEVER, I wouldn't repurchase, and I would suggest that anybody runs out and buys it (save your money, chickies).

    "Air-soft mousse bronzer blends like a dream."

    I'm a big fan of non-powder blush and when I found this Maybelline New York: Dream Mousse Bronzer Shade 10 Glistening Sun, I had to give it a shot.  Even the name sounds awesome.

    "Soft glimmer with a touch of the sun!
    Achieve a beautiful, bronzed look with one easy sweep of the finger!
    Apply the air-whipped formula wherever the sun catches you naturally, the mousse allows you to build as much colour as you please
    Natural radiant-looking finish
    No fuss application"


    Sounds pretty good, huh?  Honestly though, I really love this product... it is SO versatile.

    I love, love, love the way this product feels... satiny and smooth.  It is sooo soft and it feels fabulous on skin.  It didn't cake or crease in the least bit.  It is perfect for light skin, or medium skin that is on the lighter end of the spectrum, like mine.  Sometimes powder bronzers sit on top of your skin making you look dirty, but not this whipped bronzer.  It gives you just a hint of color but goes on sheer, which makes it hard to over do.  It blends well and gives you just a bit of sun kissed glow, without looking fake.

    How to use:
    With your fingertips or a brush apply a small amount of the bronzer onto the apples of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose, or anywhere you want a summary glow.  Use light strokes to blend gently... the initial application should be light.  For more intensity, simply apply more bronzer.  It glides on evenly and blends effortlessly.  What's more, it actually lasts all day.

    What's pretty cool is that for no-makeup days, you could totally mix this with your favorite moisturizer for just a hint of all over color and a slight glow.  I did this recently and it applied very well and my skin looked fresh and pretty all day.  (I can't wait to use this technique this summer!)

    You could also pair it with the Dream Mousse Blush to contour your cheekbones.  Using a brush, apply it just under your cheekbones, and blend it out well with your fingertip.  Then apply the blush to the apple of your cheek and then blend the two.

    Pretty much... this product is bomb.  The price is pretty good too, 8 bucks, and you only need a little bit so the little tub should last a while.

    Natural Beauty

    Recently I received excellent incentive to try a few Physicians Formula Products: 2 $10.00 off coupons.  I made my way to their section at my local drugstore and decided on two multi-colored palettes, the multi-colored face powder in "Beige" for Medium Skin Tones ($14.99) and multi-colored Blush in Blushing Peach ($10.95)

    The idea behind the multi-colored palette really appealed to me.  It's supposed to give you just the right combination of color to both enhance and even out your skin tone and correct imperfections.  It's supposed to give you soft and natural color without the normal "monotone" cast of most powders. 

     Physicians Formula Multi-colored face powder provides decent coverage; it's light and comfortable to wear.  Physician's Formula claims it can be used "alone or over makeup", I used it over my regular foundation.  The powder is great for a "natural beauty" kind of look... didn't make me look like I was wearing a ton of makeup.  The compact came with a little make up round for application, but I would suggest a Kabuki-style brush for application for a more natural finish.  Make sure you tap excess powder from your brush before application; you don't want a heavy finish with this powder, cake-face isn't a good look for anyone.  I suppose you could try and mix and match the shades... but thats just waaay too much work for this girl, so I just did a sweep around the palette and allowed all the colors to mingle.

    Overall... I like this powder a lot.   It's hypo-allergenic and oil free and goes on light and feels great on your skin.  Over my foundation, it created a flawless finish and natural glow.  The mix of colors takes the guess work out of finding matches for your skin.  The color combination really does give you a beautifully balanced skin tone over a nice base, like your favorate foundation, tinted moisturizer or primer.  I would not wear this powder alone.  Its light formula is slightly fleeting and without a nice base to grab on to, I don't believe it would be a successful long-wear make up (you'll be touching up your make up all day long).  Also, the price kind of sucks... 15 bucks, but a lot of times it is on sale for like, $7.99, which sweetens the deal a bit.

    The Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-colored Blush is an excellent addition to the face powder.  You have at your fingertips the perfect combination of colors to enhance your cheekbones and give you a natural glow.  I love the mosaic of colors in Blushing Peach.  The formula is smooth and blends easily, it also has just the slightest hint of shimmer.

    I used a kabuki brush to sweep over the entire palette and evenly blend the colors... stay away from the brush the compact comes with, it's flat and bristley.  Frankly, it sucks.  You can brush the blush over your cheekbones to define and contour or apply it right below your cheekbones with your favorite flat brush for a more defined look.  This really is an easy product to use; SUPER controllable.  You don't need to worry about that "woops" moment with this blush because it isn't terribly pigmented.  It is totally buildable, however, for the people looking for a bit more color.

    Overall... in LOVE with this blush <3 Buildable, blendable and a light formula.  The result is a bronze, warm, peachy glow with just the slightest hint of shimmer.  The price point is moderate... $10.95, but I think it is worth it.  I would definitely purchase this again.

    "Lips that shine with killer color."

    Revlon Colorburst Lipstick Shade 008 Candy Pink (NEW shade)So sad that it didn't look like I thought it would.  The color did not match the cap: Much more a frosty pink, it actually kind of reminded me of the color of silly putty (at least it didn't look that color on).  That's what happens when you have to trust a color swatch.  It was still pretty.  I think it's a little too light for this time of year... but I'll bring it out during the spring/summer.  I didn't like the texture as much as their "Moondrops", (totally addicted to Moondrops) but the formula is non-drying.  It has a sweet almond oil ingredient that improves skin texture.

    The formula was lightweight with no weird scent, but I didn't really like the shape of the stick, flat and broad...non-drying formula, matte finish.  Really nice pigmentation and moisturizing.  It is just glossy enough that it makes the lips look just slightly plumper, which is nice.  It glides on smoothly, but I do find that I have to apply a few layers to make the color really POP, but that just may be the color.  What I really love about this is that it lasted without bleeding or flaking... awesome in a pinch.  No worries here!

    Not that it is super important or anything, but I do like the tube it's in, really cute...kind of posh even.

    Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss 010 Hot Pink Rose vibrant (NEW)

    I'm crazy about this...times like, a thousand.  LOVE it.  <3

    Just slightly sparkly and highly pigmented... Pink, pink, pink!  The texture and wear of this gloss is amazing.  It lasts for-ever and doesn't dry out your lips.  The formula isn't goopy, it coats your lips wonderfully.  Also, the applicator is wonderful.  Awesomely exact, defines lips perfectly without a liner.  This is probably the best liquid lip color I have used from a drugstore.   In love.  End of story.

    Tuesday, January 18, 2011

    The search for body and shine

    I grabbed myself a tub of Ellin Lavar Textures ReconstructMasque last week because it was on sale for $4.99.  My hair takes a fair amount of abuse between styling and coloring, (not to mention the dry freezing air in New England) so I'm always trying to discover new products that will bring body and shine back to my damaged hair.  This masque is supposed to be moisturizing, rich in protein and amino acids, and contains deeply conditioning Brazil Nut Oil "to reconstruct and revive its bounce, body, shine, strength and general condition."  Regular retail price is about $7.99.

    The directions are a bit... ambiguous. "Use weekly or daily by itself (or in conjunction with your conditioner) for soft, healthy hair." Hm.  So I took my shower, washed and conditioned as usual, towel dried by hair and applied the masque.  I then put a cap over it and let it sit for approximately 20 minutes, climbed back in the shower, and rinsed it out.

    The results... were nothing to write home about, I'm sorry to say.  The light, whipped minty green
    formula is nice to the touch, but not really ideal for coating hair.  I had to use a VERY generous amount to coat my straight hair, which isn't that long (just past shoulder length)  Usually with a good conditioner or masque you can feel the results while you're rinsing it out, but I didn't really notice a heck of a lot.  So far, I've used it twice and I probably will only get one more use out of the tub.  To be absolutely honest, I think you would probably get better results from Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner...It's a lot cheaper and has a fantastic smell.

    You can't win 'em all. *shrug*

    Friday, January 14, 2011

    "From damaged hair to Silky, Shiny Strands"

    
    Eek!  This is your hair on heat!
     Winter is the nemesis of hair.  The dry, cold air, the wind and elements paired with daily blow drying and styling... there's only one word for this season: havoc.  Plus, if you're like me all the styling and dying hasn't exactly been kind to your strands either.  :/

    I was super excited to see John Frieda's new line of hair products make its way into my CVS.  I have been waiting, waiting, waiting ever since I saw an advertisement for his latest launch: Full Repair. So of course how could I resist when the products came in with one of my favorite things... coupons?  I picked up John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and Conditioner as well as John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Deep Infusion the day it hit shelves.

    John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and Conditioner
    Here's the claim:
    "With Inca Inchi, a lightweight micro-oil rich in omega-3, this formula repairs the look and feel of overworked hair and adds body for full, flowing styles. Detangles strands, reducing the risk of breaking and snagging while combing or brushing.  Safe for color-treated and chemically-treated hair."

    Directions:
    Apply shampoo to wet hair, lather, rinse well.  Follow with Full Repair Full Body Conditioner.  Smooth conditioner through wet hair. Rinse well. For intense repair, leave on for 2-5 minutes.

    John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Deep Infusion
    The claim:
    "Smoothes and protects medium-textured hair damaged from high heat. This breakthrough formula with Inca Inchi , a lightweight, micro-oil rich in omega-3, feels like it absorbs into worn-torn strands instead of just coating the surface. Weightlessly reverses the look and feel of damage on lengths and ends to leave hair smooth, shiny and full of body. Helps protect against breakage from heat styling.  Safe for color-treated and chemically-treated hair."

    Directions:
    Apply to clean, wet hair. Use sparingly, dispensing 1 pump into palm. Rub hands together and distribute evenly, concentrating on ends and other damaged areas. Use more or less depending on hair length and thickness. Do not rinse out. Heat style as desired.

    Healthy hair, ladies!
    My findings:  I actually really love this line.  My hair started to change immediately.  After just one wash and use of the serum, my hair was much more touchable.  Wash 2 my hair was more manageable.  By wash 3 my hair was visibly healthier looking and an absolute breeze to style.  A week in and I am more than happy with the results... it totally revived my over worked hair.  Plus the sweet smelling formula makes your hair smell really nice.  My hair has body, fullness, and even shine.  (Goodbye drab locks!)

    Overall, John Frieda’s new Full Repair product line is great for repairing really overworked hair like mine.  I plan on picking up the Full Repair Perfect Ends Sheer Mist and the Touch Up Flyaway Tamer.  (Reviews to come)

    Fancy tips

    NEW: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips
    Simple idea: First, pre-measure the strips to fit your nails.  Then peel the strips from their plastic backings. and clear top coat.  Shape the strip to your nails as much as possible and then use the manicure stick and emery board to remove the excess.  Smooth, smooth, smooth!  No heat necessary.

    The set comes with 16 polish strips (2 each of 8 sizes), amd a mini cuticle stick and file/buffer duo.
    No DBP, toluene or formaldehyde

    Despite the fact that application is pretty easy... it took FOREVER.  You need to be careful when removing the excess or you could remove too much and expose the nail underneath.  I did notice that towards the end of my nail the sheet buckled a little bit and left tiny tiny creases, which I suppose someone gazing at your hand wouldn't really notice.  I do notice it however, and I hope that with practice I can avoid it in the future.

    
     There are a ton of styles... from solid colors, to cute patterns like butterflies and lace, one of them is sure to fit your style.  I'm a girl who needs some animal print in her life so I grabbed 310 Wild Child (zebra) and 320 kitty kitty (leopard).

    They do hold up pretty well, which I was surprised about.  I thought that the buckling would encourage wear, but so far -3 days in- they are still pretty flawless.  The package says that they are supposed to last 10 days, hopefully they last as long as my nails.  They do look pretty awesome, I like them a lot.  Super cute.  HOWEVER, like I said, they are pretty time consuming and at 10 bucks a pop... they probably will be more of a novelty/special occassion thing for me. 

    Pros:
    Easy application.  Screw up your placement?  No biggie... they are a breeze to peel up and reapply if you haven't already pressed them into place.  They're kinda stretchy too so you're guaranteed a nice fit. (Don't strentch too much... some distortion may occur)
    Long lasting... fewer chips than polish!
    Neat designs are eye-catching
    No waiting forever to set and dry!

    Cons:
    Expensive!  10 dolla' for one use... compared to how many uses you get from a $6 bottle of polish, this one hits the wallet.
    Sizing is not fantastic.
    Time consuming application... kinda equals drying time if you think about it.  At least no smudging!

    I do *heart* these.  <3

    Dialing up your lashes

    Almay One Coat Dial Up
    "Go from Natural to dramatic in just 3 clicks!"
    Comes with an adjustable dial allows you to control the level of fullness
    The ever popular "no clump" claim

    To be honest, I only bought this because it was being removed from my store's selection and they marked it down insanely just to move them out.  I have never purchased an almay mascara before... never had the desire.  So I'm basically starting from scratch here.  I kinda feel like it's a gimmicky concept, but for 2 bucks, its wasn't going to break the bank.

    The concept is simple:  You have one mascara tube... you get 3 looks with the click of a dial:  full, fuller, and fullest. 

    I was wondering how this could possibly work.  The commercial was at best, totally unclear.  Here's what I figured out: Basically, with each click the tube compresses or decompresses.  It squeezes the wand at different degrees allowing for more or less of the product on the brush.  The wand is alright, just straight and plastic... nothing to write home about.  No matter what level you choose, you will have nice, long lashes (initially).  Theoretically, as you go from 1 to 3 your lashes will look fuller.  I guess this is true.  I didn't notice it that much though.  Also... it did nothing to keep any curl in my lashes, even after I curled them with a heated curler. 
     
    I wasn't wild about this mascara.  (Sorry Almay)  Level 3 was a clumpy mess that I ended up combing out... which I suppose brought it down to a level 2.  On level 2 and 3 I experienced flaking throughout the day (yuck!) and by the end of the day it appeared to be gone.  Level one lengthens and didn't flake, but by the end of the day it also appeared to have disappeared into thin air.
     
    If you are prone to oily lids or watery eyes (allergies and such), I would absolutely suggest that you not use this product.  I foresee smearing, smudging, and eye makeup migration in your future.  The summer months could also cause a mess... so I'd avoid using it then too.
     
    This is probably not going to make its way into my usual rotation.  I work long hours (this product is gone with the wind!) and spend a decent amount of time at the gym... it is sure to make you look like a hot mess.  I need my mascara to be as tough and long lasting as I am.
    It absolutely -did not- rock my world.

    Tuesday, January 4, 2011

    Beyond Natural

    Cream to powder eye shadows can be a tricky thing.  I recently picked up Revlon Beyond Natural Cream to Powder Eye Shadow Shade 530 Plumberry Prune because it was on sale.  Usually I stay away from Revlon eye shadows as I've never had much success with them, but this looked so pretty and shimmery in its compact and hey... the price was right.

    First of all... what a pretty quad.  The shades are very earthy and natural and you can really use a wide variety of combinations to create whatever look you're going for.  I didn't find that this shadow was not very highly pigmented, but it was perfect for blending and also for created a beautiful subtle lid.  I've seen that some complaints about this quad is that it creases over time.  I didn't find that it creased on my lids, but I will offer you some solutions to avoid a potential creasing issue. 

    First of all...If you have oily lids it's probably not going to work for you.  Sorry.  That's just the way it is.

    Second... a lighter application is better.  The more you glob on, the less effective this is going to be.  USE A LIGHT HAND!   Sometimes less is more.

    And finally... I used Too Faced Absolutely Flawless Therapeutic Eye base and Concealer with Apple Seed Enzyme in St. Tropez Tan* for the base of my lid and then using a kabuki brush lightly brushed my L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder (W3) over my lids.  This gave me a nice base for cream shadows and gave me some staying power.  Obviously, you don't have to use EXACTLY what I used... your favorite shadow base and finishing powder will do fine.  You just want to create a nice base to lock in that color and give the pigments something to grab on to.

    If you don't give this (and many other) cream shadow a base, it will have a tendency to migrate UP towards your brows, and OUT towards the corners.

    (Too Faced Absolutely Flawless is a bit on the expensive side... can be found at Sephora and 'specialty' locations for 19.99.  I found mine on ebay for $9.99... I know it's not drugstore, but it's so good to me. haha)
     
    Overall... it's a great shadow for a natural look.  It really did a good job of adding a natural glow/shimmer to my eyes.  This quad gives you a lot of possibilities... the colors can be combined in many different ways.  If applied on a proper base, the formula stays put and looks fabulous.  HOWEVER...I would not wear this shadow in the summer as sweat may really hinder it's staying power. 

    Also... I wore this shadow on New Years with a heavier application of liner and Maybelline Cool Effect cooling shadow/liner in Black Frost.  I created a beautiful smokey effect and received a ton of compliments.  This shows the versatility of this quad.


    Some pros:
    Smooth application
    Easy blendability
    Silky formula/great texture
    Very lightweight
    Adds a subtle glow to your eyes
    Beautiful sheen
    VERY natural looking

    Cons:
    Can be a bit difficult to apply if you aren't accustomed to a cream shadow (practice makes perfect!)
    Has potential to...*
    a. "melt"
    b. crease
    c. smudge
    d. wear off

    * A good base could really help, or fix, this problem.  (use the right tools!)

    Sunday, January 2, 2011

    It's a 10! It really is.

    I love, love, love, It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product.

    Claims:
    • Restores moisture balance
    • Enhances natural beauty
    • Instantly, detangles and nourishes
    • Improves color vibrancy
    • De frizzes, softens and smoothes
    My hair dresser got me hooked on it... and frankly, I couldn't live without it!  It totally makes my over processed hair feel soft, manageable, and easy to comb through.  All you need is a couple spritzes.  I'm on my second bottle.  I rarely find a hair product that I purchased a second bottle of it.  It makes hair so much healthier, without making it greasy or oily.

    It IS expensive, ($11 for the little bottle, $17 for the big one) but totally worth it.  (ebay it!  Great deals to be found there)