Summer must-have!

I just couldn't resist the oh-so-adorable Chubby Stick Lip Color Balm that Clinique put out for Spring.  Packed with jojoba seed oil, mango and shea butter, Clinique promised them to be ultra hydrating with just the sheerest hint of color for a natural looking, irresitibly soft set of lips.

The good: First things first, I really like these. There is something a little nostalgic about the crayon-like shape of this little lip color...brings me back to kindergarten, lol.  It's just about as easy as it gets; just un-cap and apply... it glides on effortlessly.  When the color gets low, just twist the bottom and the stick advances up, and no need to sharpen!  They really do moisturize well without being sticky or gross and the color stays vibrant.  Since I've bought mine (I picked up Whopping Watermelon... it's kind of a mellowy pink.  They were alllll out of chunky cherry.  Sadface.) its been my go-to lip product.

The bad: The price point (yikes!15 dolla' ladies) kinda sucks, but to be honest... I'm probably going to go out and pick up the chunky cherry when it comes in.  Also, despite it's great pocket-size, I would avoid putting it in your pocket... I did and I guess the twisty base got just slightly twisted and advanced before its time.  Not too bad though. :)

Salon results at home? yeah. we've heard THAT before.

So... unless you've been hiding out under a rock for the past couple of months you are probably aware of the new trend in hair color: FOAM.  It seems as though everyone has hopped on the foam hair color wagon, from Nice and Easy to L'Oreal's Sublime Mousse.  I was a little skeptical of the quality of the results, reading pretty spotty reviews online about both.  Then...John Frieda's Precision Foam Color moved its way into my CVS.  Apparantly, this color was the first of its kind, but it was released in the UK first and it took a little bit of time to make its way over here.  After reading some great reviews about this product, I had to give it a shot and picked up a box of Sheer Blonde 8G Medium Golden Blonde.* 

*If you go on the John Frieda website, there is a nifty little application on there to pick your perfect shade.

"The John Frieda® haircare professionals announce another haircare first; John Frieda® Precision Foam Colour, a new permanent foam hair colour designed to deliver salon-precise results at home.

This revolutionary non-drip foam spreads easily into roots and hard to reach places, and gives 100% grey coverage, leaving you with nothing but shiny, natural-looking results. With 20 gorgeous shades to choose from, achieving a fabulous salon-quality result at home has never been easier."

After using it, I am totally excited about this hair color.  Totally Fuss free application with beautiful results.  After you lightly shake it back and fourth on its side to mix the dye, you just give the bottle a squeeze and out comes a really rich foam.  You get oodles of the dye, it took no time at all to apply and I only used the tiniest portion of the bottle to cover my newly chopped off locks.  You just slap it on and massage it in.  It isn't messy at all - no drips all over the bathroom, no staining on skin.  What's more, there is only the faintest of smell; no burning your nose hairs with this formula.  After it develops, it's a breeze to rinse out.  The whole process probably took about 45 minutes, tops.

2 weeks later, my haircolor still looks super natural, nice and glossy.  What's more, my coloring is so even and perfect, it really does look like salon color.  It didn't leave my hair feeling dried out at all like with some other dyes.  I've been using Nexxus Dualiste Shampoo and Conditioner (moisture and color lock) in conjunction with the dye included in the box, which I think is really contributing to making my color look fresh.

On top of the quality of the color, I'm really impressed with the size of the conditioner (plus it's fabulous)  included in the box, as well as the quality of the gloves supplied.  It's touches like this that really win me over and make me want to repurchase a product. 

Overall, John Frieda's Precision Foam gets two thumbs up from me.  It's a little bit more money than the average drugstore box (about 13 bucks depending on where you pick it up) but it's absolutely worth it.

It really does Superstay.

Maybelline New York Superstay 24 Lipcolor Shade 20 Continuous Coral!

This lip color is double-sided with a color on one side and a moisturizing balm on the other.  Once on your kisser, wait about 2 minutes and then apply the balm.  I try to keep a tight smile while the color sets to keep it from settling into the lines on my lips.  Throughout the day you can use any lip balm to remoisturize and the color soes not disolve, I'm a sucker for my original peppermint Bert's Bees. 

This highly pigmented longwear lip color has some serious staying power!  Lasts FOR-EVER, no flaking, no fading.  In fact, it is so good at staying put, it can be a royal pain in the a-s-s to fix if you screw up your application... so my advise  is to be careful! (The applicator isn't exactly precise)  As for the 24 hour claim... I haven't really pulled an all-nighter since college, but I did fall asleep with it on after a night of having drinks and playing pool and woke up with a perfect pucker.  =)

Shining example: I kissed my awesome poochie Pede square on the top of his off-white head...not even the tiniest transfer.<3

The only downside is that the color comes out a tad different than anticipated.  "Continuous Coral" came out a bit pinker than a coral really should, but it was still a killer shade none-the-less.

So drink all the coffee you want ladies, these colors don't budge.

E-nuf is e-nuf!

I keep telling myself I'm not going to buy any more nail polish.
That enough is enough.
But sometimes I just can't help myself.  :/

Ironically... the polish I fell in love with is an Essie Nail Color called [fittingly] "e-nuf is e-nuf".

This "subdued creamy coral" is sophisticated and fresh, the perfect color to wake you up from those winter blahs.

Although it did take a while to set (I layered to perfection, as it were...), the benefits of this laquer outweigh this *slight* inconvenience.  This formula is highly pigmented and shiny with great coverage and great staying power.  It dries into a chip-resistant and highly durable color, for a flawless salon quality manicure at home.  Perfect for active fingers that are prone to chipped nail polish.

Love. <3

Volcanic

Has anyone seen this ad with Doutzen Kroes?

Gorgeous times like... a thousand, right? 
Just a little bit Retro with a modern, fresh twist.
And how absolutely killer is this color?
It's L'Oreal Colour Riche Shade 410 Volcanic.
Bold and totally unexpected!
Think... 50's era Elizabeth Taylor

I had to have it. 

Nevermind the fact that I was pretty uncertain how I'd pull off this shade. 

You never know till you try, right?

Anywho, I'm in love.  What an awesome color!  Not quite as "orange-y" as the ad, but still beautiful.

Not too mention that the formula for L'oreal Colour Riche is nothing to sneeze at.  Super rich, creamy texture with great staying power for your standard issue lipstick.  I feel classier just putting it on.

Just remember, with a color this bold and daring, keep your makeup to a minimum.  If you're feeling particularly daring, try a little bit of blue liner, it really makes the color pop.  All you really need though is a some confidence and you'll kill it.
...now if I could only find that polish!

Spring has sprung! ...well, almost.

Totally soft look for Spring, fresh faced and glowing: makes me wanna like... run through the fields singing.  That's what we do in the Spring...right?

Let's start with the face:  Aveeno's Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30.  I use the Medium Shade, but obviously if you're not "medium", use a different shade.  This creates a beautifully even base for your foundation.  Then, I applied Covergirl Natureluxe Foundation in Oak.  It's a fairly sheer foundation that perfects more than it covers for a nice, fresh natural look.  To brighten up the eyes, I coat my fingertip with Covergirl Simply Ageless Eye Concealer Shade 210 and dab (focusing more on the darker inner corners).  You really don't need a lot.  Then, I just dab the tiniest little dots of Maybelline's Fit Me Concealer just on the sides of my nose and lower outter creases on my smile, this will lift and perfect.*

*Tip: apply your concealer after your foundation... this will stop your from going a little "overboard" with your concealer

Apply just the smallest amount of Covergirl Simply Ageless Scuplting Blush Shade 210 using a makeup round and blend.  Actually, any of the shades of this should do wonders to just give you a bit of natural color.  Then just add a tiny swipe of Hard Candy's hide-and-glow Cheek Tint Shade "In Love" (the peachy side) to the apples of your cheeks.  Peach is a pretty universal shade and will give you a healthy glow.

For the eyes, I used Maybelline New York Limited Edition Eye Shadow Shade 100 Apricot Aura.  This is a trio of shadows with an ivory base, a lemony show, and an apricot shade for the crease.  Any milky peachy or pink shadow with a hint of shimmer will work with this look.

To finish off the eyes, I lightly lined the top lash line and outter corner with L'oreal Voluminous Mistake-Proof Marker Eyeliner in black brown.  This liner is very soft and gives you a great natural line.  Then apply Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Brownish Black.*

*Tip: Use a eyelash curler to really open those eyes!

Finish your look with a ballet-slipper pink lip.  I used Revlon's Colorburst Lipstick Shade 008 Candy Pink.

Good things come in small packages!

Lumene Vitamin C+ Radiant Beauty Drops.

• With age defying arctic cloudberry & brightening lingonberry
• Arctic cloudberry seed oil protects skin from stress factors
• Vitamin C together with lingonberry seed oil brightens skin with long-lasting effect
• For all skin types
• Optimal care from nature against the first signs of aging
• An effective beauty treatment to make skin silky soft and radiant
• Particularly effective for tired and dull skin

Here's what you do: For 28 days, use one capsule and squeeze it's contents onto your fingertip.  Apply to a clean face before day or night cream (totally your preference).  Avoid the sensitive area around your eyes.

These tiny little capsules do contain some pretty awesome stuff!  The tiny little bit of crazily smooth product inside covers every bit of my skin (somehow) and really does make my skin look refreshed and so sooo soft.  Even though it's a 28 day regimen, I've been getting compliments on my skin after only about a week of use!  I wouldn't expect anything else from Lumene.

Love, love, love. =)

A killer longwear lipcolor? Shut yo' mouth!

L'oreal Infallible Never Fail lipcolour is definitely NOT new, but I never really had the urge to try it until recently.  Let me just say... I was missing out.  Where have you BEEN all my life Never Fail in Apricot?  It's probably going to be my new go to easy lip color.

There are a whopping 25 shades so there's sure to be a color for everyone.  The color is highly pigmented, but it does kind of come out a pinch lighter than advertised, so just keep that in mind during your selection process.  The formula sets quickly, is pretty non-drying.  What I love is that this bad-boy of infallible lipcolor doesn't come with a goopy clear gloss, like some longwear, instead it comes with a lightweight balm.  The balm makes your lips smooth with just a little bit of shine, and you can reapply every time your lips need a little boost.  Even better, it doesn't sit into the creases of your lips like some long wear lipcolors do (no raisin lips, ladies). 

The applicator is a little bit funky... it kind of reminds me of a cigarette lighter.  It's like... the transformer of the lipcolor world.  Each side slides out, but are contained within the crazy little contraption.  The color side twists and you get a little wand applicator, the other "white" side, pops out and you have your balm.  When your done they pop back in.  A little clunky, but... realistically... you can't accidently lose one.  Pretty crafty!

Overall, I'm pretty impressed L'oreal.  After a nine hour work day, involving approximately 3 coffees, bottled water, and a lunch break, I left work with a slightly faded, but still noticeable, apricot colored kisser. 
I'm totally a fan. 

Color me impressed.

I made the trip into the dreaded Walmart in search of Hard Candy's Hide and Glow Cheek Tint.  It would totally figure that Wally World is the only flippin' retailer of Hard Candy that I'm aware of *frown*.  Annnnyyyways....

For only 6 bucks you get two, count 'em: TWO, different, yet corresponding gel based, cheek tints.  I'm madly, madly, madly in love with this product.  Absolutely worth the trip to Walmart.  I picked myself up "In Love" which is probably the warmest of your options.  You get: An awesome peachy, corally color is on one side... and a kind of apricot neutral is on the other.  They have a nice texture (no waxy or greasy at all) and the colors are pretty pigmented;  Very pretty on the skin.  Just a flash of warm color that lasts ALL DAY LONG!

The application is fool proof and takes second... swipe it on your cheeks, blend with fingertips and voilà!
Simply swipe on, blend out with finger tips, and you’re golden.  Use one color, or both... I like to use the peachy color on the apples of my cheeks and the apricot just below my cheek bone for just a hint of definition.

I will say that because it is a gel based color, it does kind of chill on your skin rather than sink in.  I definitely wouldn't try to set this with a powder, you'll just have a mess.  Reserve this for natural-beauty kind of days.

The little applicator is pretty damn cute too... kind of like a brightly colored, glue stick for grown ups, except it's for making you look awesome and not a craft project.  The cheek tint twists up in the same manner.  It's a fairly indestructable package too, which means throw that baby in your purse, gym bag, bag pack, or what have you, and don't even worry about a potential makeup mishap.

Officially my favorite find: Hard Candy Hide and Glow duo Cheek tint
For 6 dolla' this is a great deal, especially since you get the 2 shades.  It's definitely a product that will last a long time and there is a killer color selection.

Fit me!

I recently received samples and coupons for Maybelline's FIT ME foundation.  It was super affordable ($5.99 and I had the coupon) so even though I wasn't in the market for a new foundation I decided to give it a try.

Here's the claim
"No oils. No waxes. No nonsense.
Natural coverage that leaves skin the way it was meant to be…fresh, breathing, natural.

Exclusive translucent base and lightweight pigments allow skin's natural highs and lows to show through.

Non-comedogenic, dermatologist tested."

So anyways, I grabbed myself a bottle of Maybelline's FIT ME in shade 235 (18 shades... pretty impressive).  My first impression was pretty positive.  It has a sexy little bottle and the color was a great match.  It had medium coverage, blended very easily and gave me a very natural look.  The liquid formula is super lightweight and blends flawlessly.  There is a slight fragrance to it, but it's kind of a soapy, clean smell so it isn't too obnoxious.

Here's the thing... I was absolutely not impressed by how it held up during the day.  I felt like the formula just evaporated right off my face.  POOF! *gone* I put it on around noon and by 5 or 6 I felt kind of greasy and gross.  It looked alright, just a little shiny.  I tried to touch it up with my pressed powder, but it just felt awful.  I was pretty excited to get the stuff off my face.

Overall... I can see WHY someone would like this... but it wasn't for me.  I'm not really into the whole, oily skin look.  I'm really loving Covergirl's Natureluxe right now.

HOWEVER, I'm pretty stoked about the FIT ME Concealer (there are 6 shades).  It's kind of a thinner consistancy than most concealers, but it's super blendable and gives you great coverage.  When applied to the outter corners of the nose and mouth and inner corners of the eyes it really does a great job of brightening up your face and it does a pretty good job of covering up blemishes.  Totally light on the skin and great for touch ups.

Positively Radiant =)

I wanted to shake things up and try a new moisturizer.  I had read about Aveeno's Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 in a magazine (I think it was Shape) and I had to give it a try.  Honestly, I was thinking about makeup free summer days and hoping that this would be a killer alternative to foundation.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Medium SPF 30 (It also comes in fair-to-light)
"Natural, light-reflecting minerals and lightweight coverage blend away skin imperfections and immediately bring out skin's natural radiance. Choose from two luminous shades to blend seamlessly with your skin: Fair to Light and Medium. These elegant formulas provide extraordinary natural radiance and coverage at a much smarter price than the leading department store brand. This moisturizer is also oil-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic."

I'll be honest, when I first tried this moisturizer, I was really put off by the thickness and texture of it.  It seemed so heavy and goopy, I just hated it.  I totally vowed to return it.  At some point I had a weird change of heart and decided to give it a second chance the next day.  Once I got past the texture, I was really surprised by how quickly it absorbed right in and how even my skin tone looked.  Despite the thick formula, I don't feel like it leaves a heavy coat on my skin.

I decided to keep going with it and a week later, I'm pretty sure that my skin had actually IMPROVED... super moisturized and it hasn't broken out or gotten irritated at all.  It's nice that it has a higher SPF too, I bet it's going to be awesome this summer.  The price is a bit steep, I think I paid $15.99, but it's a decent sized bottle and I'm really happy with it.  I'll definitely be buying a 2nd bottle when I run out.

I've been using this under Covergirl Natureluxe Foundation and it makes a great base.  My skin looks flawless and glowing.

Natureluxe... my new love

I was hesitant to try Covergirls NEW Natureluxe foundation because I had been using a foundation for a while that I really liked.  As with most new beauty products, the overwhelming urge to give it a try came over me and I broke down and bought the stuff.  Using the nifty plastic shade matcher that was attached to the shelf I determined (somehow) that I was shade 350 Oak.  (I feel more natural already)

Covergirl Natureluxe Shade 350 Oak $11.99
I *heart* this... move over Simply Ageless, this is my new love.  First off, the texture is awesome - a weird cross between a liquid and a cream.  I was totally stoked about how it made my face feel, the formula is so light and comfortable.  It seemed to absorb right in and felt so natural and nice (Like butta'!).  The color was just perfectly matched, which is just unheard of (they have 14 shades to choose from).  It doesn't look too matte or oily, it just gives you a dewy glow.  It lasts all day without any touch ups... I haven't even been using powder to set after application!  It doesn't oxidize or get dull or ashy over time.  It does have a slight scent, but it's an unobtrusive, light, fresh cucumber smell.  I'm a fan of the package too... super cute, clean and convenient.  It seems a tad small for the price, but let me tell you, you need only the tiniest amount to look amazing.  Totally worth every penny.  =)

I have been wearing this for just about 2 weeks now and I am yet to have a single breakout.  I have terribly sensative skin and a lot of foundations irritate it... so far so good. 

Here's the thing:  If you're looking for a full coverage foundation, this is NOT for you.  Because it is more of a sheer foundation,  it perfects more than it covers up.  Think of it as a pick-me-up for your face... buh-bye dullness and uneven skin tone!
ALSO... if you're prone to oilyness, this is probably not your best bet. 
 Overall... I'm super excited to see a drugstore brand show that it is possible to incorporate more natural-based ingredients while keeping an affordable price.  Right now, the natureluxe line only has the foundation and the balm-gloss (which, by the way, is fantastic).  I'm hoping to see more from Covergirl in the future.