Monday, February 28, 2011

Make Your Own Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara!

Reading & watching reviews upon reviews going nuts for the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara that recently came out, I thought to myself that there must be a way to do this yourself and save yourself the ridiculous price for a sample size worth of product. The Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara brush is tiny and if you really look at it, you can see what they basically did was chop off the bottom part of a mascara wand, removing the thick part that has a tendency of gooping mascara onto the lashes you don't want nearly as dramatic as your upper ones. When you tilt your brush to the side to really work the tip into your lashes, that fat part kind of sits on them and makes them clumpy and unsightly. So maybe Clinique is a genius for figuring this out after years of regular mascara wands but I for one am not going to spend that kind of money on something so small.

DIY to the rescue.

What you'll need:
mascara*
a pair of scissors**
make up remover/water
paper towels

* I'd highly recommend using a GWP mascara for this (especially since they are free!). The brush/wand should be slightly pointed at the top and should be the non-plastic variety. I'm not sure what it is made out of, possibly nylon?
** I'd recommend cuticle scissors or something similar. These huge ones were awkward!

This shape is perfect!

Step 1: Remove the wand from the container and clean it! 

TIP: Use slightly harder paper towels so they don't leave little bits on your wand. If you use waterproof mascara you'll have to use an oil based remover, plus soap and water to clean it.
All clean!

Step 2: Take your scissors (again I recommend smaller scissors especially if you are using GWP mascaras) and start cutting the fibers on all sides of the brush, coming as close to the actual wand as possible without puncturing it. Do this over the trash can or plastic bag.


TIP: Keep on snipping until you get to the desired length. I'd recommend using a piece of tape as a guide if you want it exact.
All done!

Step 3: Clean the wand again to ensure there aren't any hairs that weren't attached but had hidden their way into the wand.

Look familiar?
Your own version could cost as little as nothing! Save yourself $10 (or more in other countries)!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Beauty Blog Link Love - 2/26/11 - #28

Want your own customizable magnetic palette without spending big bucks? Beauty's Bad Habit shows you how to make your own!

AOYV find her love and joy in NARS Lovejoy.

Take a look at INGLOT's new Chelsea NYC Studio: Kim Porter shares pictures from INGLOT's Grand Opening event.

Inspired by Parisian culture with Asian nuances, The Beauty Nerd features gorgeous beauty products from Tokyo Milk.

Revlon's Super Lustrous line has officially converted Angela at Do Want Makeup into a lipstick lover! Check out her review of Wine With Everything.

Come over to Jeweled Thumb to see some new lipsticks from Essence at a price point everyone will love!

Hot Beauty Health shares the best travel makeup to stay gorgeous on vacation.

Love Rihanna? Musicalhouses attempts to dupe her "Who's That Girl" eye look!

Hot thermal springs, healing white silica muds, soothing spas...sounds a bit like heaven, right? While most of us can't get to Iceland, check out Socialite Dreams review of the Iceland Blue Lagoon Spa Mud Mask that you can use at home.

Take a peek at the toners and moisturisers in Rachel's current skincare routine.

Retrodiva shows how easy it is to use the Kiss Premium Eyelashes. Gorgeous lashes in just a flash!

Blush Fiend Tracy at Beauty Reflections reviews Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush and other blushingly beautiful blushes during Blush Week!!

Sarah from IHeartCosmetics reviews the new Naked Skin line of 97% natural facial skincare.

Missed out on New York Fashion Week? Make sure you check out Krasey Beauty's recap on fall beauty trends.

Ever wondered how to pick the right blush to go with red lips? The Lip Print gives you a few pointers.

At Music and Make Up Jo has lip swatches of her favourite red lipsticks.

Jellyminx shares her first nail stamping experience!

Cindy over at Prime Beauty happily referees the Lip Crayon Smackdown! See who comes out on top between NARS, Tarte and Clinique!

Do Revlon creme glosses live up to the hype? Check out Spiced Beauty to see how she scored them for 2.50 each!

What's the hottest new lipstick in the drugstore? Find out over at theNotice (and don't miss Rae's swatches of the entire line!)

Do men moisturise? Isn't it too macho for them? hellcandy's bf guest posts and reveals all...Click here to read his post.

Katie sounds the dupe alert siren when comparing Kat Von D's Beethoven palette ($34) to the NYX Jazz Night palette ($8) on My Lips But Better.

What did you buy from Mac’s Wonder Woman collection? Check out Anita’s Wonder Woman haul over at Pleasureflush.
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Feel like there isn't enough nail polish in your life? Beauty Crazed has a nail bonanza contest going on that you should enter! What are you waiting for?!

Phyrra's Indie Spotlight for February is Sobe Botanicals! Learn all about Lex, and don't miss out on entering the giveaway, too!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Motives Eyeshadows (my collection)

Several months ago, I reviewed some Motives Eyeshadows for Beauty Debutante. Since then, I have continued to use these shadows and I wanted to share them over here as a summary (and my guess is some of you didn't read my prior reviews). I received them as testers so instead of keeping them in their regular smaller palette packaging, I stuck them in a Yaby palette (which I love in case you were wondering - I think I have 6 of them).
I was sent 3 different summer palettes, each including 5 eyeshadows, so I kept them in a similar format for this storage.
I used a couple of the golds for my Inara look and really like the matte gray farthest left in the 2nd row (Cosmic) in the crease. These retail for $12 a piece which for me is a bit high for a lesser known brand, but I am quite glad I have them.

And some swatches for you.
Colors swatched: Bronze Beauty, Green Tea, Sunkissed, Hazelnut, Goddess, Enchanting, Twilight, Galaxy, Drama, Blizzard, Starstruck, Sex & The City, Plum Frost, Twinkle, Cosmic


Some are better than others. I am not a fan of the ones with chunky glitter though Galaxy and Cosmic manage to look more metallic than glittery. I hope this post will serve as a decent reference as the 'swatches' on the Motives website are lacking. If they come out with summer sets this year as they did last year, they may be worth taking a look at. I believe these shadows will fit in MAC palettes but I haven't tested it myself.

Disclosure: These shadows were received for review for Beauty Debutante. All opinions are my own.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Everyday Minerals Freebie

Well mostly free. Thanks to Sisi Sparkles for posting about this!

Everyday Minerals used to always offer this option for a free kit of samples to help figure out the color you would need to order but a couple years ago (I remembering ordering a similar kit in college), they discontinued this deal (and I presume lost a few customers in the process). Well, it's back! And you only need to pay shipping, plus 1 cent. I paid $3.09 for my sample colors.

The options are: Fair, Ivory, Light, Medium, Tan, Mocha, Olive

I ordered the Fair kit myself.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Skincarerx Deals

I have $20 of SkincareRX rewards dollars burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to take a look on the site, and they have a significant portion of sale and clearance products including a couple of my favorites so I thought I would share in case you were considering picking any of these products up after reading my reviews.

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution - You know how much I love the gel and right now the liquid version is on sale for $14.03 down from $18.90!
Some of the darker shades of the Neostrata Exuviance Skin Caring Foundations are on sale (discount is around $10!)
Quite a few of the Cargo Suede Blushes are on sale (including other items) on the Skincarerx sister site Apothica. If you haven't tried a Cargo blush, now is your chance!

Don't forget Ebates or Mr. Rebates too. Use code SKIN10 to take 10% off your purchase!

Disclosure: I used referral links for the cash back sites. I am not affiliated at all with Skincarerx, just a loyal customer!

Michael Todd Giveaway Winner

Whew, keeping track of all these giveaways has worn me out and my guess is you guys are too as I only had 17 entries for this one!

The winner is:

Pamela xiong***(at)gmail

Pamela, I'll be e-mailing you to get your mailing address and Modnique.com will send out your package shortly!

Giveaways will stop for a little while. Do you guys prefer the smaller ones with more winners or larger less often ones with 1 winner? Let me know your throughts. In a perfect world, I'd send a prize to everyone but I don't have the funds nor the time for that!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Eyeko Blush Giveaway Winners!

The 2 winner of the Eyeko Blush are...

*drumroll*

Paige B paigeb****(at)yahoo.com
Nesha F chicangel**(at)yahoo.com


I'll be e-mailing the winners shortly so they can claim their prize! Don't forget the Michael Todd Giveaway ends tonight!

Modnique.com

Before I go into any detail, be sure to check out my Michael Todd Giveaway over here. I'm giving away a full size mascara from the line!

Modnique.com is rolling out their beauty flash sales and as I mentioned in the giveaway post, I'll be working with them to bring you inside information regarding the sales. I'm not going to list all the products included in their sale beginning at 10am EST, however, I thought I'd give you an idea of the products included. All product will be up to 73% and first time joining members receive a $5 credit upon opening an account. From what I've researched on the site myself, the only thing negative about Modnique.com would have to be shipping costs. You pay a more substantial "flat" rate (higher for international) and then an additional dollar amount for each extra item.

Since you only have a few hours till you can get your shop on, let me cut to the chase and give you a taste of what's to come in their first Beauty flash sale!



Great Length Mascara
Fiber Lash Volume XX Mascara
6 Pan Palette prefilled with eye shadows (various combinations)
Long Wear Crème Shadow (10 color options)

Gel Eye Liner (7 color options)
Naked Kiss Lipstick (10 color options)
Compact Powder Bronzer (4 color options)
Powder Blush (6 color options)

Shimmer Blush (5 color options)
Eye Shadow Base (2 color options)*
Crème Glace Lip Gloss (9 color options)

... and others, more lipgloss, eyeshadows, empty palettes, etc.


* Popular Item

Will you be checking it out? If you do participate in the sale, I'd love to hear your experience with Modnique!

Disclosure: This post includes a referral link.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Weekend Beauty Reads

Gloria of DivaShop reviews & swatches 3 $1 e.l.f. eyeshadow quads.

Megan from Painted Ladies talks about Maybelline's Great Lash and other beauty pet peeves.

Phyrra has partnered with Apothica for a giveaway! Go enter!

A Touch of Blusher reviews RMK's spring 2011 makeup collection.

Cinnamon Kitten tests the herbal waters with a review of Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo & Conditioner.

Jeweled Thumb looks at one of the most peculiar NYFW trends of the week Caviar just isn't for eating.

Michael Todd Giveaway

I was recently contacted by Modnique.com, an online sample site. They are in the process of rolling out their beauty & skincare flash sales and asked if I wanted to partner with them. I took a quick look around their site and saw that unlike most of the sample sale sites, they ship (more or less) worldwide. Their first beauty-related sale is for Michael Todd Cosmetics and I have one of their mascaras to giveaway!
Michael Todd Great Lengths Mascara in Black, retail $19
Take your lashes to new heights with Great Lengths Mascara.
Our exciting new lash-lengthening formula contains Keratin, which moisturizes and protects the lashes to encourage lash growth.


Rules:
1. You must be a follower of Jeweled Thumb either through Blog Lovin' or Google Friend Connect
2. You must 'like' Modnique on Facebook

3. You must fill out the form below
4. You must live in one of the countries included in their Registration pull down list.



This giveaway ends the day the Michael Todd sale starts, February 22nd!

disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Modnique.com; there is also my referral link for the site included, more info regarding the site forthcoming

Thursday, February 17, 2011

*NEW* ULTA Nail Polish

I was flipping through my ULTA flier and stumbled upon a section for new ULTA collection nail polish. ULTA recently revamped their nail polish line and came out with a wider selection of colors including some on-trend shades and sleeker black caps and now they've added even more colors to their collection.

One of the ones I spotted was this, a striking resemblance to Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday and it's drugstore dupes: Wet N Wild Party of Five Glitters, Milani Gems, etc.

The ULTA version is aptly named Pinata-yata
And they've also come out with some others: a minty green (Mint Condition), a few grieges (Concrete Evidence, Set The Nude, Fine Pruned) and quite a few other new shades. It's been awhile since I've scanned the ULTA polish display so I apologize in advance for naming newer but not the newest shades by error.

ULTA polishes retail for $5 a bottle but can often be found on sale. Will you be checking out Pinata-yata?

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

What I've Been Wearing

On my face...
Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation in Fair.

I just can't be bothered to deal with liquid foundation in the morning these days and if applied correctly, Bare Escentuals is by far the easiest foundation to apply, doesn't really even need a mirror - and wears well throughout the day. I apply probably 4 or 5 very very thin layers with a little kabuki brush and get medium to full coverage. By the end of the day, I still get dry patches like many other foundations but it's not an extreme amount and the Fair shade is a fairly good match for my skin. This and some lip balm has pretty much been my makeup routine lately. A plus, it stays on until I take it off and doesn't break me out.

Sorry to be so boring! I also want to quickly apologize for the lack of reviews this week. There will be more, soon.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Caviar Nails?!

New York Fashion Week has certainly brought us some interesting nail trends. To be completely honest, I won't be jumping on the nail hand art stripe or this trend anytime soon, but I guess a consumer could rock a less in your face texture trend, hence the crackle polishes saturating the market right now. From the Cushnie et Ochs show on February 13th at Milk Studios comes Caviar Nails...

Apparently, they applied a basecoat of black (Dashing Diva's Limo Service) and then nail glue and then... black seed beads, extra glitter and finally an activator spray to hold everything in place. I bet this would be unfortunate while eating.


Photo credit Ann Lawlor courtesy of DarkPR

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Beauty Blog Link Love - 2/12/11 - #27 & Weekend Beauty Reads

Do you want a lip product that's both long-lasting and hydrating? Get the best of both worlds with MAC Kissable Lipcolour, as reviewed by My Lips But Better.

Madame B Fatale trials some Cellnique products,with some lovely results!

Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Powder and Blush is making Tracy at Beauty Reflections smile!

Fabulous eyeshadows for a bargain price? Claire reckons she's found some from Collection 2000.

Socialite Dreams is celebrating Black History Month with the 28 Days of Black Beauty: a series showing a black female celebrity each day and recreating her famous look with makeup!

Valentine's Day is almost here! Check out Musicalhouses' funky Valentine's Day eye and funky Valentine's Day nails!

Makeup Morsels finds a spot-on dupe for her favorite Asian gel eyeshadow.

Over at Queen of Turquoise Rachel shows off some of ELF's lovely lippies!

Retrodiva was asked how to do a cat eye, so she explains how in a new tutorial video.

Gouldylox desperately wants longer hair but doesn't want the damage and hates how clip-in locks feel. These look like a gimmick, but actually deliver.

Phyrra raves about a new indie company, Brazen Cosmetics. She shares a 20% off coupon code, too!

Jellyminx embraces her inner rock chick and share a super easy smokey eye look.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away the Pink Sith tells of her experience with Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating and Mattifying Pressed Powder in 01 Teint Rose.

Are you ready for your Valentine? .. Why not check out Sleek MakeUP's Stiletto Collection, It's Limited Edition, and especially for Valentines!

Jo at Music and Makeup talks about her experience at the Academy Of Freelance Makeup.

The Lip Print combines two of her favourite things: celebrity makeup and red lipstick.

Beautywoome shares the things she dropped from her beauty routine in 2010 and why they've been given the boot!

Anita gets excited about the details and promo pictures of MAC’s gorgeous, girly, "Quite Cute" collection over at Pleasureflush!

Amy Antoinette showcases her perfume collection

Fabulous eyeshadows for a bargain price? Claire reckons she's found some from Collection 2000.

***

To celebrate her 2 year blog anniversary, Audrey Dao is giving away Urban Decay’s Naked Palette, 15 year 24/7 Eye Pencils and much more!

Want a chance to check out some of theNotice's favourite products? You're in luck - Rae's giving away five of her favourite products!

Krasey Beauty is celebrating her two year anniversary with a huge giveaway ! Naturally, it's packed with her favorites from Make Up For Ever, Zoya, Hourglass, and more!

Will Mr. Postman bring YOU a package from the Cargo Spring 2011 Voyages collection? Enter the giveaway at Prime Beauty but hurry, the giveaway ends Monday, Feb. 14th!

Beautifully Addicted To are saying thank you to their beautifull followerswith a host of goodies include OPI, Bliss, and MAC as a giveaway!
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Phyrra raves about a new indie company, Brazen Cosmetics. She shares a 20% off coupon code, too!

Retrodiva was asked how to create a cat eye, so she created a video to show how!

In the latest Breaking Down Beauty, Sheila from Painted Ladies shows you how to apply spray foundation.

Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at the best make up for brown eyes.

Girl Gloss has MAC Wonder Woman swatches of all of the lip products.

Jeweled Thumb reviews a new quint from Revlon. It's not only good quality at an inexpensive price, but pretty to boot!

A Touch of Blusher reviews Coffret D'Or's Eyes Appeal Shadow in Sweet Brown.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Review: Haus of Gloi Come Hither

image from Haus of Gloi
Haus of Gloi has their new Valentine's Day collection out as I've previously mentioned and I received my package today and thought I'd get right to work reviewing the different scents in the line. I went ahead and ordered the sampler set which includes 3 individual vials of the perfume oils from this collection. Priced at $7.50 it's not cheap but it's the best way to test the samples before buying the full size (picture above) at $15 and it insures you don't make any super costly mistakes ordering. 

Come Hither was the scent I was most excited about but I wasn't sure if the notes would work for me, rose in particular doesn't seem to meld well with my skin and gives me a migraine if I'm not careful. Described as, "Bourbon vanilla, tonka bean, cardamon, a touch of rose oil, Queen Elizabeth root, three threads of saffron and a touch of honey to sweeten the whole deal", this scent is supposed to entice your lover.

My husband's reaction?

CUE: ENTER LOVER
DH: *sour face* What's that smell?
me: I'm testing a perfume. I'm not a big fan.
DH: Yeah, it doesn't smell awful but it's too strong.
At this point DH was standing in the doorway and a good 15 feet from where I was on the bed.
me: You want to come over and sniff it? *holds up wrist*
DH: No thanks. You can go wash that off now. *runs downstairs*

Rose scents do this weird transformation into something that smells halfway decent and then on me, you feel it kind of prick the inside of your nose and it just smells... off. Or it could be that and the combination of the cardamon. Sad as bourbon vanilla and tonka bean are some of my favorite scents on me. I think the sweetness of the honey may be making it a bit worse.

Anyway, I'm a little sad that we're now down to 2/3 possibly working on my skin and I bought Come Hither in a sample body butter form too but from what I can tell, it is a little softer than the oil variety. We'll see. For now, I'm going to wash my wrists (I only did a dab as it is) and hope one of the other scents smells better on me.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Review: Global Goddess Complexion Perfection Duo

Now you'll know why the Revlon quints reminded me of the brand Global Goddess, which seems to be under a brand redo (or done) as their website is down and the only place I can see them sold is Dermstore.
Anyway, I've been retesting the Global Goddess Complexion Perfection Duo in 1.0 - the shades aren't named and instead are numbered, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 etc. and 1.0 is their lightest shade for porcelain to fair skintones. Anyway, this compact foundation and concealer retails for a hefty $40 and has been sitting in my stash unloved for quite awhile. I know exactly why. It takes a bit of effort to make this look good on the skin. I've tried finger, dry sponges, wet sponges, the beauty blender and all left this a cakey mess on my face and since it's slightly more yellow toned, it looked awful. However, I found the miracle applicator this morning and I had to share the application tip and my new found love for this foundation!
First what's the missing brand say about it?


What it is:
A creamy foundation and concealer duo for a flawless complexion.


What it's used for:
The Complexion Perfection Duo includes two long-lasting formulations for one perfect complexion. The foundation formula features a luxurious, cream-to-powder texture that glides on and sets to a semi-matte finish. It's infused with African illippe butter to moisturize, Indian neem to soothe, and Tahitian monoi oil nourish and soften. The concealer formula is an emollient cream that disguises shadows, imperfections, wrinkles and blemishes with ease and precision. Rose carnina fruit extract nourishes, chamomile soothes, and Thai lemon grass lifts and tightens. The complexion is left with a smooth, youthful and seemingly flawless appearance.
I agree regarding the semi-matte finish but not about the gliding on part. This cream is thick and highly pigmented. A little goes a long way and the texture seems a little hard at first. More like the Giorgio Armani Cream Blushes which as those of you have tried those know, they seem more like powders. However, it does melt a bit after having contact with the skin. As I said, I did find this difficult to work with until I used a regular 'ol foundation brush, dry. Once I applied with the flat brush, it blended seamlessly, it didn't cake. It does tend to settle in some dry patches so moisturize well if you have dry skin, but I can see this being great for normal to combination skin.
If I apply it with a foundation brush, it's very light on the skin and doesn't feel like you are wearing a heavy mask (as it does with a sponge or fingers) and a plus, it lasts all day on me (today I applied at 6am and removed at 9pm and it was still on though it had definitely faded in some spots and I also have a bad habit of touching my face sometimes).
 As with all Global Goddess products, the packaging is gorgeous. The sturdy compact has a pretty floral motif on it and comes with a large mirror on the inside.


1.5grams (0.42oz.)
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Decyl Oleate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Silica, Polybutene, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Hexyl Laurate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Nylon-12, Boron Nitride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Neem (Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract), Monoi Oil (Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract), Roman Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract), Rosa Cania Flower Extract, Monoi Oil (Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil), Carthamas Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Illipe Butter (Bassia Latifolia), Talc, Propylene Carbonate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Propylparaben. May Contain, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

JT Asks: Press Releases?

Readers, I want to know your thoughts regarding press releases and posting them on Jeweled Thumb. I know as a blog reader myself, it can get a little boring seeing the same press release on several blogs you read and of course they all seem to be posted the same day. As much as I love looking at photos of new pretty makeup or nail polish, seeing the same picture multiple times is annoying and I'm likely to skip over those posts. Also, I have a bit of a moral issue with posting about products I've never used myself on here, even if it looks new or exciting. So I want to hear your thoughts? Are you pro release or not?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Review: Haus of Gloi Soft Bubbling Scrub Hearth

I hate to do reviews where you can't actually get what I'm talking about but I wanted to review everything I've received from Haus of Gloi, or at least give you idea of the scents. And even though their holiday collection (Yule '10) is pretty much long gone though there are a few bits and pieces left on the website, I hear that they tend to bring back scents every year.
I've used the Haus of Gloi Hearth Soft Bubbling Scrub for a couple of weeks now and I wanted to share my thoughts on this scent. I recently finished the Eggnogin' scrub which I strangely starting enjoying once I got over what I had envisioned the scrub to smell like. I think I might actually buy it next year (though only as a scrub I think).

Haus of Gloi describes the Hearth scent:
The warm glowing center of any home. Autumns last apple pickings, warm bread, orange rind, various fire roasted nuts, cracked black pepper all nailed down by an oozing sticky benzoin.


I like this scent until I get to the "various fire roasted nuts" bit and I think there is a pretty strong chestnut smell that kind of overpowers especially in the shower. The scent does stick around a little but the chestnut goes away for the most part and you are left with a kind of smokey vanilla-y baking scent. Also odd as there doesn't seem to be a sweet element to it.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I'd buy anything in this scent description next year if it comes back.

Haus of Gloi now has their Valentine's Collection out and I'll be receiving what I ordered soon and reviewing those before I get to my other Yule scents (my shower is tiny so I can only fit 1 scrub at a time and I like to finish the ones I start before moving on to the next one).

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Billion Dollar Babes Beauty Blowout

It's been a long time since I last spoke of Billion Dollar Babes, a sample sale site similar to Gilt or Hautelook. However, it looks like they are finally having another beauty sale! On February 9th (aka tomorrow), tune in for their Beauty Blowout! I hopes it's good!

Disclosure: This post includes a referral link

Monday, February 7, 2011

Review: Essence Lipsticks #31 #42 #46

During infamous "Blog Research", I stumbled across these Essence lipsticks at ULTA. As many of you know, this German brand made its way to America and is now sold at ULTA stores. It's usually located at an end cap and the prices are very affordable. When I saw these lipsticks with testers, I pretty much swatched the entire collection and came home with 3 of them.
With this collection, I found that the ones that seemed the least wearable were actually the colors I was attracted to. These lipsticks are very glossy and pretty balmy in texture. They are not opaque and the color in the tube does not really relate to how it looks when swatched. Some of them are creams and others have a fine shimmer to them but it's not obnoxious and it can't really be felt between the lips. And the best part about these, they cost only $2.49 a piece!
The ones I picked out after my swatch-fest:
#31 Glamour Queen #42 Fairytale #46 Fashionista
Starting from the top and going clockwise: #42 Fairytale #31 Glamour Queen #46 Fashionista
Swatches from top to bottom: #31 Glamour Queen, #42 Fairytale #46 Fashionista
Swatches from top to bottom: #31 Glamour Queen, #42 Fairytale #46 Fashionista

Again, they don't last long but they are so pretty and glossy. I didn't find them super duper moisturizing but they are not drying either. They do have a pretty strong sweet fruity scent so if that is something that bothers you, it might be better to pass on these. At under $3 a pop, they are definitely worth trying out. I believe the full range has 12 or so colors. Be careful as these aren't sealed so they are probably more prone to tampering even with testers.

Has anyone tried these out yet?

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Review: Revlon Custom Eyes in 02 Naturally Glamorous (Go Buy This!)

Before I even start this review, get thee down to CVS stat and pick one of these up. In most circumstances, you would want to read the review first, but let me break this down for you quickly, buttery soft, pigmented, buttery soft and cheap this week! If you need more convincing you can read the rest of the post, but let me go over the deal this week if you have a CVS near you.

Certain Revlon products this week are on sale for $6.99, get $4 Extrabucks back. This usually retails for close to $10 so it's already discounted a decent amount before the Extrabucks.

Then the magic red coupon machine of awesome is spitting out a $3 off $10 cosmetic purchase, be sure to go to this machine before you make your purchase, and grab something cheap (like a clearance item to bring your total to $10).

And if you get the Sunday paper, there have recently been $1 off Revlon products. Make sure to bring one with you.

Basically, you are going to get this item for close to nothing and it is awesome.

Cut to "official" review
---------
The new Revlon CustomEyes comes in several different color combinations (some brights as well) and they usually retail for $9-$10. These are brand new Revlon products so they probably aren't going to be in the regular Revlon display, but will have a separate cardboard stand. Mine also had the new mascara that I forget the name of. Anyway, I picked up the neutral bronzey quint, Naturally Glamorous #02. It consists of (as you guessed) bronzey and neutral shades. it's considered to be a shadow-liner type of palette, so the matte shade on the end is meant to be a liner but I'd bet it would make a great crease color as well.
The palette includes a diagram on the back to recreate the look for this palette. Honestly, I'm not one to use 5 different shades for one eye look so I'd probably do something a bit different but it's up to you. The palette contains a good 5.67 grams of product and thank goodness, Revlon obviously listened or read when we say time and time again that packaging matters! Now, the plastic itself is pretty plain but the design on the shadows is gorgeous and reminds of the Global Goddess line, specifically the quads which retail for a staggering $42.

But you don't care about the packaging! You care about the product. Ok, maybe you care about the packaging a little bit.
One swipe! One swipe! Super soft buttery shadows at a drugstore price with pretty indentation! The only one that didn't perform as well was the matte liner shade, but seriously, it's still dark and is pretty soft. The other shades are just velvety smooth and absolutely lovely.
It comes with a double side sponge tip applicator as well which half of you probably won't even touch. Obviously I haven't worn these so I can't comment on wear time but I was so shocked with how soft and lovely they were that I wanted to get this post up asap so everyone can go grab these with the sale!

The verdict? Go buy this!

Weekend Beauty Reads

Phyrra introduces you to a new company, Black Rose Minerals.

Sheila from Painted Ladies breaks down how to wear orange lipstick without making you feel like a clown!

A Touch of Blusher rounds up spring 2011's makeup trends.

The Makeup Divas is having a giveaway. Check it out and enter HERE.

What makes someone a professional? Jeweled Thumb discusses the creative fields in her post 'Pro Or No'.

Cinnamon Kitten checks out the bunny ears on the new Playboy fragrances for women.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Review: Senna Barely Base Sheer Mineral Makeup

After reading tons of positive reviews on makeupalley, I was super excited to try the Senna Barely Base Sheer Mineral Makeup SPF 20. I am a huge fan of light weight bases and then spot concealing any blemishes I may have. With drier skin, the last thing I need is a heavy base that cracks or creates dry patches on my face.

Senna's take:
This sheer mineral veil of color gives skin a radiant, flawless finish while nourishing and protecting with botanicals, anti-oxidants and non-chemical full-spectrum sunscreens. Perfectly lightweight and water resistant. For all skin types.

As always, I chose the lightest shade, Fair. Fair looked far too yellow in the swatch I did after receiving the product but after blending it, it looked like a perfect match. I actually found this product a lot more pigmented than a lot of tinted moisturizers on the market. And while it did give a nice finish to my skin, I'd describe it as more of a satin finish. It doesn't look overly glowy like some tinted moisturizer (I find the Becca one the "worst" or "best" whatever your preference is in that regard). This, I'd describe as kind of a lighter foundation. For those oily skinned gals that swear to hate tinted moisturizers, I'd try this one as it is oil free.
You can tell from my swatch above that a little of this goes a pretty long way and it is a fairly pigmented formula. I haven't tried the color range apart from this color, but it does seem to be on the yellow side. But below you'll see how nicely it blends in.
I only have 2 issues with this product. One is the price, for $36 it's up there with the likes of the Laura Mercier TM (at $42). Yes, it does have slightly more product at 1.7oz versus the LM's 1.5oz but for a boutique brand that isn't easily swatched prior to buying, the price for me is a little high.
And the cap. Though it's nice to know that they fill the bottle, once you press it, it does have a tendency of spurting out product so be careful! I do, in general, like the sleek gold sturdy packaging but I did spray some all over my sink when I first used it.

So I do like this tinted moisturizer quite a bit. It lasted well throughout the day and I'll likely repurchase when I run out. I bet this would be a good summer tinted moisturizer as it's not too glowy but still provides 20SPF and a little added moisture.


ingredients: Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 3.75%, Zinc Oxide, 4.90%. Other Ingredients: Water, Cyclomethicone, Propylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Chloride, Lysine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Leaf Extract, Phytantriol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Boron Nitride, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Dextrin Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Warning: Avoid Eyes. Discontinue if irritation appears. Do not use on infants under 6 months old. 1.7oz/48g. Made in USA.

Disclosure: This was received for review from a representative of Senna Cosmetics. I was not paid and these are my honest opinions as always! Feel free to check out my labels tag for Senna to check out my other reviews.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Missha Rewards

Did you shop at Missha this past year? If so, you may have some rewards tied to your account. I love how a lot of brands and companies are jumping on the rewards bandwagon! And from the looks of this e-mail, they seem to be continuing the program through 2011.

The rewards:
If you spent $100...
$10 off a purchase of $40 or more
If you spent $200...
M Shiny BB Cream ($19.99 value)
If you spent $300...
M Perfect Cover BB Cream ($29.99 value)
If you spent $600...
Misha Gold Overnight Cream ($55.99 value)
If you spent $1000... (I'd be shocked if anyone spent this much on 1 site!)
Misha Gold Overnight Cream & $50 gift card

Personally, the reward amounts seem a little high. But something is better than nothing. I would have liked to see a reward for those that spent under $100, maybe free shipping or something similar so there is an incentive for them to order more. Did you find anything in your Missha account? I believe if you redeem any of these items, you would still need to pay for shipping unless you were to spend $40 extra.

Winter Skin Savior

Most winters are absolutely brutal on my skin. This one has been no exception. For me, even though my skin is dry, I still suffer from occasional breakouts, unevenness, roughness and other awesome bumps. Obviously everyone's skin is different but this winter I've learned that I need to slightly over-moisturize. And I've been using super rich creams and aside from an occasional pimple that comes to a head, I haven't broken out.

My winter skin savior?
Lancome Nutrix Soothing Treatment Cream, $45 1.9oz
This cream is super rich and once it kind of melts in, it kind of feels like rubbing butter all over your face, but in a good way. The no frills packaging evokes the time period that this first launched, 1963 - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.


If you have oily skin, you will hate this.
However, for us dry skinned gals, sometimes you want to look glowy and not matte and dry and parched like my skin tends to look. The price is a little high, but you don't need much though I like to slather it on since it feels so good and my skin feels so soft in the morning. After it softens with my body temperature, I also like to massage it in a little. It's a super thick and luxurious cream, almost like a salve.
Do you see the slightly sheen it has left on my hand above (it's not shimmer or anything though the lighting makes it look that way)? That is exactly what I'm missing in the winter months. Love!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Colorburst Glosses Permanent

I know since they haven't made their way into the permanent display, some of you were wondering if the new Revlon Colorburst glosses (I reviewed Fire here) were a permanent or limited edition item.

I recently had a live chat, and straight from the horse's mouth...

Erin: I'll be happy to help you.
JT: Are the new Colorburst glosses permanent?
Erin: Yes. The ColorBurst Lipgloss is a regular business item.
JT: excellent! Thank you.
Erin: Is there anything else I may help you with today?
JT: Nope, that's all

Now we can all rest easy and wait for a good sale!

Sorry I've been away a bit this week. I managed to get a bit of a stomach bug and just wasn't in the mood to look or think about makeup. Hope everyone is doing well!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Beauty Ticket Haul

I have been wanting to go to our local outlets to check out the CCO for weeks, but with the back, that wasn't happening. So I did the next best thing; find an online shop that stocked MAC items in line with CCO prices and had a little haul. Well, Beauty Ticket recently put up a few MAC items, so I took a look and ordered a few things. Just an FYI, they don't have as many items as they started out with.
 
I was pleased to see they had the MAC Microfine Refinisher for just $16.99 which is even cheaper than the CCO price and since it's discontinued, I wanted to stock up. I also picked up Deep Truth eyeshadow ($9.99) which I had previously swapped away and wanted back, Off The Radar Pigment (no longer in stock but paid $10.99 which is a complete bargain gives at the CCO pigments are generally $13.75 or thereabouts) and Flirt & Tease blush at only $11.99. Shipping was fair at $6.95 and arrived quickly and safely packaged. I was able to use a coupon code to take 10% off my order for new customers so my total came to $67.20 - I'm no expert, but these all look authentic to me.