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NYX Sale (till April 30)

Sephora Sale


Ulta Sale

Looking Forward To Summer 09

Looking into the future here are some summer looks. It's seems to be about metallics, shimmers, & bronze.

Smashbox Untamed Summer Collection

Too Faced Summer Collection

Dior Summer Look

Nars Summer Collection

Lorac Hollywood Heat Collection

Too Faced Mascaras

A few weeks ago I went to Ulta looking for a new mascara.  They had a special with Too Faced mascara that were 2 mascaras for $19.5o.  I figured it was good deal since it cost that much for a single mascara.  In the packaged came Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara & Too Faced Pin Point Mascara.  Here's what I thought about them:

Too Faced Lash Injection

The Lash Injection mascara comes in a fat tube.  It has a medium length wand with thick bristles.  The mascara is 0.45 fl. oz. and comes in two colors; deep black and hot chocolate (dark brown).  It's waterproof to prevent smudging or smearing but will wash off with soap and water.  It claims to be thickening and give length, and it does do that but doesn't hold a curl too well.  Also if you put more than two or three layers of this mascara your lash will start to clump.  When you use this product you will notice a citrus type of smell.  This was the first time I've ever had a mascara with a scent but I think it's the jojoba & vitamin E that they add to the formula to help condition you lashes.

Review

Pro: Definitely gives you extremely thick & lengthen lashes

Con: Clumps with too many layers

Buy Again: Yes

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Too Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint Mascara

The Pinpoint Mascara uses the same formula as the regular Lash Injection.  The main difference between the two is that the pin point has very short bristles.  They're so short they barely thicker then the wand.  Because they are so short, it helps to separate each lash giving you that volume.  The Pinpoint is also about half the amount as the Lash Injection (0.25 fl. oz.)  Everything else is pretty much the same but doesn't clump as easily as the Lash Injection.

Review

Pro: Gives you volume

Con: None

Buy Again: Yes

Packaging:  ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

FYI:  You can use both of these mascaras together to create dramatic effects.

For False Eyelash Effect:

1. Coat both top & bottom lashes with 1-2 coats of "Lash Injection" mascara.  Using the brush, wiggle from the lash roots to tips.

2. Apply 1-2 coats of "Pinpoint" mascara from the center of the lashes to tips.

For Lash Extension Effect:

1. Coat both top & bottom lashes with 1-2 coats of "Pinpoint" mascara.  Using it's micro-precision brush, wiggle from the lash roots to tip.

2.  Tip lashes with 1-2 coats of "Lash Injection" mascara.  In a feathering motion from center of the lashes, pull wand straight out beyond lash tips for a "stretching" effect.

What's In For Spring

Here are some spring collections/looks that has caught my eye. The trend seems to be peaches & pink and natural looks. I might have to check on some of these and try them.

Nude & Natural

Tarte Complexion Collection

Smashbox Perfect Canvas Collection

Peaches & Pinks

Dior Perisian Nude Collection

Tarte Spring Greening Collection

Benefit Spring Look Collection

Nars Spring 09 Collection

Liquid Liner

I don't have the steadiest of hand to deal with a brush for liquid liners. That's why I like usingfelt tip applicator. Here's the two I've tried recently...

L'oreal Telescopic Precision Liquid Eye Liner

I bought this eye liner because I had the mascara and I thought I'd try the eye liner. It has a stift felt tip, giving you more control, but has an angle to it so if you have to make sure you're holding it a certain way to apply it. The angle does help to make a precise line but you just have to make sure you're holding it the right way. The liquid liner goes on pretty smooth but it doesn't dry right away. There had been time where I blinked before it had dried and I smudged the liner. However, once it dries it last for the whole day without melting or smudging off. The other draw back that I saw was after a couple of use the tip applicator seemed to start shedding pieces, like there was lint on it. It was a bit annoying. For the most part I did like this eye liner. I think it came in 2 or 3 colors and it cost around $8-9 at any store.

Review

Pro: Felt Tip with all day wear

Con: Angled tip can me awkward and it sheds

Buy Again: Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Maybelline Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

I bought eye liner as a replacement to my L'Oreal liner.  It also has felt tip for easy application but it's not angled like the L'Oreal brand.  It simply comes to a point.  It apply smoothly onto my eye and dries fairly quickly.  It does last me all day without smudging.  It claims that it's waterproof but it's really not.  If you got water on your face or started crying, it will start to run but not heavily.  The water will simply smudge the liner.  This liquid liner is the one I used all the time.  It comes in two colors; black and brown, and cost around $6-7 at a store.

Review

Pro: Easy to smoothly apply, last all day

Con: Not that waterproof

Buy Again: Yes

Price:$

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Setting the Foundation

These are the two foundations I have right now...

Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid Foundation
I never bought foundation from Maybelline before until I saw this one. It was something new, it said it's a mineral makeup, and contained spf 18. I thought it would be a good buy & also good for my skin. I bought it from Walmart between $7-9. It comes in a 1 fl oz. pastic tube with a tip end. I like that it has that tip end so you can control how much you want to use. It come in 2 different shade light, medium & dark with a range of color in each shade that's numbered. For example the foundation I'm using is Medium 3. The foundation provides a light to medium coverage. While I was using this product it never caused me to breakout. The foundation did seem to fade as the day went. I have combination skin so I don't know if it's because I can get oily that the foundation didn't really stay. It's a good product if you don't need full coverage.

Review
Pro: Light weight & won't clog your pores to cause breakouts
Con: Not a full coverage foundation & didn't work for my oily skin
Buy Again: No
Price: $
Packageing: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥


Revlon Colorstay Foundation (Combination/Oily Skin)
After using Maybelline Mineral Power I wanted to find a full coverage foundation. I found this Revlon Foundation in Ulta for $10.50. The reason I bought this particular one was it a full coverage foundation, it contained spf 6, and they had a line formulated combination/oily skin (which is what I am) and then another for normal/dry skin. It comes in a 1 fl. oz. glass tube container in serveral shades. Revlon claims that it will give you full coverage that last for 16 hours 7 that it's transfer resistant. I'm not sure if it does last that long but for me it stayed longer then the Maybelline brand. It provides such great coverage for me that I don't even use concealer with it and it still feels light weight. This is my favorite foundation by far.

Review
Pro: Full coverage & long lasting. It's specialize for your skin type
Con: I don't like the glass tube
Buy Again: Yes
Price: $
Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Another great eye shadow primer is Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I got mine from Sephora of $17. The primer comes in a blue-green 0.35 oz tube that has a tip on the end. It prevents fading, creasing, & melting of your eyeshadow. You only need to small pin point of the primer to cover your lid. I think this product really works well. I've been using it lately and it keeps my eyeshadow looking like new all day long. And since it's a squeeze tube you know you can get every bit of it till the end unlike the Urban Decay Primer Potion. The only think negative that I did notice with this is, if you don't use it for a while or you just bought it, the product might sererate and settle. It's not a big deal because you can squeeze up & down the tube (while the lid is on) to make sure its mixed. It's a must have.


Review
Pro:Works great, easy to apply, & comes in a squeeze tube
Con: Might seperate
Buy Again:Yes
Price:$ $
Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Magazine Top Picks

Allure and InStyle just brought out their picks for best products for beauty. Everything from hair & makeup to body & nails. Take a look at their website for the products. It might help in the shopping process. Here are the Links...

The Master List

• Lips
• Nails
• Eyes
• Cheeks
• Base
• Top Splurges
• Cheap Thrills
• Natural Selection
• Men's Stuff
• Skin
  
• Body
• Hair
• Scents
• Tools
• Winter Skin Fixes
• Top Transformers
• Breakthroughs

Beauty Buys Index

Makeup:

• Lips
• Eyes
• Cheeks
• Cover-Up
• Foundation
• Nails

Skin:

• Normal
• Dry
• Oily
• Sensitive
• Anti-Aging

Hair:

• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Styling & Color

Body:

• Creams, Cleansers, & Scrubs
• Sun Care & Self Tanners

Tools:

• Hair
• Makeup

Green Goods

Best Makeup Shades for Your Skin Tone