Smashbox Cream Liner

I always like to buy makeup palettes before I buy the actual version of a product. I recently bought Smashbox Cream Liner Palette. This palette cost $32 dollars at Sephora and come with the 10 shades of Smashbox's cream liners and a small synthetic brush. The case is a thin and compact with a large mirror. The size makes it easy to carry around. Eventhough it look like there isn't much of the cream liner given, there is enough to last for a while (depending on use). When I first tried the liners I thought it smooth to apply and I just used the brush that was given. You do have really coat the brush with the cream liner in order to apply the right amount to your lids. I found the darker colors ( black, blue, dark brown, green) showed up very will but the softer colors really weren't vibrant enough to make a difference. I do take to a count that I have a medium skin tones and so those color probably don't show because of that. I'm might try to use the softer colors as a eyeshadow base instead of a liner. When I did use it at a liner it lasted pretty well for half the day but I could tell that it was starting to fade. After a 12 hour day the liner faded to where you could only see the outline of it. But the colors don't really smudge once it dries.
I might not buy this product again but I might buy the full version of some of the colors. They cost $22 each and contains 0.06 oz of a liner.

Review

Pro: Smooth & applies easily. Convenient to carry around

Con: Not all the colors are vibrant enough to really show & slowly fades through out the day.

Buy Again: Maybe

Price: $$$

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥

Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 3 & 4 Kit Shadows

I was looking for some bright colors for summer when I came across these 2 shadow kits at Rite Aide. They are normal around $4-5 but they were on sale for Buy One Get One. Cover Girl claims They blend effortlessly to bring your eyes out beautifully, without overshadowing. The shadows come in a small, compact, plastic case with a double ended sponge tip applicator.
I was really hoping to have fun with these colors but they weren't as vibrant as they seemed once I applied it to my lids. I was greatly disappointed. The only ones to really show was the blue & teal color on the tropical fusion kit. The rest were not very pigmented. I picked the bold colors from all of the kits so the more neutral and tone down colors probably wouldn't be any better if these didn't show.

Eye Enhancing 3 Kit Shadow: Firecracker
Eye Enhancing 4 Kit Shadows: Tropical Fusion

Review

Pro: Cheap

Con: Not Very Pigmented

Buy Again: No

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥

Smooth Away

Everyone has probably seen the commercials on tv for the new hair removal system. When I was in Rite Aid I saw that they were selling it. Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to get it. After I arrived home, I checked out my new buy. The kit came with 4 large pads, 4 small pads, large pad holder, small pad holder, and a plastic pouch to hold everything. To use smooth away you simply take a pad and stick it to it's holder. I made sure to read the instructions so that I was using it properly. I tired it several time on my legs and it didn't do anything for me. My b/f was nice enough to let me experiment on him and it sorta worked on him. It took off some of the hair on his legs but not as smooth as it claims. The difference between the two of us was that he had longer thicker hair on his legs ( what can you expect? he's a guy) and I have think fine hair. Either way this product is a bust. I'm glad it only cost me $9.99 because more then that it would have been a waste of money.

Review

Pro: None

Con: It didn't live up to it's claims

Buy Again: Never

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper

I have been duped! I recently bought the Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper (that was a mouth full) and I was shocked by what I got because I already had it. It's called Covergirl Lash Blast. I had been seeing the Max Factor ads all over and I finally gave in and bought it. As soon as I opened the box the packaging was all the same except it was in a black tube instead of orange. The Max Factor mascara cost a more then Covergirl by $2-3. I bought this mascara for $9.99 at Ulta.

As for the actual product itself. It works great. It comes in a 0.44 fl. oz. tube with a plastic bristle applicator. It goes on smooth on my lashes without clumping. It last all day and held my lashes to a curl. There was no flaking and doesn't weight your lashes down. Just like the Lash Blast, it gave me volume because the bristles separate my lashes. I didn't really feel thickened my lashes or gave me that much length. So it really doesn't live up to the name lash plumper.
If you like the Lash Blast you will like the Lash Plumper, because it's the same thing. I would return it but I was already planning to get another Lash Blast mascara. I use the Lash Blast for ever day use so now that I have this one I won't have to buy another mascara for a while.
Even though I like the product, I'm still disappointed because I was expecting something new.

Review

Pro: Great volume and last all day.

Con: I still don't like the extremely fat wand.

Buy Again: Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

FYI: To see the similarities check out my Covergirl Lash Blast Review

NYX Anniversay Sale

NYX Cosmetics is celebrating their 10 year anniversary and are having a big sale. If you go to their website, nyxcosmetics.com , everything on the site is 50% off from now till May 15th. I wish I had found out about it sooner. Also Cherry Culture is also having the same sale for all their NYX products for the same time period. Use code: NYX50 This is a opportunity to take advantage of. I love NYX products. They're of good quality but inexpensive.

10 Year Anniversay Sale - Terms & Conditions

• This sale starts at 10am PST on May 1, 2009 and ends at 5pm PST on May 15, 2009.
• All sale items are final.
• Professional discounts and any other discounts can NOT be combined with this sale.
• All purchases during this sales event will only be shipped within the United States.
  We will not be shipping to Canada or anywhere outside of the United States.
• Please note that shipment of your purchase during the sale may take up to 14 business
  days due to the high volume. We will try our best to get your goodies out to you as soon as possible!

TreSemme Thermal Creations

I've recently bought TRESemme thermal creations from Ulta. They were on sale so I bought the entire line except for the shampoo & conditioner. They claim that thermal creations is a vitamin-enriched, salon quality styling products are specially formulated to work with your hot irons and blow dryers to get the latest salon styles you want, while protecting your hair from heat damage. I'm always skeptical of products but I'm always willing to give a try. The line, aside from the shampoo & conditioner, consist of a straightening gel, curl activator spray, heat tamer spray, and volumizing mousse. I've used all of them except the volumizing mousse.

Heat Tamer protects your hair from heat & friction. Simply spray the product all over your hair. You can use it on wet 0r dry hair before exposing your hair to heat from a blow dryer or iron. I think the product works. Usually after blow drying my hair it tends to puff up from the heat. Not when I used the heat tamer. It makes my hair more manageable and keeps it from looking fried.

Straightening Gel helps to straighten your hair while adding shine. You take a good amount and rub between your hands to activate the product then run through your hair, making sure to evenly distribute throughout out your hair. The product looks like a gel version of hair polish. When I first applied the product to my hair I was scared that it would weight my hair down and make it look oily & greasing. But once I took my flat iron to my hair the gel disappeared leaving only my now straighten hair with added shine. Usually after straightening my hair I have to apply a polish/ serum but not when I use this gel. My hair already has that shine and makes my hair look healthy. It's like a two-in-one. I love it.

Curl Activator gives a flexible hold of curls with the heat of a curling iron. Simply spray dry hair from root to tip with the activator, blow dry the spray to set for one minute, then curl hair as usual. I had the most doubt with this product. My hair does not hold curls. I usually have to spray a section of hair with hair spray, curl, then spray again. With the activator I didn't have to do that. I only sprayed hair spray after I was done curling my hair to give that lasting hold. I was very surprised.

Review
Pro: Products actually work & my hair did not look fried
Con: None
Buy Again: Yes
Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥