Review: tarte Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer.

Hey everyone!

So, I recently tried the tarte Smoother Operator Tinted Moisturizer after hearing all the positive things about it. I haven't had the best luck with tinted moisturizers as I don't have the best skin, so, while I like the idea of a lightweight foundation that diffuses your flaws while feeling like you aren't wearing makeup, I dislike the fact that a majority of my acne-scarring shows through.



Smooth Operator used to be known as one of tarte's foundations, but after a packaging change and an increase in shades, they finally changed the name to tinted moisturizer. I'm not sure if I agree with this. The coverage is light and definitely on the heavy side of light, but it still feels like a tinted moisturizer. Complaints? None here!

This tinted moisturizer is oil-free, so, it's good for combination, oily, or acne-prone skin types, offers SPF 20, and has become a really big favorite of mine. I love using it and setting it with either a light dusting of mineral makeup (Origins Multi-grain review coming soon!) or a pressed foundation like my Make Up For Ever Duo Mat, as they just give me just the amount of coverage without heaving powder makeup or heavy liquid makeup.

$36 isn't cheap for a tinted moisturizer, but be sure to purchase off of tarte's website, as there are always coupon codes floating around online for tarte (at least 30% off normally!) I suggest heading into Sephora, swatching some shades or get a sample, then ordering off of tarte's website. That's your best option!

Josh <3

Review: Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams.

Hi there!

I told you I'd be sticking around doing some reviews, didn't I? Well I didn't lie!

Make Up For Ever has their newest waterproof innovation taking the world by storm -- Aqua Creams! These products, similar to MAC Creme Color Bases but much more pigmented and creamier/less greasy, are waterproof, long-wearing, and intense! They currently come in 22 different shades (I can see them extending the range soon!).

Make Up For Ever designates these products for either Eye and Cheek or Lip and Cheek, however, I think it's totally up to the user. I have two colors -- 13, Warm Beige (Intended for eyes and cheeks but I could see it being a nudeish lipcolor) and 10, Orange...a very vivid orange intended for Lips and Cheeks, though I've definitely used it as an eyeliner and love it!

The lasting power on these is amazing and I quite love them! I've used them on eyes and cheeks and both places seem to keep the product on very easily and I hear the same holds true for lips. I'll be testing their waterproof ability to the fullest when I go to the beach this weekend as well!

I'd definitely recommend these to anyone -- I plan on picking up more shades soon! Aqua Creams retail for $22 at Sephora.com and Sephora stores -- look for the boxed set in Sephora or online now containing two Aqua Creams, Aqua Eyes Liners, and a tube of Waterproof Smokey Lash as well!

Josh <3

I'm back with some mini-reviews!

Hi everyone! :]

So, I'm finally back after being gone for so long! I just moved, took a new job, and I'm trying to get my life on a new track, so, needless to say, my life was pretty hectic! Now that I'm all moved though, I've got some free time again, so, I wanted to continue making blog posts.

I've tried a lot of new things, so, I haven't the slightest clue to get started, but I'm going to try and make this a summary. Let's go with this: I'm going to post a mini-review of 5 products I've tried recently that I loved. Sound okay? Good! Here we go!

1. Retin-A Micro
Now, I'm aware this isn't a product you can buy in stores, but it's been a lifesaver for me, so, I had to make it my number one. I started Retin-A Micro in late March as a treatment for my cystic acne and acne-scarring. Since then, I've seen nothing but improvement. Rarely ever do I get a cystic blemish anymore and on top of that, I hardly break out to the level I used to. My skin is looking a lot more even, but Retin-A Micro will keep working at any scarring I still have. Yes, I did have dryness the first two weeks I was on it, but I highly recommend you bring this product up with your dermatologist if you're facing problems with cystic acne.

2. Make Up For Ever Duo Mat Foundation
This foundation is a pressed powder foundation and it's something I've literally almost used up the whole thing -- I'm scrapping up the sides of the bottom of the pan now! Right now, I'm using it as a setting powder for when I wear a Tinted Moisturizer, but I have used it as a foundation alone and it works wonderfully for oily skin. The shade doesn't match me completely, but it's close enough where it's not a problem. If you're oily, give this a shot!

3. MAC Mylar Eyeshadow
Mylar is a matte eyeshadow that is a mixture between a fleshtone and a white, it's actually just a tad lighter than my NC15 skin, so, it makes for the perfect highlight under my browbone. I catch myself reaching for this every day and I definitely see myself repurchasing this.

4. Revlon Lash Fantasy Mascara
This mascara is a double-ended mascara, one side primer, the other typical mascara, but I find that this is much more defining than any other two-sided mascara I've tried. My long lashes tend to be easily clump prone, but both sides are plastic bristled brushes, so, I don't get clumps! It adds major length and holds a curl very well. Definitely recommend this.

5. Clarisonic Mia
So, I join the many who are proud owners of a Clarisonic facial brush! This totally removes all my makeup and definitely leave my skin super smooth. I use this every night to remove my makeup and it never irritates my skin (Don't press it into your face, let the brush do the work!) The pores around and on my nose look much smaller and I don't think I want to live without this ever again!

So, there you have it! Look for much more frequent reviews and posts to come!

Josh <3

Great Moisturizer For Oily Skin!

Hey Guys!!!

When you have oily or combination skin, it can be difficult to find an effective moisturizer that's not too heavy. Many can have a heavy feeling on the skin and make your face feel, and even look, greasy. Thankfully, I tried this little gem from Clinique.

Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is a unique moisturizer that comes in the form of a gel, not a cream or lotion. It adds moisture to your skin without looking or feeling greasy. It's oil-free and leaves skin feeling super soft and smooth. I have combination skin and Clinique's gel leaves my skin feeling very balanced. I was unsure of the idea of a gel moisturizer at first, but after giving it a try, I'm hooked on this product :)

<3 Sarah

Preview of my Review -- Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation.

Hey everyone!

So, on a prowl for new makeup last week and banking on my 15% off coupon to Sephora, I came across this new toy -- Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Foundation.

So, I was a bit skeptical -- I've swatched a few of Clinique's foundations before, and of course, they're all too pink or too orange for my NC 15 skin. I've also tried a few foundations that claim to "absorb excess oil" or "treat and prevent acne," such as Neutrogena's Skin Clearing Foundation, both the original and the 2008 reformulation, and Almay's Clear Complexion Foundation, both with little luck.

However, I was pleasantly surprised with this. I picked this up in 01 - Fresh Alabaster and it's a perfect match! This foundation applies super smoothly and I love the packaging -- super sanitary! It's a medium coverage foundation, but definitely buildable without caking.

This foundation will accent dryness, so, applying a moisturizer before is a must, for all skin types. It feel it does absorb oil and it actually makes it through an 8-hour work day for me with only powdering once.

Am I in love? We'll see -- that's why this is called a preview! I've only been using this for a few days, but I'll keep everyone posted!

Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation can be found at Sephora.com, Clinique Counters, wherever Clinique is sold, and soon to be Clinique.com for $24.

Save some $$$ - Bye Bye Blemish!

Hey everyone!

So, I know I disappeared for a while, but things got hectic and I really couldn't make it back for a while, then I just lost my concentration with this, but I found a good deal and I'm back!

This is it! Look familiar? I know a lot of beauty or skincare addicts have been raving over the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, a great savior for those of us riddled with whiteheads. Simply dip a cotton swab in the UNSHAKEN mixture and apply some of the pink sediment onto the blemish - and bam! The blemish will have shrunken or be gone in the morning!

Why I'm bringing up Bye Bye Blemish? Other than the fact that the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($18 at Ulta.com) contains talc, an oil-absorbing mineral, Bye Bye Blemish contains all the exact same ingredients - however, the talc is replaced by Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, which I discovered today is the main ingredient in the new Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Gel - another oil-absorbing mineral.

The main purpose of me bring this up? Save yourself $8 and run to Rite-Aid and pick up this bad boy for only $10!

A lot of people also have a bad reaction to talc-based products, so, this is a more gentle option for them (Physician's Formula Mineral Wear lovers, anyone? :D)

I'm back and hopefully will be around for a while!

Josh <3

What I bought in NYC! :D

Hey everyone! I'm back!

NYC was amazing as expected, however, I've learned cities aren't the place for me. I'm more much suburban, however, I don't mind visiting cities.

ANYWAY, I know everyone wants to get to the juicy stuff, so, here's a few things I picked up in NYC...

Illamasqua Katie Blush - $23
Katie is the perfect baby pink blush ever. It's super pigmented, blends amazingly, and looks extremely natural on my skin. If I do apply a lot, it doesn't look unnatural, which is always a plus. Easily a new favorite of mine.

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation - 135 - $30
This foundation, as stated, is super rich. It takes the smallest amount to get a full coverage. The best way to apply this is definitely diluted with a little moisturizer to keep it from looking cakey, because it's a dryer liquid. 135 isn't far off from my skin (NC15), but it's a little more yellow, however, it doesn't look bad.

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation - 105 - $30

I'll spare you the picture only for the fact it's the same thing, but in a white with a very slight pink undertone. I got this because I constantly find a foundation I love however, it's too dark! With this, I can not only buff up the coverage level of the foundation, but I can also lighten it up for me or turn down some of the warm undertones -- Perfect!

Illamasqua Satin Primer - $28

I got this primer instead of trying the Matte Primer -- why? I'm not quite sure. I heard this was fine for even oily-skinned folk, but it just gave you the glow within. Sounds amazing, right? Wrong. I think this is more of a glorified moisturizer that leaves your skin a bit dewy. It didn't extend the wear of my foundation and after applying powder, I didn't look radiant. So, it went back to Sephora when I got back to DE.

I know my NYC haul quickly turned into an Illamasqua haul...but I was dying to try their stuff and NYC is the closest place I can actually shop for it in person! I did pick up some other random things like the Desert Essence Blemish stick I've heard about (Which is good!) and random clothes, but I figured I'd show you the important stuff.

Head on over to Illamasqua.com or Sephora.com and shop this line - it's very high quality with very few duds.

Josh <3

RareMinerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer

Hello everyone!

My skin has been soooo dry lately because of the cold weather and a few new acne products. It has been getting to the point where I look in the mirror and see unsightly dry patches on my face (eww). Luckily, I've had my RareMinerals moisturizer to help get me through my bad skin days :)

RareMinerals is a line of wonderful skincare products made by Bare Escentuals. Like the rest of the Bare Escentuals brand, RareMinerals products are great for the skin! This moisturizer in particular is absolutely effective. After using it, the dry patches on my skin practically vanish. My skin feels super plump and soft. Best of all, it is not at all greasy or heavy. It soaks into the skin like a dream. The RareMinerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer cantains something called ActiveSoil Complex, which promises to reduce pore size, exfoliate skin, and make skin appear brighter and more luminous.

This fab moisturizer can be purchased at Ulta for $32.00

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!!

<3 Sarah

NYC this weekend and a review!

Hey guys!

So, I'm very, very excited! I'm going to NYC this weekend fo the first time EVER! Ahhh!

Besides going to see everything amazing and hang out with my friend, I'm so excited for one major thing: Illamasqua. The Sephora's in NYC, most of them at least, actually carry this brand and I've wanted to try their stuff for so long!

Other than that, I had my interview today for Boots Cosmetics. They're branching out into more and more Targets. I'll be staying with Walgreens, since Boot's is only part-time, but definitely expect some reviews of their stuff if all things go well!

That's it! I just wanted to give you guys an update of my life and let you know what I'm up to. However, I will throw in a product I'm really loving right now:

These are Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner. They offer up to 24-hour, and trust me, this holds true. They retail for $5-$6 pending on where you get them and your area. I love these! Right now I only have 03-Eternal, which is the lime green one you see above, however, I'm lemming the blue one as well now.

Milani is a really good brand to turn to if you're looking for quality products at an affordable price, however, be warned - their normal eyeliners are the exact same product as the Jordana Easy-Liners, since these are owned by the same company. The only exception between these is the Milani version cost around $5 while the Jordana option is only $2 at Walgreens. You be the judge!

Alright, I hope everyone has a nice weekend! I'll try to post something while I'm gone!

Josh <3

5 Forgotten Beauty Stash Favorites!

I decided since I was off today I was going to go through my makeup drawers and find some products I hadn't used in a while and give them a go.

Why don't I do this more often? It was like rediscovering my favorites all over again! Shopping your stash can be fun! Here's what I found I had that I still love:

1. Everyday Mineral Multi-Tasking Concealer
What is there not to love about this product? This is a concealer for fair to light skin tone, but I believe EDM makes a version for each skintone. This is perfect to apply over any discoloration or blemishes that my mineral foundation didn't cover. This product makes me feel like I can actually wear mineral makeup and not feel naked.

2. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Towne Car
I'm someone who loves very dark shadows, as I've been known to reach for my MAC Carbon a few times a week. This provides the perfect dark base for these shadows just to give the color a much more intense look. Though this product is discontinued, I feel like what I have will last me a while.

3. L'Oreal HIP Illuminating Highlighter in Twinkling
If I'm feeling lazy and what a more polished look, I reach for this. The light side provides the perfect highlight with just a few pats of a finger, while the darker side, provides a nice blush, once again, with just a few pats of a finger. This is discontinued, but you can find it on AllCosmeticsWholessale.com for only $3.49!

4. Milani Brow Fix Kit in Light
This kit is perfect for everyone! It comes with a highlight, two different brow shades, since the inner part of your brows should be a light shade than the outer part, an angled brush, a sponge applicator, tweezers, and a mirror. Talk about brows on the go! I believe this is only around $6 too!
5. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent
For as cheap as this is, it works pretty much as effectively as my Urban Decay DeSlick powder, without the cute packaging. This powder is perfect for Summer when I'm oily beyond belief and I need something as dry as the desert to keep me matte. I don't use it in the winter when I do have a dry patch or two, but all other times of the year, I keep it on me daily.

And there you have it! I think I'll be shopping at home more often -- hopefully leaving the credit card behind of course!

Josh <3

Review: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner

Hey guys!

This is just a quick review for a product I recently tried from Make Up For Ever. It's their Aqua Eyes liner in Mat black (0L). I have to say, I have always been a huge fan of Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliner pencils. They were the only liners that I felt I ever needed. But I was wrong :)

Make Up For Ever's liners don't apply quite as smoothly as Urban Decay's because they are not as soft as a pencil. This one does tug just a bit more at the eyelid. But I personally don't care about this little detail. The fact is, I find that the Make Up For Ever lasts SO much longer on my lid than the 24/7. My eyeliner looks so fresh at the end of the night when I wear this. This is very important to me because I am a full time student and I also have a job. So I definitely need a liner that I don't need to touch up during the day. This is the one :)

Also, there are 25 shades to choose from. Definitely something for everyone. So far, I've only tried the black, but I can not wait to try more. This is definitely a new favorite beauty product for me.

<3

Sarah

Review: Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe - Black Royale.

Hey everyone!

So, I just wanted to do a review on a product I've been loving recently: Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe in Black Royale.


If you're a fan of the original Lash Blast, you've got to try this. If you felt something was missing from the original Lash Blast, give this a go. I love the Black Royale color because I do feel it makes a difference in making my blue eyes much brighter. In brighter light, you can see the flecks of shimmer, however, in a lot of lighting, you can see that your lashes are a rich, dark blue, which is awesome.

I'm not that big of a fan when it comes to colored mascaras because they never do what they promise, however, this definitely does.

Tried the Exact Eyelights mascara? It's kind of similar, however, the Exact Eyelights formula is a bit dryer and not as buildable. So, I definitely like this better.

Go give it a shot! Of course, wait for a bogo!

Josh <3

Review: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base.

Hey everyone!

So, I wanted to review a product and feature a sale at the same time, so, I figured what better timing! Recently, I bought L'Oreal's new primer.

It's in their Studio Secrets line, which is kind of an updated version of the L'Oreal HIP line. The thing that drew me in to this primer was consistency. This product is more of a balm or creme versus your standard gel or lotion primer. I was kind of hesitant at first, since I wasn't sure how nice this would be on oily or acne-prone skin, which is what I have. However, I'm glad I bought it.

This product is amazing! I've been using it daily since I first cracked it open and I love it! One thing I have to use this for is my undereye area. I hate when my concealer gets all cracked and fills in lines I have in my undereye, especially since since I'm 20. This wiped under my eye makes my concealer glide right across and work perfectly.

When I used it all over, I didn't notice my face having an increased oil production like I get with a lot of silicone-based primers. It didn't hold back my oil as well as I would've hoped, but it did a decent job. It also does a good job at almost adding a soft-focus finish to any marks or uneven skintone you have.

Overall, I really like this product and it's something I'd buy again. The main reason I wanted to tell you about this is that Walgreens is having a Saturdate with Beauty for L'Oreal this Saturday at your local Walgreens from 10am-5pm. Normally, these events entail testers, free gifts, sales, and coupons. So, what's not to love? It'll also be featuring the L'Oreal color correcting primers, Double Extend Keratin products, and EverStrong/EverPure haircare.

I hope everyone has a good Saturdate! :D

Josh <3

2/15 Haul - MAC and Sephora.

Hey everyone!

So, out of boredom yesterday, I made it to the mall, where I happened to end up in Sephora and MAC, where I just happened to pick up a few things... :]. Here's what I got:

MAC Color Forecast Blush - Azalea Blossom - $25
I wanted a purple-toned pink blush. The SA recommended I try this, I thought it was pretty, so, I picked it up. It's really pretty on, but I have to apply with a very light hand. I'd recommend it for someone just a little darker than me, NC 25 or darker would look better.

MAC Eyeshadow in Plumage - $14.50
I've wanted Plumage for a while, ever since I saw NARS Tropic, but I hated the glitter it includes. It's a nice, dark color for me to wear without necessarily applying Carbon to my whole lid (I love dark shadow!).

MAC Eyeshadow in Tilt - $14.50
I love tilt! It's got a tiny bit more green than my eyecolor, but a very close match. It looks so nice on my eyes, but I just wish the color didn't fade a bit later in the day. I still like it though.

Sephora 55 - Platinum Airbrush - $34
I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, but for $34, I better love it.

Yeah, so, I totally got more than I intended...but hey, I was treating myself for Valentines Day. Haha.

Josh <3

Review: Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42.

Hey everyone!

So, thanks for an amazing Youtuber, Lisasz09, I had to pick up the Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation.

So, this foundation is perfect for me. It retails for roughly $34 at your local Macy's, Nordstrom, or other department stores that have a Shiseido counter. It's a lightweight, Matte finish, medium to full coverage, transfer resistant, non acnegenic, non comedogenic, and has SPF 42! Honestly, it's me in a bottle, an adorable bottle at that. The foundation can seperate, so, it does need to be shaken before it's applied.

I originally bought this in the shade SP 20, however, I felt it was a bit too dark for me, roughly an NC 25 (I'm pretty much an NC 15). So, I went and got the SP 10, which is probably closer to an NW 15, but I make it work. It lasts all day on my skin too, which is always a positive since I'm oily beyond belief.

So, since I bought this, I've been straying away from using other foundations really, but I'm a complexion addict. Powder, Foundation, Highlighter, Blush, Bronzer, you name it, I try it. So, I'll continue searching for products that I may enjoy, but this is one I can rely on.

Josh <3

MAC Viva Glam

Superstars Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper team up to promote MAC's new Viva Glam collection. The collection consists of two lipsticks named appropriately "Gaga" and "Cyndi".

The shade "Cyndi" is described as a light reddish coral color and "Gaga" is a beautiful blue pink color. Both shades are a lustre finish and are very bulidable. You can achieve either a sheer wash of color or build it up for quite a pop of color. Personally, I'm loving the looks of both shades and will probably be indulging in both soon :)

Cyndi

Gaga

Get these on MAC's website or in MAC stores before they sell out.

Sarah

Rite Aid Sale!

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Rite Aid is having 25% off all regularly priced cosmetics this Thursday (2/11) through Saturday (2/13). I know I work for Walgreens, so, I'm not going to be indulging in a lot since I get a discount already, but for things like the following, I feel like I'll make my way over...

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner
Can you say Urban Decay 24/7 dupe? I've heard a lot about these and I've been dying to try them, so, now's the time.

Ecotools Bronzing Brush
This chubby little guy is supposedly a great brush. I love all the Ecotools brushes I have now so I'm sure he'll be no different.

Enjoy the sale everyone!

Josh <3

Review: Physician's Formula Healthy Wear Products.

Hey everyone!

So, I just wanted to do a quick review on some of the new Physician's Formula products. On a local haul, I picked up the new Physician's Formula Healthy Wear Tinted Moisturizer and Powder Foundation.


Alrighty, so, the big point with the Healthy Wear products are that they contain SPF 50. That's right, SPF 50. So, as soon as I saw this, this NC15 shopper knew what he needed. Anyway, both products retail for $14-$16 pending on where you get them. I got the Powder Foundation in Translucent Light, the lightest neutral-warm color, and I got the Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory to Fair, the lightest color.

Starting with the powder, it's a very light, buildable, light to medium coverage powder. It's not very dry, which I love, and it's excellent over something like a sheer or light foundation to get the extra bit of coverage while setting your foundation. The compact is adorable and comes with a sponge, which I didn't try to use. Do I like it? Yes. :D

The Tinted Moisturizer is a light to light-medium coverage, which is surprising due to the nature of a tinted moisturizer. It's a little on the thick side and not the easiest to blend, but when it dries, it does dry to a dewy finish. The product itself isn't bad, however, the color was the worst part. As I said before, I had this in Ivory to Fair, however, if I had to place the color, it was probably NC 30 in MAC. I bought the Tinted Moisturizer not the Bronzing Powder, right? Yeah, so, this ended up going back.

Overall, I'd highly recommend the powder foundation and I wouldn't tell someone not to buy the tinted moisturizer, unless their fair-skinned, which is pretty likely of a Physician's Formula shopper, so, they should try and fix this.

I hope this helps everyone! You know Summer is around the corner. :]

Josh <3

Brightening my day...

Hey everyone!

So, I just wanted to mention my top 5 favorite eye brightening products at the moment. Of course, I'm sure this list will change as I try products, but here's how it goes for the moment, in no particular order:

1. Almay Bright Eyes Concealer/Eye Shadow Base
What a multitasking product! This creamy concealer not only brightens the undereye, works as an eyeshadow base (Not as good as my ELF Mineral Primer!), and supposedly brightens your eyes with White Tea extract over usage.

2. Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner - 071 - Pure White
So, we all know the trick about white eyeliner on our waterline, and this just happens to be my favorite pencil for doing this! It's creamy, blendable, and doesn't irritate my eyes like some other pencils do.

3. Nars Blush in Albatross
And here come the questions -- What is a blush doing on this list? Well, Albatross is more of a goldy highlighter than a blush, so, it works perfectly to apply right to the inner part of your eyes to brighten up your mornings!

4. ELF Studio Creme Liner - Ivory
So, I picked up this in my last ELF order along with the Midnight liner, which is supposed to be a deep blue liner, but is more like a waste of money. ANYWAY, this liner is pefect to use on your waterline to get that glistening undereye we all want...however, it can clump up if you use too much, so, be careful!

5. Wet 'n' Wild Idol Eyes Creme Shadow - 130 - Pixie
To be honest, I'm quite amazed! Pixie is the fleshtoned color you see in the front of the picture and it's probably a product I reach for 4-5 times a week. For a mere $2.99, it takes my eyes from dull and drab to bright and glowing. I love using this for an all around liner with my Lash Blast Luxe Mascara in Black Royal for a very natural, yet long lash look. This is also probably my favorite product on this list.

There you have it! Pick up one of these and never spend another morning looking like you didn't sleep a wink - even if you actually didn't!

Josh <3

Tarte 40% Off Sale!

Hey guys!

There is an amazing sale going on right now on Tarte's website. They have sooo many awesome products and they're all forty percent off right now. It's a great time to indulge in some of their famous cheek stains or their awesome shadow palettes. Enter code LUCKYWEEK3 at checkout for the discount. Offer ends February 1st.

Happy Shopping !!!

<3

Sarah

Product Rave: MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

On a recent trip to MAC, I picked up their paint pot in Bare Study. It reminded me a bit of Stila's Kitten Smudge Pot that I have been wanting, so I decided to give it a try. The price was pretty good at $16.50. I have to say that I am SO glad that I decided to try this. Since I purchased Bare Study, I have worn it almost every single day as a base for my shadows. It goes on sheer and slightly shimmery. It gives a beautiful look to any eye look that I want to create. Best of all, Bare Study keeps my shadow on all day with no smudging or creasing. It's not the best base for matte shadows because of the slightly shimmery finish. I would say that's best left for Urban Decay's Primer Potion. Either way, Bare Study is my current favorite eye product. I can't wait to try more paint pots from MAC :)

<3

Sarah

What a Steal! Sally Girl Baked Eyeshadows.

Hey everyone! :]

I went to Sally's this last weekend to renew my Club Card and pick up the Palladio Rice Powder. While I was there, I remember seeing a few reviews on MakeupAlley for the Sally Girl Baked Eyeshadows.

If you're not familiar, Sally Girl is Sally Beauty's 99cent makeup line you'll find at checkout (89 cents if you're a club card member!). Anyway, it's all makeup you'd normally buy if you're a big fan of Wet'n'Wild products to say the least...not that I'm knocking Wet'n'Wild because I've liked some of their stuff.

So yeah...to the point, Josh...here's a picture of one of the eyeshadows:

I'm not sure what color that is, but they offer about 8-10 different colors. I picked up two, one in a silver and one is a turquoise-green. They're about the size of a dime and the compact itself isn't much bigger than a quarter, but they're totally worth it. I can't say they're the best quality eyeshadow on the market, but they're pretty good, especially for under $1. Also, I didn't experience any fallout when applying this.

I wore the silver yesterday, and simply with a swipe of my Foiled Again Shadow Stick by Hard Candy underneath, the color lasted 8+ hours (I can't vouch for any longer because I went to bed.).

So, I suggest you run to Sally Beauty and pick up a few of these to try. :D

Josh <3

Review - Rimmel's The Max Volume Flash Mascara.

Hey everyone!

So, I've been giving ANOTHER mascara a try. This time around it's Rimmel's The Max Volume Flash.

So, I got this Mascara at Walgreens, or work for me, when they were having Rimmel Eye Cosmetics for 50% off, so, it was less than $4 at the time. So, it's a very cheap mascara when you buy it at the right time, otherwise, it retails for about $6-$8. The first thing everyone notices about the mascara is the bright pink and gold tube, tacky to some, adorable to me. :D

This mascara promises up to 14x the volume. I have mine in Extreme Black and it is a very deep black, which I like. The brush is a very big wire brush, similar to Maybelline's Full and Soft, however, the spacing of the bristles is bigger and therefore there are less bristles. This formula is very shiny and moderately wet, so, it's surprisingly not very thick, like most volumizing formulas.

What kind of results do I get with this? I get thick, long, dark lashes. This mascara surprisingly doesn't clump on the first coat, but with additional coats, it can, and it seems to weigh my lashes down later in the day. So, I doubt I'd buy it again, but I'll gladly use it up for now since it's not a bad mascara. If you have shorter, curly lashes or you curl your lashes, I feel like this mascara would be great for you.

I hope this helps!

Josh <3

Great Product, Amazing Price.

Hey everyone!

Just spreading the word on one of my favorite new eyeliners - Jordana Fabuliner Liquid Eye Liner.


So, this is nothing more than your typical liquid pen eyeliner...not. For a mere $1.99, you can take your eyes to the boldest rimmed look with ease. This is currently made in only black and brown, both of which I have and love. It's so easy to use and definitely gives my eyes the perfect intense look. What else makes this pen so special? The eyeliner doesn't budge after it dries in about 10 seconds -- What more is there to ask? I've had both of my pens for about two months now and they're still completely useable unlike some other liquid pens I've heard of (Revlon ColorStay perhaps?)

So, all I can say is rush to your local Walgreens and pick one of these up! You'll find this and other great Jordana products next to the Cosmetic Register. For $1.99, what do you have to lose?

Thanks!

Josh <3

Current Beauty Faves !

Hey Guys!

I wanted to do a post letting you guys know some of the products that I'm loving right now. I've tried soooo many products and these ten are the ones I find myself reaching for the most. Here are my current top ten beauty products:

1) Urban Decay Book Of Shadows Vol II

This palette is awesome. Urban Decay's shadows are the best of the bunch and this palette contains 16 gorgeous shades. There are countless looks you can create with this wonder. This was limited edition for holiday but if you're interested, I would try ebay. I saw several on there earlier this week.

2) Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero

The PERFECT black eyeliner. This is richly pigmented, glides on like a dream, and does not smudge all day. You can buy this at Ulta or Sephora for $17.

3) Christian Dior: Diorshow mascara

I love a mascara that does it all. Diorshow lengthens, thickens, and curls all at once. This gives that wonderful false lash effect that I love. Diorshow is available at Macy's and Sephora for $24.

4) Urban Decay Primer PotionThis is one of the few beauty products that I use every single day. It's an amazing eyeshadow primer that keeps your shadow looking flawless all day. There's no creasing or smudging. I LOVE this product and will keep buying it again and again. Available at Ulta and Sephora for $17.

5) Stila Sun Bronzing Powder SPF 15 in shade 2

This is one of the most natural looking bronzers that I have tried. It adds a nice healthy glow without making you look orange. There is also a slight shimmer to it that I love. If you're not into shimmer, Stila has a matte shade available as well (shade 1). Available at Ulta and on Stila's site for $28. You can also currently snatch this from http://www.allcosmeticswholesale.com/ for just 9.99 !

6) Studio Gear Invisible Pressed Powder

I'm not usually into pressed powders. I dont like the way that they feel on my face or the fact that they can often look super cakey. However, I LOVE this product that I recently discovered from Studio Gear. It's super lightweight and natural looking, yet somehow manages to still even out the skin. Available on Studio Gear's website and at Ulta for $23.

7) Christian Dior Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF 25

I did a review on this not too long ago so I wont go into too much detail. This is a great foundation for anyone who works long hours or just wants a foundation that will last throughout the day. Love it! Available at Sephora for $44.

8) NARS lipgloss in Turkish Delight

NARS has some of the best beauty products out there. Their lipglosses are no exception. I was lucky enough to get this one as a gift from Josh. The shade Turkish Delight is a universally flattering pale pink that should be in everyone's makeup collection. Available at Sephora and on the NARS site for $24.

9) Philosophy Kiss Me emollient lip ointment, Pink

I really like this gloss, which I got as a gift from my sister. It goes on very smoothly and is also quite moisturizing. It's great to wear alone or under a favorite lipstick. Available for $12 at Sephora.

10) Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Best eyelash curler on the market. You'll see a huge difference in your lashes after using this. Available at Ulta and Sephora for $17.

And there you have it. My ten fave beauty products right now. These products are all really fantastic and worth hauling :)

<3

Sarah