Loreal Infallible Eyeshadow

Hello Darlings!

It's Friday, and it's time to get ready for the exciting weekend (tea party time!). Do you need to add some pop to your eyes for that photoshoot? Dress up a little bit for that social event? Look more polished when you're in a rush for that meeting? Well, here's my favorite way to add that special touch to my everyday face look: Loreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow, in Amber Rush.

I first saw this eyeshadow on a friend, and thought, "OMG.... that's so gorgeous!" My friend has blue eyes, like me, and this color made her eyes practically glow. It was such a beautiful eyeshadow, that I swore promised (much better) that I needed to pick it up.
I'm so glad I paid the rather pricey amount for this eyeshadow, because it is every bit worth it.

The consistency isn't a powder, but it's not like the consistency of Maybelline's Color Tattoos either. I describe it as a shimmery paste. The staying power is also very similar to the Color Tattoos; I can usually get a solid day's wear out of the eyeshadow with very few - if any - touch ups. Which is ideal for a busy beauty guru!

The rose gold shimmer brings out blue, so if you're blue-eyed, this is a must-have from the Loreal Paris Infallible collection! You can purchase it HERE from Target. 

Happy Weekend, darlings! What are your favorite eyeshadows? Have you tried anything from the Loreal Paris Infallible collection?

Essie's "Peach Daiquiri"

Hi Darlings!

Yes, another nail polish post - I just can't resist! Especially when I've been purchasing a lot of great new colors recently (can someone say addiction?)

This is Essie's "Peach Daiquiri". I was looking at the new summer collection when I purchased Naughty Nautical, and so many people had also loved Sunday Funday. I was about to pick that up too, until I saw this color. It's basically Sunday Funday, but much brighter and just a prettier shade. I'm definitely glad I substituted for this, because it's quickly become a summertime favorite. 

I love when nail polishes make your hands look tan - and "Peach Daiquiri" has that effect. It enhances your tan and stands out wherever you go. It's a bright, lively color and I would personally reccommend it if you like "Sunday Funday" from the summer collection, but wish there was a shade with a bit more pop to it. 

I love Essie's formula, and this polish was no disappointment - it glides right on. I was worried about my not-so-perfect skills at painting my nails (I need to get some better ambidextrous skills!) since this color is so bold. But I managed, and the color is amazing. I applied Sally Hansen Nail Strengthener as the first coat, then applied two coats of "Peach Daiquiri", and then used Sally Hansen's Top Coat to seal it all in. The result? Very minimal chipping for a whole week. 

A bit blurry, but there's the name for you :) I was also very charmed by the name, it's very cute and I think peach is just adorable all around (peach tea anyone?)

And of course, everyone needs to add hearts to their pictures. Especially beauty gurus. 

You can pick up any of Essie's products from Target, Ulta, or their website. Thanks for reading!

*all pictures taken with iPhone

My Summer Foundation Choice

Hi Darlings!

Summertime can be tricky when it comes to foundations... Do you wear powder to stop extra oiliness? Or liquid to keep the skin dewy because of the drying heat? 

For me personally, I have oily skin, but I don't own any powder foundations. I dislike the effect it has on my skin - I can't stand that caked look. Perhaps I should explore powder foundations though, since I am a self-proclaimed foundation addict. Out of all makeup essentials, this one gets me every time. I can't stop buying more. 

So for my routine in the summertime, I simply switch to my lighter foundations to deal with the heat. My current favorite summer foundation is.....

 Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 

This BB Cream is much lighter than my other foundations, but it still gives your skin a flawless look. The coverage is moderate, which is nice because I wasn't looking for it to be heavy coverage anyway. 

One of the big things that drew me to this foundation in the beginning was, yes, the big BB. This was my first BB cream, and I will say I simply got it out of curiousity, since they suddenly became all the rage (thank you, Asia, for starting this now international craze/trend). Another thing that I loved was, it has SPF in it. I am not good at all about applying sunscreen to my face (although I have been better about it thanks to my Ipsy Bag sunscreen item). This does it for me! 

 The packaging is also adorable - and it makes it easier to find your shade! I got the "Light/Medium Sheer Tint" and it matches me perfectly. It also seems to be a very forgiving foundation as well in terms of matching, because as my skin color has changed, it still performs the same and there's no streaking.

My one complaint? I wasn't all warmed up to it at first. I wasn't getting good results for the first few applications, but then I realized that the suncreen in the foundation seems to require a bit of priming/moisturizing first. So I simply use some cleanser or moisturizer first, and then apply the foundation - I was so happy to solve the problem, because now it works like magic. Aside from that, this foundation is spot on!

This is definitely my summer foundation pick! And what's great is, it's entirely affordable! Check it out HERE at Target.

What's your favorite summer foundation? Have you tried any BB Creams?

Bath Bling: Redken Extreme Shampoo & Conditioner

Hi Darlings!

Happy Sunday! Welcome to another feature post - this one is going to be called "Bath Bling" (it just sounds so cute!). I don't have a schedule for this feature, like I do for Facial Fridays, but I'm basically going to be posting about any and all bath and shower products that I've been using, loving, hating, reviewing... The ideas are endless and still coming (the tea is definitely brewing). So I'm very excited about this new addition to the blog!

To start off the fun and bath bubbles, my first post is all about my Redken Extreme Shampoo and Conditioner.

Our story together: I first met Redken when I went to my hair salon for a long-overdue haircut and style. The stylist washed my hair, and I was amazed at, first off, the smell. Oh my gracious, when my hair was being washed it hit me and I was just.. ahhh! It's a scent that I can't pinpoint on anything except the word fresh. It's subtle, clean, and perfect.
And as you may know, smells are incredibly important to me when it comes to beauty products. If it smells bad, chances are I'll ditch it or neglect it, unless if the quality is good enough to overcome it. 

The smell was already giving the brand a good rep... And it gets better! After I left the salon and my hair slowly dried, I was amazed to see that the usual frizz and puff that my hair just loves to do, was basically gone. Oh my! My hair was smooth, soft, feather-like, and had no frizz. I may sound silly girls, but you don't know how awful frizz can be. I felt like a princess. (Dreams do come true!!!) 

That's how we met, and I still consistently use the Redken Extreme Shampoo - the stylist recommended this when she saw my damaged ends. It is the most moisturizing and repairing of the Redken line, and I've found it to be one of those Holy Grail shampoos. And the smell is a bonus!

Along with the shampoo, I pair it with the Redken Extreme Conditioner. I use it about 2-3 times a week, because I don't want to over-moisturize my hair and cause oiliness. But when I do use it, it leaves my hair smooth, shiny, healthy-looking, and just so easy to work with. I've also paired this conditioner with other shampoos, and it still performs just as well.

Completely sold, I purchased the two biggest bottles, running at a hefty 33.8 ounces each. Redken often has a sale to buy two at a discounted price versus buying them separately at their regular prices.

The shampoo was of course the first to go, since I use the conditioner less often, but it still took a good 6+ months to finally hit the bottom. After the same amount of time, the conditioner is about 3/4 full... amazing! I may have it for another year at this rate. Just another perk of this Extreme Conditioner: it's extremely long-lasting.

The large sizes run at about $16 per bottle after tax (or they have sales such as $30 for both), which is pretty decent when you consider the size you're getting. What is also satisfying is feeling your arms work when you carry those bottles out the door - just by the weight, you can tell you're getting your money's worth!
 Ulta carries the Redken line, which is where I would reccomend shopping when browsing this hair care line.

Tip: due to the size of the shampoo and conditioner, it may be more cost-effective to buy the smaller sizes first, in order to make sure you like the product before making the big 33.8 oz commitment! In the future, I plan on purchasing the smaller conditioner, because I certainly don't need the large one if I don't use it as often.

What's your favorite Bath Bling right now? Have you tried anything from the Redken line?

Butter London's "Mollycoddled"

Hi Darlings!

Today's chat is about (insert sparkly intro music here) Butter London Nail Polish. 

The reason I never purchased any polish from BL is because of the price, and I was never convinced that quality could make up for the whopping $15 a bottle (yes, $15). Essie already had me wincing at their prices, and I never purchased those either. 

But... lately I have been obsessed with nail polish. I've entered a new beauty phase, it seems, and suddenly every nail polish bottle wants to squeeze into my shopping bag. 

A beautiful display of Butter London caught my eye during an Ulta trip, and that's when it hit me. I suddenly thought, I NEED one of these. 

I immediately saw a lavender purple and fell in love with it, and after debating a little bit, I decided that was the one. And the name made me feel even fuzzier inside with happiness: "Mollycoddled". 

When I got home, I immediately tried it out. Since it was my first expensive, more high-end polish, I was completely blown away by the quality. It dried fast (swoon) and also the formula was so smooth that it applied perfectly every time. It just glides on... like butter!

Ahh! Isn't the color just beautiful? Summer is the time for bright and vibrant colors, but I also love to wear softer ones - pastels feel floral to me, and flowers make me think summer! If you're looking for a nice soft color in contrast to all the staple brights and neons of the season, I would recommend pastels.

In review, I'm completely satisfied with Butter London and feel like I've been a die-hard fan for forever. I plan on buying many more of their polishes, and would recommend BL to all beauty enthusiasts - even if you just buy one to treat yourself, it'll be worth it. 

*photos taken with iPhone

So those are my nails for the week - I couldn't resist posting another nail polish post! This polish was too good. 

Ipsy Delivery! ~July 2013 Edition~

Hello Darlings!

And oh, hello Ipsy! What a lovely surprise to come home to after a long day: a bunch of beauty goodies!

For those of you that don't know what Ipsy is, it's a beauty subscription service that matches products just for you, which you receive once a month.
Subscriptions can get pricey (thinking of you, Little Black Bag), but for those that still want to partake in the subscription world, Ipsy is just for you!! You get 6 products every month (occasionally 5, but this is only when you receive more pricey items), and they are always tucked in a cute, unique makeup bag that unzips to reveal all the goodies inside. Every Ipsy bag I've gotten has had a majority of high end products, with only a few scattered about that you could find in drugstores. And because Ipsy has you take a test in the beginning to determine your makeup style, you're never disappointed. I've also gotten so many things I'd never branch out to buy on my own - so it's been expanding my makeup horizons!

The best best part? Ipsy only runs at $10.00 per month. WHAT? Yes, it's true - no more cringing at that  online price! And if you don't want to even spend that small amount? You can always skip any month before you're charged, and wait until the next month to get your next package.

Overall, this beauty subscription gets 5 stars from me, and I'm very pleased with it. Go check it out here!

SO - let's dive in! This is the July Glam Bag, and I came home so excited when I found out it was waiting for me! Ahh it's Christmas Summer! (oops it confused me for a second)

Ipsy always has a cute greeting card:

 So cute! A bundle of goodies!

Let's begin:

Benefit Cosmetics is that brand I always browse and stare at, but I can never seem to cough up the big bucks to spend on it. However, I've been meaning to dip my toe into the Benefit Cosmetics pool - so this was probably the most exciting item in my bag! This is "benetint" - A cheekstain/blush that also works as a lipstain. It's versatile, bright, long-lasting, and gives the perfect glow, and I'm so excited to try it out!

This is Healthy Sexy Hair's "Soy Renewal Beach Spray". It is described as, "Beach look conditioning & texturizing spray with argan oil". This will be marvelous to have while at the beach or sitting poolside. A great summer pick! 

Sunscreen! I was excited about this Coola "Mineral Sunscreen & Tinted Moisturizer" for sure, since I am so lazy about buying sunscreen - especially for my face! This will keep me protected and sun-ready this summer, and will help me to be more vigilant about applying. 

Pop Beauty has got to have one of the cutest designs and packaging! Ahh I love it! This Pouty Pop Crayon is in the shade "Fuschia Flirt", and I LOVE fuschia, so this is definitely going to be used! Good job on knowing my color faves, Ipsy! ;)

I've seen some Youtube tutorials where this palette is used, and I knew I was in love with it before I even got my Ipsy delivery. The colors are perfect for summer, bright and fun. So excited about this one!

And last but not least, this was the month's cute bag - I always keep them! They are so useful for travel or to hold extra makeup. The bag is so bright and vibrant - who could resist that pink color? Love!

I think it would be fun to do some future tutorials, demos, and/or reviews on some of these products, once I've used them and tried them out. 

Are you currently subscribed to Ipsy or any other beauty subscriptions? What products are you loving?

Facial Friday: Yes To Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment

Hello Darlings!

Today I'm introducing a new feature I'll be having on my blog: Facial Fridays!

Facial Friday will be a once-a-month feature post about a face product I've been loving or hating. I came up with the idea because I don't necessarily have a new facial product to review every week, but I just love these types of posts, so this will be a nice feature addition to add. 

And as for the subject: for this post, it's all about the eye cream. 

Let's address the elephant (or Panda, I like that better) in the room: eye bags. Talk about "unwanted baggage"!  

My mother's side of the family unfortunately has the "heavy" facial trait. Even when I am fully rested, I've got those dark circles that won't go away.
Concealer works miracles, of course, for dark circles - but that can be saved for later. Today, we'll talk about eye bags specifically. I am no stranger to the devilish (oops no swearing at a tea party!) awful problem, and so one must take beauty measures. 

Enter "Yes To". A discovery from a beauty subscription, I stumbled upon this brand, and after that, never let it go (at least, I don't plan to). I received a sample of the "Yes To Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment", which looks sadly small, but has lasted me over a month and is still going strong! I can see why a sample in the subscription was clearly enough: you only need the tiniest little drop for each eye. Meaning that this sample will probably last me a longg time. No complaints here! Let's take a look at the packaging - does anyone love it as much as I do?!

This packaging is just too cute :)

 

Flowers in it - I love that! And paraben-free

 The ingredients for this eyebag-savior product! 

For application, it recommends two times daily: morning when you wake up, and nighttime before you go to bed. It claims immediate results with tighter, lifted skin. 

I usually apply it once at night, with the results still noticeable and very satisfying. I don't apply it twice, the reason being the one thing I dislike about this product: the smell. One would think it's supposed to smell like blueberries, but all I smell is an odd, oily scent that is halfway between house-cleaning sprays and the somewhat alcoholic (bitter and too clean) smell of hospitals. I apply the cream at night to work its magic, and I'm sleeping so I don't have to deal with the smell. It's not strong, but you catch whiffs of it at random, and I just don't like it. Which is disappointing! Smell determines so much in products, even if the quality is spot on!

Here is the amount I use for one eye:

Barely anything on that finger! But it does a lot for those under-eyes. you can see why the sample will last you a while!

Back to the discussion!
The smell is minor in comparison to how much I love this cream, which is why I keep using it. I also apply any extra I have on my finger to my face and sometimes my neck. It's an amazing product and I've grown quite attached to my cute little sample - I'll be sad when it runs out, but that'll really give me the excuse to buy the full-sized bottle. 

The result? My under-eye area has been firmer, tighter, and noticeably more lifted after just two or three applications. I promise this product is magical! I'm always doubtful when it comes to this kind of thing, thinking there's no way - but Yes To has happily proven me wrong!

Definitely try out some other products by Yes To - I'm really curious to branch out and try other items, especially some of the Yes To Grapefruit and Yes to Cucumbers items! Let me know if you've tried or have anything by them and tell me your thoughts - or follow this link to shop some online!

I definitely say "Yes" to 'Yes To'! 

Thank you for joining this tea party! Here's to more Facial Fridays in the future. (Teacup toast!) Welcome to the tea party, Facial Fridays!

What facial products are you loving? Do you have a Holy Grail eye cream?

Wet N Wild Nail Polish Review

Hi Darlings!

I recently went on a Mini Haul and purchased some Wet N Wild polishes... I didn't need them (who ever does? But why would that ever stop us beauty addicts?), but I was in Walgreens, and I couldn't resist the deal that was going on! It was "Buy 1, Get 2 Free". I mean honestly, who could resist that? Who would? Certainly not yours truly! Besides, I currently have no Wet N Wild polishes, and I wanted to try them out. 

So I started browsing happily. I gravitated towards Wet N Wild's "Fast Dry" collection immediately; "fast-dry" is my biggest polish weakness! I have a horrible tendency to attract nail polish tragedies - all beauty addicts know what I mean. Waiting for nails to dry - and keeping them safe and intact in the process - is a pain. 

So, that being said, My face lit up when I saw those two beautiful words (you had me at Fast-Dry... *swoon*). 

The first color I picked out is this gold glitter, "The Gold & The Beautiful". The name is cute, but I immediately thought of the name "Gatsby Gold" when I saw it. That's what I call it in my mind - much more fun! 

Now, I don't like when glittery polishes feel rough like sand paper, as many so often do, so I took a risky bunny hop with this one. It looked pretty in the bottle, but would it be pretty and smooth on my nails? 

Thankfully, yes!! The formula ended up being rewardingly lovely. Once dry, my nails felt smooth (there was still some texture, but not a complainable amount at all) just like a regular polish does. And you still get that marvelous sparkle and glitter.

"The Gold & The Beautiful"

The two that I got for free, however, were very disappointing. And that makes me so sad! When something doesn't work out and it's a letdown, it's just so depressing.

The first free polish I chose is called "Party Of Five Glitters". The name is very bland, but what drew me was the beautiful shimmer of the glitter. It stood out on the shelves and looked perfect for July 4th. It didn't look too watery either, so I was hoping it would be a more thick consistency to make up for the glitter being the only actual color.

"Party Of Five Glitters"

The last polish I decided on was a very pretty blue. It has tiny gold, pink, and blue glitters in it, and was just so bright and luxurious-looking! I actually liked this name the best out of all of them, "Blue Wants To Be A Millionaire". So cute with a classy edge to it, reminding you of a crisp white outfit and designer things. If only this blue color had been a good find...

"Blue Wants To Be A Millionaire"

Here is a picture I took quickly on my iPhone before rushing to remove the polish, because I couldn't stand the disappointment any longer. I got the photograph, and then that polish was gone - I definitely wasn't going to wear this around! Also, this is after applying three or four coats on each nail. Horrible!

Not pleased! Definitely don't wear this to any tea parties, darlings. "Party Of Five Glitters" was on every nail except for my ring finger, which had on the sparkly blue. Both are so weak and make my nails look sickly. No beauty guru wants that look!

So in review: my first impression of the Wet N Wild polishes? I think they are a little too hit-or-miss. I want a brand to be solid all the way around, and Wet N Wild doesn't appear to give very good odds. I would experiment further and try to discover the gems in the midst of the collection, but I simply don't care that much. There are much better polishes out there waiting to be discovered! Wet N Wild missed the mark. I would repurchase "The Gold & The Beautiful" because it was amazing. It's my personal "Gatsby Gold". But the others? No thank you!

What are your nail polish favorites, weaknesses, and tips? Let me know!